2018 Nissan Leaf Teases Sleek Design And Biggest Mile Range Yet
Nissan has revealed more details on their upcoming redesign of the Leaf electric vehicle. It's received a complete design overhaul with a sleeker look on the outside and entry-level autonomous features inside. They also boast its biggest range yet.
Updated May 26 2019, 3:15 p.m. ET
Nissan is amping up their latest edition of the Leaf electric vehicle. The Japanese car manufacturer has given the reveal date of September 6th and it will be available at dealerships around that time. They also teased the car with more pictures, trailers, and it will have far more range than previous versions.
The Nissan Leaf was the second-best selling EV in 2016, finishing below just the Tesla Model S. Both these vehicles were far ahead of the other competition according to EV-Volumes data. It’s part of the reason why there’s a lot of anticipation for this new model. Tesla’s Model 3 is getting all the headlines and the Leaf has a lot to live up to in 2018.
So far, it looks very promising. By comparison to what’s coming out from Chevrolet and Tesla, the 107-mile range of the existing Leaf is well behind the trend. Nissan has doubled their battery pack from 30 kilowatt hours to 60 kilowatt hours. That will provide over 200 miles of range per charge. Tesla’s Model 3 is expected to have over 215 miles and there’s been reports that 300-plus miles can be achieved on the Chevy Bolt. On average, the Bolt gets 238 miles.
There will be different battery options for those who want to save and aren’t worried about longer trips. However, Nissan will be discontinuing the smaller battery after the first year of distribution. Details of the smaller battery pack are unknown, as well as potential price differences.
Perhaps the most exciting upgrade is the entire design. Electrek reported on prototypes being found in Germany, which have a camouflage color but showcase what the car style will be like. The report pointed out more trunk space and a V-motion design on the front. Pairing it up with teaser photos released by Nissan, the vehicle will have a completely refreshed look and confirms V-motion grille and new headlights.
On the inside, there are more changes, most notably the new ProPilot assistance system that sets up the foundation for semi-automatic driving. This new feature has a focus on highway driving and can control steering, accelerating, and braking as it can learn from its surroundings. However, it’s lowest on the totem pole of autonomous driving, similar to what Tesla’s Autopilot system features..
Prices haven’t been revealed for the new Nissan Leaf, but it’s expected to be under the $40,000 mark. Before the new vehicle makes its debut, the car manufacturer is discounting their current editions and it makes a much more affordable entry point for those that are interested in EV technology.