The wind blew toward the electric vehicles at the Auto Expo. Nissan leaf, Nissan’s
“Zero Emissions” hatch was launched in 2009 and with the all-electric
Leaf, Nissan is promising "the world’s first affordable, zero-emission
car." Alongside the Leaf the Nissan GT-R
was also on display and Gilles Normand, Corporate Vice-President,
Nissan Motor said, “We want to show India the depth of Nissan’s global
offering. Although neither the Leaf nor the GT-R is currently available
in the country, we feel the chance to see two of the most remarkable
cars on sale anywhere in the world is something visitors will not want
to miss.” Whether the Leaf will ever make it into India is all together
another matter. “As to whether Leaf and/or GT-R will ever be sold in
India all I can say is that we are constantly evaluating and
re-evaluating marketing plans. What I can confirm is that we are
committed to launching a growing range of innovative and exciting models
in India over the coming months and years – there is a lot more to come
from Nissan,” added Normand.
Design
The
all-electric four-door hatchback has a strong stance with the16 inch
alloy wheels and LED headlamps. The styling isn’t particularly great but
the Leaf is aerodynamic to look at and the headlamps blend into the
raked front. At the front you notice the sharp, upright V-shaped design
and the split headlamps redirect airflow away from the door mirrors
reducing wind noise and drag.
Interiors
The
cabin is aesthetically designed and is airy and pleasant. The Leaf’s
space utilisation is good with the battery pack located under the floor
beneath the seats. This results in particularly roomy rear seats which
provide space for two adults. Headroom for both the front and rear
passengers is good and while the cargo area is on the smaller side for a
hatchback, even after folding the rear seats, the cargo floor is not
flat.
Dominating the cabin is the split instrument cluster and the
centre control panel features a touchscreen which has the navigation
system and also displays cruising range and energy efficiency readouts.
Interior quality and overall fit and finish is reasonably good but there
are some plastic bits that look cheap. The steering wheel is adjustable
only for height and the Leaf comes with a start- stop button.
Other
features include heated exterior mirrors, a battery heater, keyless
ignition, cruise control, automatic climate control, height-adjustable
driver seat, a heated steering wheel and heated front and rear seats.
The cloth upholstery is made from recycled materials and the hatch also
has an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth, a 6 speaker CD player
with an iPod/USB audio interface, rearview camera.
The Nissan Leaf
also uses an exclusive advanced IT system which is connected to a
global data centre and can provide support, information, and
entertainment for driver around the clock. Another impressive feature is
the ability to use your mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning even
when Nissan LEAF is powered down.
Engine and performance
The
Leaf hatch has a unique platform that uses a 24-kWh lithium-ion battery
pack as well as an electric motor with 107PS and 523Nm of torque. Nissan
claims that its hatch is capable of going up to 160kms between charges
and it takes an 80-percent charge in about 25 minutes. The Leaf has a
claimed 100kmph acceleration timing of 12seconds with a top speed
limited to nearly 150kmph. The Nissan
Leaf is a silent cruiser with only a vague whine detectable under heavy
throttle. There is abundant torque available and the acceleration is
brisk.
Ride
The Leaf drives like a conventional hatch and while it isn’t as sharp handling as the Maruti Suzuki Swift or even the Volkswagen Polo,
it is agile, rides well, and has reasonably direct steering. The
steering however is a bit too light but around corners the body control
is impressive but when really pushed over a bumpy corner, the Leaf does
get unsettled. The Nissan Leaf comes standard with ABS, traction control
and front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
Verdict
That
Nissan is serious about India, is question about. “Our progress in
India has been exceptional. An impressive rise in sales, award-winning
quality from locally-built products, and an expanding range of
innovative cars from a growing dealer network underlines the strategic
importance of India to Nissan’s future growth plans,” said Gilles
Normand, Corporate Vice-President, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. The Japanese
manufacturer is rapidly building its dealer presence in the country and
at the end of 2011 there were 50 outlets. That figure will be doubled by
the end of 2012 and Nissan’s target is for 150 outlets by 2015. The
Leaf is the first full-electric vehicle to be marketed to American
buyers and though there is no confirmation weather it will at all make
it into India, the Leaf does tick most boxes. The hatch has a spacious
and airy cabin which comfortably seats four adults. The acceleration is
peppy and the engine noise is low. Questionable plastic quality of the
interiors and lack of boot space are its drawbacks but the Leaf rides
and handles like a regular hatch.
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