The Masters Who Gave Life to Nissan ARIYA #06

Engineering Monster will deliver the essence of Nissan’s technology by interviewing the engineers who participated in the development of “Nissan ARIYA,” which symbolizes “Nissan Intelligent Mobility.” We will also deliver the behind-the-scenes of the development that created innovative technology and the DNA of Nissan that breathes in “Nissan ARIYA” as original content.

This time, Hiroshi Mimura, who has consolidated the “Dynamic Performance Technology” to ensure that all customers can feel the goodness of Nissan vehicles in every situation, we will now convey the driving performance embodied in "Nissan ARIYA".

Nissan's dynamic performance inherited from 50 years ago.

At Nissan, we aim to provide a driving experience in all our models where “all customers can always feel the excellence of Nissan vehicles in every situation. Then, what is the “excellence of Nissan vehicles?” We believe it is the ability to “move comfortably, safely, and with peace of mind, anytime, anywhere, for everyone”. To achieve this, we integrate various technologies related to driving performance, quietness, comfort, and operability to enhance performance. This is the foundation of Nissan's dynamic performance, which is consistent from Days kei-car to GT-R high-performance car.

Of course, the direction of safety and comfort is different between a model that is driven mostly in town and a sports car that is driven at nearly 300 km/h on German Autobahn. Nevertheless, the essence of Nissan's dynamic performance is the consistent provision of safety and comfort in all of our vehicles. I have been in the chassis field ever since I joined Nissan. For the past 10 years, I have been involved in the development of the handling and ride quality of all Nissan vehicles.

The axis of this evaluation is "Is it safe and comfortable for everyone, anytime, anywhere?" Nissan's dynamic performance has been passed down in the Nissan engineering team since the days of the 510 Bluebird and GC10 Skyline GT-R, even before the term was coined.

Chassis performance worthy of a premium EV is essential for Nissan ARIYA.

So what is needed to enhance the dynamic performance of Nissan ARIYA, a 100% electric premium SUV?

The weight of Nissan ARIYA is inevitably heavy because electric vehicles are equipped with heavy lithium-ion batteries. The weight of a car is a negative factor in running, turning, and stopping. Therefore, first of all, the car must be able to turn cleanly and safely on any road without steering correction.

In addition, the premium model "Nissan ARIYA" must be comfortable for the driver and all passengers. For this reason, it is also important that the body of the vehicle does not shake or move uncomfortably while driving. In addition, the Nissan ARIYA's four-wheel drive vehicle uses separate motors for the front and rear wheels. In other words, it is like having two high-power engines mounted on the vehicle.

The vehicle is able to reliably handle power and weight, and absorb vibrations. We felt that Nissan ARIYA needed a chassis that would be suitable for a premium EV.

For all grades, “Nissan ARIYA” offers a driving experience that embodies the essence of Nissan.

To give Nissan ARIYA dynamic performance worthy of a premium EV, a multi-link suspension is used in the rear to absorb vibrations entering from various directions and improve handling stability.

For the first time in Nissan vehicles sold in Japan, electric power steering (EPS) with rack assist type has been adopted. Electric power steering has the advantage of improving fuel economy and allowing the driver to freely set the steering force. On the other hand, it is more difficult to control the motor to stop the rotation compared to hydraulic power steering.

The rack-assist type EPS has less inertia, which is one of the reasons why it is difficult to control the motor in conventional electric power steering systems, making it easier to achieve precise steering. This makes it possible to turn corners with little steering correction, even with a heavy vehicle.

Nissan ARIYA is available in four grades: 2WD and 4WD, and 65 kWh and 90 kWh. Nissan ARIYA has a high basic chassis performance, and even in 2WD, it offers a high quality driving experience befitting a premium EV. Although the four grades have different vehicle weights, the chassis settings are different so that the dynamic performance of Nissan ARIYA can be experienced regardless of which grade you choose.

No matter how advanced the technology is, without a solid foundation, it cannot perform properly.

Since the 1990s, electronic control technology has evolved dramatically. However, no matter how high the specs of the technology, a car must have a solid foundation to allow the electronic controls to do their job properly.

The way in which the various controls are put together also determines how "safe and comfortable" the driver feels.

Nissan ARIYA takes dynamic performance to a new level by combining Nissan's vast knowledge and experience in electric vehicles with basic and advanced technologies that are balanced at a high level. This can be felt most on winding roads. Whether you are driving uphill or downhill, you can fully experience the powerful driving and smooth cornering of the motor-driven vehicle. The dynamic performance of Nissan ARIYA is sure to set the standard for the future of Nissan. I hope that many customers will enjoy the ride.

The article is from its original version released on 29 January 2021.