Tag Archives: leaf
Nissan Leaf Nismo Sport Version Will Go On Sale This Month
The Nissan Leaf Nismo is finally going on sale this month. The Japanese automaker said the Nismo version will be available by the end of this month in Japan. There’s no news yet on an international rollout, though we expect the dates to be announced soon.
Nissan and Nismo, the automaker’s motorsports and in-house tuning division, have been teasing us with the prospect of making a new Leaf for a while. They made true to their promise and has announced the debut date of the Nissan Leaf Nismo.
The Leaf got a much-needed design refresh from the release last year. It still didn’t make it attractive for some but to be fair, Nissan’s electric vehicle has come a long way from how it looked during the company’s first few versions.
Exterior
The Nismo sport version is giving the Leaf an upgrade in terms of the exterior. It now has a more aggressive and sportier design. It features the layered double wings that are the character of the Nismo road car series. It will improve downforce without compromising the drag coefficient, according to a statement from Nissan. There’s also a set of custom 18-inch aluminum wheels that minimize air resistance.
There are nine body colors available, including the Nismo series’ custom Brilliant Silver/Super Black two-tone and Dark Metal Grey/Super Black two-tone. Both come with a metallic finish.
Interior
The cabin has a sporty appearance as it uses Nismo’s custom red accents, including the three-spoke steering wheel with a red center mark. The instrument panel has a custom carbon-like finish while the electronic shift has a gunmetal chrome finish.
The Leaf Nismo’s 18-inch high-grip tires and custom suspension system assures a comfortable ride and stable handling. The custom-tuned electric power steering and Intelligent Trace Control for cornering stabilization system provide high stability and lane-tracing abilities.
New Nissan Leaf Gets Larger Battery With 200HP Capacity
If you want a more powerful engine for your EV, you will be happy to know that the 2019 Nissan Leaf will get a new long-range version. Called the Leaf E-Plus, this model will have a larger battery that enables a more powerful motor with 200 horsepower.
Brian Maragano, Nissan’s head of EV marketing and sales strategy, didn’t mention the battery’s capacity. Previous rumors and slip-ups from Nissan in 2016 and by a Swiss charging station builder indicated that the new battery will be a 60-kWh pack. That’s a pretty huge step up from the 40 kWh battery that is in the current model.
With 200 horsepower, the new Nissan Leaf will be 53 horses more powerful than the standard 2018 Nissan Leaf.
But that’s not all. Owners will also get to enjoy a longer range. Though Maragano did not give specific figures, we’re expecting that the new 60-kWh battery pack can do beyond 200 miles on a single charge. If the figure is correct, that’s a 74-mile jump from the current model’s 151-mile range. During the My Nissan Leaf forum, posters have somehow hinted that the new long-range Leaf can have a 225-horsepower engine.
Once these numbers have been confirmed, it means that the new Nissan Leaf E-Plus will compete directly with the entry-level Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt. The Model 3 packs a 50-kWh battery that produces 197 horsepower and has a 220-mile range. The Bolt, on the other hand, has a decent rap sheet—60-kWh battery, 200 horsepower, and a 238-mile range.
Nissan decided to skip this year’s Paris Motor Show, so we’ll probably see the Leaf E-Plus during the LA Auto Show in November. The standard 2019 Leaf will be the first one to be introduced, followed by the E-Plus probably in early 2019.
The 2018 Nissan Leaf Will Get The E-Pedal
Pictured above is the 2017 Nissan Leaf.
The 2018 Nissan Leaf will be the Japanese automaker’s main electric vehicle offering. As it gets ready to debut for its second generation, Nissan continues to improve it with technology currently being made available in the market. One such technology is the E-Pedal.
But before that, let’s look back at what we know so far. Teases from Nissan showed that the new Leaf will have a refreshed pair of headlights and an upgraded grille. Based on the spy shots gathered, this upcoming model will be more attractive aesthetically compared to the current generation out in the market.
A video also featured the Leaf’s use of the brand’s ProPilot, the semi-autonomous driving system that this new generation will come packaged with. And speaking of autonomous driving, it came as no surprise that Nissan is fitting the 2018 Nissan Leaf with the E-Pedal, which you will either love or hate.
