Is Nissan's Ariya Concept A SIGN OF LIFE Or Simply A LOVE Letter To Mercedes?

In recent years, two brands have gotten a bit lost. That would be Nissan and Infiniti.

Aside from one or two products in each portfolio, it seems like both brands are struggling to find their way. It's a far cry from the days when the Altima, Maxima and Pathfinder dominated sales charts, and cars like the G37 and FX35 gave BMW a run for their money.

Today, both businesses are lacking that certain something. Essentially they're go-to choices for those seeking a value play. That's fine and all but that isn't what drives company's forward. It all comes back to delivering great and innovative products.

Leafing through one of my favorite publications, Auto Motor und Sport, I came across a vehicle that must've slipped by me back during its October 2019 debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. That would be the Nissan Ariya.

After taking a closer look at its pictures, I have to say that I came away pretty impressed. It looks nice, inside and out. But then I started looking closer and thinking a bit more.

And it hit me.

The Ariya was looking an awful lot like the latest Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Its face reminded me of the German's EQ models and its interior with the two large screens also echoed the three-pointed star. Is it just me?

So, I have to ask: Is Nissan's Ariya concept a SIGN OF LIFE for the brand or merely a LOVE letter to Mercedes' design team?

What say you, Spies?

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ricks0me - 1/25/2020 7:52:36 PM

-1 Boost

Love Letter

dumpsty - 1/27/2020 1:07:42 PM

+1 Boost

is the Ariya based off the EQC? would be a smart idea.

but Nissan needs to update the QX70,60 with more powerful engines at least & newer UI's.

MDarringer - 1/25/2020 8:08:21 PM

-4 Boost

#Renault

PUGPROUD - 1/26/2020 2:42:58 PM

+2 Boost

A screen is a screen is a screen.

mpls - 1/26/2020 3:22:52 PM

+2 Boost

Tp me even the Mercedes has a Honda Odyssey front end..

mpls - 1/26/2020 3:24:32 PM

+2 Boost

that front lippy thing is Honda through and through, when has Merc ever mbeen ayt the forefront of design ???

TomM - 1/27/2020 6:30:42 AM

+1 Boost

Infiniti never really took off - because it generally only had one good car around a bunch of otherwise Nissan Knockoffs. Their best - The Q45 with the Active Suspension - was pretty good - but the other cars in the line were lame. Frankly - I do not see the reason why it exists anymore - it certainly has never made money.

Nissan - with their really nice V-6 - on the other hand - had given way to poor quality - and getting that back is something few cars ever manage to survive from. Once you eliminate the average buyer - they tend NEVER to come back. Now - Nissan has sunk - especially with the Versa - to below Korean Manufacturers - a bad place to start.

By the way - you keep forgetting to include Acura - which is no better than Infiniti. If I were Nissan - I would close down Infiniti.

MDarringer - 1/27/2020 8:46:48 AM

-2 Boost

Hyundai-Kia should contract with Infiniti dealers to sell Genesis there. The dealers would be thrilled to have better selling product. Infiniti is so dead it's not funny.

I actually think all is not well at Lexus either. Lexus has great potential to take a tumble given how many models in their lineup just don't sell well.

Carmaker1 - 1/27/2020 10:38:10 PM

+1 Boost

This was designed 2 years ago and I already saw the production model, in a presentation in 2018.