The car that ushered in the era of mass-production electric vehicles is back, completely transformed. Nissan Portugal has already announced pre-sales for the third generation Leaf. Prices advertised on website of the brand start at 30,600 euros, but without VAT. Which means that, for a private customer, the base price is around 37,600 euros (for VAT at 23%). This is for the entry-level version, Engage. The higher equipment levels, the Advance TT and Envolve TT, are priced, excluding VAT, from 37,700 and 42,600, respectively.
The new Leaf features a silhouette inspired by crossovers — a fusion between a saloon and an SUV — while remaining relatively low and measuring 4.35 meters in length. The more emotional aesthetics did not compromise the obsession with aerodynamics. With recessed door handles and a stylish roofline coupethe vehicle has an aerodynamic coefficient of 0.25, a very low value for the segment, which will allow for high efficiency.
The technical base, shared with the older brother Nissan Ariyauses a “3 in 1” propulsion system, with motor, inverter and reducer in a single unit. In this way, Nissan managed to save on weight and size, important for both dynamic behavior and energy efficiency.
More than 600 kilometers non-stop
The model hits the market with two battery options: 52 kWh and 75 kWh. The top-of-the-range version promises an official range of up to 604 kilometers in the WLTP cycle, even allowing for more than 330 kilometers on the motorway at a constant speed of 130 km/h.
Fast direct current charging has been substantially improved for powers up to 150 kW. In practice, this means that the driver can recover around 417 kilometers of autonomy in half an hour. To speed up the process, the car has an intelligent system capable of pre-climatizing the battery before arriving at the gas station.
Inside, the generational leap is dominated by two screens, 12.3 inches each in the Access version (Engage), growing to 14.3 inches in the Advance TT and Envolve TT versions. The big news is the system’s native integration Googlewhich allows you to use maps, the voice assistant and download applications directly into the car, without any dependence on the smartphone. However, to the relief of more traditional users, Nissan chose to maintain physical controls for the most frequent functions.
The new Leaf includes V2L functional technologies (Vehicle to Load) and V2G (Vehicle to Grid). This transforms the vehicle into a genuine portable battery, capable of powering household appliances when camping or, in the future, returning energy to the public grid when the car is parked at home.
Active safety is based on the well-known ProPilot system, which automatically adapts speed to curves and road limits, complemented by lane keeping assistance and a 360-degree vision camera that allows you to see what is happening under the road. bonnetideal for maneuvering in tight alleys.
The new Leaf will be produced at the Sunderland factoryin the United Kingdom, under the industrial initiative EV36Zerowhich combines the production of vehicles with the use of renewable energy
To mark the opening of pre-bookings, which can now be made online node website of the brand for a deposit of 300 euros, Nissan is offering three years of included maintenance to first buyers.
