Nissan reveals paint colour palette for upcoming Ariya electric SUV
Nissan has unveiled a palette of ten exterior colours for the Ariya SUV, a pleasing change from the likes of Volkswagen which only offers a greyscale palette plus red or blue on expensive variants of its ID.4. There are four monotone and six two-tone options, and Nissan claims the paint portfolio was crafted to elevate Ariya’s premium look and feel.
Nissan Ariya boasts two bespoke colours, reduced CO2 output during paint process
Two brand-new colours have been developed by Nissan, Akatsuki Copper and Aurora Green
Technological innovations in the paint production line reduces carbon dioxide output by 25%
Nissan has unveiled a palette of ten exterior colours for the Ariya SUV, a pleasing change from the likes of Volkswagen which only offers a greyscale palette plus red or blue on expensive variants of its ID.4.
There are four monotone and six two-tone options, and Nissan claims the paint portfolio was crafted to elevate Ariya’s premium look and feel. The colours are applied by a highly advanced, environmentally sustainable paint production technology that reduces carbon dioxide output by 25% according to the company – further reducing the environmental footprint of this zero emission vehicle.
New colours for a new era of electrification
The design team developed Akatsuki Copper and Aurora Green especially for the all-electric coupé crossover. “The ingenuity the Nissan Ariya represents inspired us to adopt an entirely new mindset for colour design,” said Lesley Busby, Colour Manager at Nissan Design Europe.
Nissan Ariya in Akatsuki Copper. Images: Nissan
“Ariya is the culmination of Nissan’s electric mobility expertise and a strong statement of intent for the future of EV design. We therefore worked hard to introduce a truly futuristic and technology-driven design language for the colours, analysing them in detail to create the perfect match for Ariya’s innovative personality,” Lesley Busby continued.
Inspired by the Japanese phrase for ‘dawn’, Akatsuki Copper’s striking appearance mimics the brilliance of a sunrise, reflecting the beginning of Nissan’s new brand identity. Its metallic sparkle is enhanced to evoke the conductivity of copper wires, honouring the model’s advanced EV technology.
Aurora Green takes its name from the beautiful ‘Northern Lights’ phenomenon, aurora borealis, commonly seen in the arctic. A sophisticated blend of different tones means the colour may appear green or purple depending on the angle that it is viewed, creating a sense of wonder and intrigue.
Technology innovation in colour
Nissan claims an all-new level of detail and depth to customer-favourite colours, created with state-of-the-art paint production techniques. Lesley Busby commented: “We know that black and white colours are some of the most popular options with vehicle owners in Europe and around the world. With Ariya, we have introduced a new level of richness and a premium veneer for these customer favourites. Combined with the quality and attention to detail seen throughout the colour palette, we’re excited for customers to experience Nissan’s new era of colour design for themselves.”
Sustainable production techniques
Technological innovation has also been employed to enhance the sustainability of the paint production line. Nissan has introduced a water-based paint which allows colours to be applied at a lower temperature, ensuring that each part of the vehicle can be painted together. This streamlines the entire application process, reducing carbon dioxide output by 25%.
The Ariya already has over 29,000 preorders worldwide according to Nissan, and is scheduled for a Japanese launch mid-2021 starting from 5 million yen ($66,700 AUD), and a European, Chinese and North American launch late in 2021.
While Nissan Australia has gone on the record as keen to import the Ariya, no Australian launch timing or pricing has been provided by the company. We’ll keep you updated if and when that changes.
Lucid Air Named Best Car Design for 2020 in the Good Design Awards
The Lucid Air has been named Best Car Design for 2020 in the Good Design Awards. One of the world’s most prestigeous design prizes, The Good Design Awards have been an annual fixture since 1950, and are hosted by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.
The Lucid Air was awarded a Good Design Award for 2020 by The Chicago Athenaeum.
Images: Lucid Motors
The Lucid Air has been named Best Car Design for 2020 in the Good Design Awards. One of the world’s most prestigeous design prizes, The Good Design Awards have been an annual fixture since 1950, and are hosted by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.
Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, architecture critic and chief curator of The Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design® awards said: “In a word: Bold. The new battery-electric Lucid Air is an aesthetic shotgun approach to vehicle design that will clearly transform, if not revolutionize the transportation industry in the future,”
“Designed for Lucid Motors by former Audi-Volkswagen designer Derick Jenkins, the new luxury sedan is sleek and elegant, sculpted like a streamlined aircraft, while its futuristic details exit in a very clean and orderly approach, something more relatable, clearly future-focused, but still enduringly smart and sophisticated.”
“What’s more, the new electric car, unofficially dubbed ‘Tesla killer,’ is also giving Tesla a run for the money in terms of pricing, technology, and performance.”
“The California-based startup Lucid Motors is a game-changing electric vehicle in the near future, standing out from the fold with proven performance and a new vision developed by industry veterans, skilled designers and, crucially, all the financing in the world,” Narkiewicz-Laine continues.
“Jenkin’s amazing muscular design for Lucid Air is a stunning break-through vehicle from the otherwise dull, monotonous American car industry as we know it.”
While there is no doubt the Lucid Air nails its design brief, I would rather wait until the vehicle has had a successful market introduction and is in the hands of journalists and customers before dubbing it a ‘Tesla killer’ or ‘game-changer’. Many manufacturers, from established automakers like Nissan and Mercedes-Benz, to fresh startups such as Fisker and Rivan have exciting EV concepts in development.
Their financial success and ability to compete with Tesla depends on how quickly — and profitably — they can scale their EV manufacturing. A task that has taken Tesla many years to perfect.
You can read more about the Lucid Air’s Good Design Award below:
Source: The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design
