The Los Angeles Auto Show is upon us once again, and once again automakers hosted events the night before the media day. Some things don’t change, even if this time we had to wear masks indoors and fill out a form saying we didn’t have COVID, as far as we knew.
This is how I found myself standing in a rented mansion in the Hollywood Hills — one that had a stunning view of L.A. — clutching a plastic glass of wine and listening to actor Jay Ellis extol the virtues of the Nissan Ariya EV. All because reservations for the Ariya opened up officially on Tuesday night.
In a scripted exchange, Ellis whined to a Nissan exec that he couldn’t secure the first reservation for the Ariya because Brie Larson, the brand’s other actor/brand ambassador, had supposedly spoken for the first one.
Whether that’s true or not, if you, the non-celeb, want one, you can plunk down $500 (refundable) and stake your place in line.
You can also get a two-year free membership to EVgo and $500 in charging credits if you’re one of the first 10,000 to reserve a car before January 31, 2022.
There are four Ariya models from which to choose. All of them come with a 87 kWh liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery, available ProPilot 2.0 Assist, Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-aid/safety tech, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto.
The base Venture+ model has front-wheel drive and starts at $45,950 and offers up to 300 miles of range. Power is listed at 283 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque.
The Evolve+ trim adds $3K and loses 15 miles of range. The Premiere FWD trim costs $53,450, while the top-trim Platinum+ e-4ORCE AWD has a dual-motor setup, 389 horsepower, 442 lb-ft of torque, 265 miles of range, and costs $58,950 to start. None of those prices include the $1,175 destination charge.
If you want a Premiere FWD, by the way, you must reserve it.
Deliveries are slated for the fall of 2022, with AWD models following the FWD cars.
[Images: Nissan]
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It’s somewhat hilarious that Nissan chose Brie Larson to shill for its new EV. Brie Larson, the man-hating SJW that ruined the Captain Marvel franchise. This seems like Subway-level bad judgment in choosing a marketing spokesman, err, spokes-person.
Maybe Meghan Rapinoe should stick close to her phone.
Someone sounds bitter. You know, women are quite nice when you demonstrate respect for them. Give it a try!
Celebrity endorsements for cars are a big turnoff for me; the Mercury days are over.
Ariya deliveries a year from now? No, thanks.
Only 4 color choices for this car – black, metallic, white, and the bronze that is always shown. Not so sure about that nose – Nissan could have done better.
“this time we had to wear masks indoors and fill out a form saying we didn’t have COVID, as far as we knew.”
Off topic, but who’s going to admit they have Covid, let alone feel like going to an event if they are sick? Another worthless form.
I attended an event last month with the same affidavit protocol. It’s purely an attempt to cover their ass legally.
54+ $K for a FWD Nissan. I threw up in my mouth a little.
Pretty sure it’ll be harder to snag a reservation at a local restaurant than a reservation for whatever Nissan that is.
At these prices, this is a hard case to make against the Model Y. But I assume Nissan dealers will quickly get up to their normal tricks and these cars will be available for below MSRP and on easier-than-average credit terms.
At Murano prices, this would be a reasonably appealing product.
Hard case to make for the Y over the Mach E or even the Rivian R1S which is similar rim price (once tax credit taken into account) but is more spacious, faster and higher quality interior. The Y is extortionate at over $60k and two free paint colors.
^This! More idiotic because they could have easily thrown an Infiniti badge to warrant the price. The Mach E is a Ford, but comes with clout as a Mustang, and Rivian doesn’t yet have a history to taint. Nissan though has nothing but taint for the last 2-3 decades.
Let’s be honest: the Y has an image factor that it will take a lot of change for Ford or Nissan to replicate.
If that image is “the best” -which may be true- I’d understand that but I’m not sure if any other “image” it may conjure is positive.
When this thing ships a year from now, Austin and Berlin will be coming up to speed and that waiting list for the Y will dissipate. Also, the new Y being produced at Austin and Berlin costs less to produce than the current Y. I don’t think Tesla will keep the price at the current level. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least $10k come off of the Y’s list price.
Nissan Ariya: The 580 Beacon Score of EVs.
From the A pillar forward that doesn’t look appealing at all, I see the baleen whale has returned. I think kindergarten children with crayons could draw better styling.
God, how embarrassing would that be to have to get all dressed up and then get photographed standing in front of an ugly Nissan pretending to be excited about it, while a bunch of auto journos take photos. At least they probably get paid a hundred times more than the booth models at a car show, but – just, yikes.
No accounting for taste, apparently!
Regardless of what’s happenings in LA in 2025 Chinese EVs will dominate US market. You have no idea what is coming.
Odds are that China will dominate the U.S. by 2025…
This, exactly. Decades of American politicians ignoring, schmoozing or outright selling out to China is about to be seen on full display as China takes over the US Auto manufacturing sector with their 3rd and soon 4th generation EVs.
I for one look forwards to these being released in a nice brown colour.
Any adds in German will be on point. I can see it now “Die Ariya” from Nissan.