The Ariya is real and not just a Show Car says Nissan.

"This is not just a show car. This is our serious commitment. This is a real car," Chief Product Specialist Makoto Fukuda said of the Ariya at a pre-show briefing in Japan.

"This is what will be our next step after the Leaf."

The Ariya uses a flat floor and a compact front motor compartment made possible by its electric drivetrain. Both design elements enable a spacious and premium cabin with high-tech features, Nissan said.

Nissan calls its flat-floor EV layout the "magic flying carpet" concept.

Under the hood, the electric drivetrain will be a two-motor, all-wheel-drive setup, a Nissan EV first, Fukuda said. The front and rear motors can be independently controlled to optimise torque.

"We are not just making a fast-accelerating muscle car, but a car that can allow the driver to drive in any situation safely and confidently," Fukuda said.

Long range

According to U.S. dealers who saw the planned production vehicle in September, the five-seater has a 300-mile (483 km) range and can go from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds.