Nissan has unveiled the latest version of the new Ariya electric SUV, which will undertake a 17,000-mile trip from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole.
The adventure, which has been planned over four years by husband-and-wife team Chris and Julie Ramsey, will kick off this March, the company said.
As part of the expedition, the vehicle will cope with extreme terrains and environments, including ice fields, deep snow, steep mountain climbs and inhospitable desert dunes. Arctic Trucks, which specialises in polar expedition vehicles, has collaborated with Nissan design and engineering teams to prepare the Ariya for these tough conditions.
Modifications to the car have been intentionally minimal, with no changes to the battery or powertrain. The most recognisable difference is the adaptation of the suspension and addition of 39-inch tyres, the company said.
“We’ve modified the suspension and widened the wheel arches so we can benefit from the stable platform and support of the 39-inch BF Goodrich tyres,” said Chris Ramsey, who is leading the pole-to-pole EV expedition. “I’m incredibly excited to get behind the wheel of what was already a brilliant vehicle, but now feels equipped to take on the ends of the earth in style!”
The travellers will have access to a specially integrated espresso machine with a good supply of sustainable coffee. The beauty of the spectacular environments can also be captured using a drone that can be launched directly from the utility unit on the roof, the company added. One further innovation is the portable, renewable energy unit that will be used to charge the Ariya in the polar regions. The towable prototype includes a packable, lightweight wind turbine and solar panels that will take advantage of high winds and long daylight hours to provide charge for the EV’s battery when Chris and Julie stop to rest, the company said.
“We’re going to discover so many interesting initiatives from communities and individuals who are taking positive action against climate change and I’m looking forward to sharing these experiences and stories with everyone,” said Julie Ramsey, co-driver on the expedition. “We are doing something that has never been attempted before, a world-first, and ultimately that is what makes it so exciting.”