Nissan Leaf-based SUV to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show

Still, in a world void of affordable performance-oriented electric cars, a Leaf Nismo may be a welcome addition and a splash of excitement to the electric vehicle realm.

Nissan has launched a longer-range version of its best-selling electric vehicle (EV).

At its heart, the 2018 Leaf’s electric powertrain has been upgraded.

Nissan expects that the new LEAF will sell at least twice better than previous generation (or even triple).

The LEAF’s revolutionary e-Pedal technology transforms the driving experience.

This is what buyers need to know about the new Nissan Leaf including one reason you might want to wait for the 2019 Nissan Leaf. That Leaf is expected to have a 60 kWh battery, same as the Bolt’s, which should be enough for a range of well over 200 miles. The Tesla Model 3 starts at $35,000 before extras or incentives while the Chevrolet Bolt costs around $37,000, with both cars sporting longer battery range than the 240 kilometres for the new Leaf’s entry offering.

The Leaf is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, selling a cumulative almost 300,000 so far.

Charging times are 16 hours at 3kW, eight hours at 6kW but only 40 minutes to reach 80 percent on a fast charge.

Most electric and hybrid vehicles have the option to use regenerative braking when not actively accelerating or maintaining speed, which means they decelerate more rapidly when the accelerator pedal is released than petrol or diesel-only cars, turning the excess speed into electricity to charge the battery.

Nissan re-engineered the chassis for greater stability.

The new Leaf retains that instant torque that reminds drivers of powerful muscle cars. ProPILOT™ Assist and e-Pedal technologies make driving more enjoyable, helping enhance safety and reduce stress.

The new auto also debuts Nissan’s new driver assist system called ProPilot, with assists drivers with autonomous parking, as well as highway driving through the use of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. You must keep a hand on the steering wheel when using ProPilot Assist, and if the system thinks you’ve let go of the wheel it issues a series of alerts – first a visual warning, then an audible warning and finally a tap of the brakes – to get you to grab the wheel.

The accelerator itself has been re-named the “e-pedal” by Nissan, which claims it has redesigned the way the Leaf needs to be driven. Designers have also emphasized the car’s aerodynamics, emphasizes the exhilaration of driving an EV.

Nissan Motor is targeting yearly global sales of over 90,000 units for its new Leaf electric vehicle, the company stated.

The sale covers manufacturing operations at Sunderland, where around 300 workers oversee operations on rechargeable batteries used to power the Leaf.