Today, Nissan revealed the U.S. market version of the 2013 Leaf in advance of its debut at next week's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The 2013 Leaf that will be sold in the States features a similar host of technical and equipment improvements as the Japanese domestic market (JDM) model presented in November last year, with one important exception.
From now on, the North American Leaf will be assembled locally at Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee, factory, with battery production taking place at an adjacent lithium-ion automotive battery plant, instead of being imported from Japan.
While the styling remains unchanged, the 2013 Leaf offers improved energy efficiency thanks to refined aerodynamics (0.28 vs. 0.29 coefficient of drag), a wider range of regenerative braking and enhanced energy management, while there's also a newly available 6.6 kW onboard charger that cuts 220V charging time nearly in half to approximately four hours for full charge.
Nissan is also adding a new lower priced entry-level "S" grade that joins the previously available SV and SL trims.
Standard features on the "S" model include a trip computer, Automatic Temperature Control (ATC), Push Button Start, power windows and locks, 16-inch steel wheels with full covers and a 3.6 kW onboard charger.
For 2013, the SL gains leather-appointed seating and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
There are three new option packages for 2013, including the Quick Charge Package (S grade only), LED Headlights + Quick Charge Port Package (SV grade only) and the Premium Package (SV and SL grades).
Pricing for the 2013 Leaf will be announced at a later date.
4 Comments:
Still Exteremely ugly!
IMO, for something that is supposed to be environmentally friendly, I am surprised it does not have (at least the option for) solar panels on the roof (and not just the tailgate) to recharge the batteries when parked in the sunshine of FL, AZ etc...
You see, Ugly, even with a solar panel covering the entire roof, which I've just calculated to be about 25 sq.feet of area, and even if they used the most ridiculously expensive solar cells @ 16W/sq.ft, they can achieve, with 100% pure direct 12h/day AZ sunlight (average over an year) the absolute maximum of 400W/h. With it, you can have a full charge of your 24 kW/h Leaf battery in just 5 full days! Of course overnight the batteries will have some self discharge, which means that on the 6th day you still won't have the full range! It must also never rain and the roof must be 100% clean 100% of the time.
How cool is that?!
And the raw materials for this panel will cost 1200$ for a flat panel, without having it curved to the shape of the roof or implementing it into production, or having a protective glass layer over it, or shipping, or installation - I reckon 2 - 2.5 grand as an installed option.
And in order for this panel to pay off a MINIMUM of 2 grand investment, with AZ prices of electricity at 9.6 cents for 1 kW/h, you will have to use if for almost 12 years non stop. By that time the you will just have changed the 18 grand (!!!) battery pack for the third time :3
Sooo yeah... don't be surprised.
Well, I never...! thanks for this
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