Basically, the E-Pedal is a single-pedal system, which can automatically accelerate or brake depending on the driver’s foot position. When accelerating, there isn’t much difference because it functions just like any ordinary accelerator pedal. What it does after you lift your foot from the pedal is what differentiates it.
As the driver lifts his foot from the accelerator, the car will automatically slow down and will come to a full stop when the foot is completely off the pedal. This will work even when you are on a hill or in a “hanging” position. The commands will be based on the position of your foot on the E-Pedal.
This sounds promising, of course, when you think about the concept of autonomous driving. Drivers, however, will have to get used to having a single-pedal system, though this may backfire to Nissan. It is highly doubtful if people will trust this E-Pedal system enough, or if they will even open up to the idea of using it.
2018 Nissan Leaf Features Self-Parking System
More than its celebrated self-driving capabilities, Nissan is also debuting its self-parking system in the 2018 Nissan Leaf and ProPilot system. Not only will the Leaf be able to make autonomous driving possible, it will also park itself with a click of a button.
The latest teasers for the next-generation 2018 Leaf showed the ProPilot Park. The driver can simply activate the system by pushing a button and searching for their ideal parking space. Once the spot has been chosen and located, the driver will hold down the park button and the 2018 Leaf would take over the handling of the steering input, braking, and light acceleration to park the car perfectly.
Nissan, of course, is still asking drivers to be mindful and attentive in monitoring their surroundings when Leaf is on the ProPilot Park system. The brand, however, is confident that the system will eliminate the stress coming from parking in tight quarters.
ProPilot Assist for Self-Driving Capabilities
Aside from the ProPilot Park system, which would be the perfect companion for those challenged by tight parking spaces, the all-new Nissan Leaf is also offering ProPilot Assist to provide self-driving capabilities in single-lane highway scenarios. So far, the system will be able to handle accelerating, braking, and steering in the proper conditions.
Nissan said the system will eventually navigate city intersections. The technology for this capability is just around the corner.
Nissan Leaf to Arrive September 6
By September 6, Nissan will unveil the 2018 Leaf. Hopefully, it will follow its predecessor’s footsteps because the current-generation Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric car worldwide. Since its launch in 2009, it sold 260,000 units globally.
There are still no technical specifications released for the 2018 Nissan Leaf, though there will surely be a wide variety of electric ranges to be offered once it’s released. The current maximum range in the electric vehicle range is 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV’s 250 miles, but the Leaf may exceed that.
3 Things We Learned From the Upcoming 2018 Nissan Leaf
Spy shot of the 2018 Nissan Leaf EV. (Photo Source: Autocar)
In our previous article, we have mentioned that Nissan is already clearing up the supply of its first-generation Leaf electric vehicles. In an effort to reach that goal, the automaker has partnered with other companies to provide US customers with up to $10,000 discounts on its lease. The move is to pave the way for the coming of the 2018 Nissan Leaf.
Thanks to leaks, teasers and reliable reports online, we have learned more about the electric car. Here are the top 3 juicy stuff we uncovered about the 2018 Nissan Leaf EV:
Design
The new Nissan Leaf EV is heavily inspired by the Micra. The leaked photo here and the spy shot on top show the electric car with more aggressive styling.
The new design is in contrast with the existing Leaf with mild-looking fascia. The baggy camouflage wrap of the spied new model of the auto make it hard to distinguish its body lines and actual edges though.
Electric Motor
There is no word yet about the possible boost in the electric motor output of the EV but it is speculated to get more driving range. From full-charge, he car is estimated to run up to 340 miles on pure electric power before its battery runs out of juice. The number is more than double the capability of the current model of the Leaf.
Arrival
The 2018 Nissan Leaf will likely be unveiled a couple of months from now. The sale of the car might start in December. However, other sources claim that the car will hit the market during the early part of next year.
Photos
Check out the teaser and leaked spy shots of the 2018 Nissan Leaf EV in the gallery below:
-
- Spy shot of the 2018 Nissan Leaf EV. (Photo Source: Autocar)