Nissan unveils off-road version of Ariya ready to embark on 27,000km ‘Pole to Pole’ journey
The ‘Pole to Pole’ mission, announced last year in a modified Nissan Ariya, is about to begin. It is a 27,000 kilometre grand tour in extreme climates, from the North Pole to the South Pole. At the controls is British driver Chris Ramsey, with his wife Julie.
It’s not the first such journey for the couple, as in 2017 they became the first team to complete the Mongol Rally in an all-electric vehicle, covering more than 16,000 kilometres over 56 days in their own Nissan Leaf. Set to start the journey next March, the mission team and Nissan are finalising the details to make the expedition a success.
The version that the pair will use on the journey, created in collaboration with Arctic Trucks, is ready and we have already seen the first images of it, adapted to cope with all types of terrain and climates. Modifications are minimal, with no alternating battery or powertrain, but the suspension and the inclusion of 39-inch wheels. Chris Ramsey, said:
“One of the things that underpins all the adventures we do is that we take a standard production electric vehicle and our aim is to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you’re driving it.
Our Nissan Ariya is no different, as the vehicle’s powertrain and battery have been kept as factory standard, demonstrating just how capable and versatile the production Ariya is. 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.
I’m incredibly excited to get behind the wheel of what was already a brilliant vehicle, but now I feel equipped to conquer the ends of the earth in style!”
The vehicle, also integrates a platform on the roof to use a drone to capture all the incredible landscapes they will travel through on their journey. The towable prototype includes a compact wind turbine and solar panels to charge the Ariya’s battery during downtime.
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