Next Nissan Leaf Will Look Like A Normal Car

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Nissan’s next iteration of the Leaf EV will hang on to its hatchback styling, but it will look more like a conventional car.

According to Automotive News, Nissan EV product chief Andy Palmer said that the next version of the Leaf would conform more closely to the latest Nissan design language seen on cars like the Rogue – that means Nissan’s new V-shaped grille opening, rather than the completely flush front end used on the current Leaf.

What the next Leaf won’t be is a sedan. That will be reserved for a now-delayed Infiniti EV, which is expected to debut in 2017. The Infiniti EV will arrive first, and may even be able to exceed the Leaf’s range, due to its sedan shape, which allows for different packaging. Palmer said that 300 km (186 miles) is the internal target for the next-gen EVs, versus the current Leaf’s 84 mile range.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • RHD RHD on May 12, 2014

    It looks like a Prius, swollen with some nasty infection. That said, there are always those who attack electric cars as if trying to kill them by the death of a thousand cuts. Arguments about the environmental damage done in its manufacture conveniently ignore that done to manufacture and fuel gasoline and diesel vehicles For most trips made by most people, the LEAF would be just fine. Considering how many bland Camrys are exciting enough to make it a perennial best-seller, this should be doing better in the marketplace. Is it more sensible to use a pickup or SUV to transport one person?

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    • This Is Dawg This Is Dawg on May 13, 2014

      RHD, your one-person pickup comment reminds me of a question I've had about Tesla's mention of replaceable battery packs to speed up/ replace recharging. I wonder if they'd consider making some bizarre pickup model like an el camino that could stop at designated locations to have the bed loaded with battery bricks. I'm imagining rows of large 300ish pound dominoes standing on end, placing the first against the middle of the car, with the last against the tailgate. That way, a person who commutes in a pickup could still do so with one replaceable pack, and have bed left over. Then for roadtrips, you load 8 packs and drive 1000+ miles. Obviously this would weigh a hilarious amount and I doubt many pickup drivers would want a plug in pickup to begin with, but it's what occurred to me when I heard of Tesla's "battery swap" idea. Edit: Upon watching Elon's video on their website of an underground automated process swapping the underside of the Model S in 93 seconds, wow. That is huge.

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on May 12, 2014

    Nissan could improve its nex-gen Leaf by providing a more truthful gas gauge, and by discarding their worthless navigation system. They are really my only complaints about the car. Tesla has these details right.

  • KixStart KixStart on May 12, 2014

    There's no need to change the Leaf. Vehicle styles are always changing. The Leaf looks normal enough. We no longer think the lack of running boards is abnormal, do we?

  • Stanczyk Stanczyk on May 12, 2014

    Leaf looks 'oryginal enough' so Nissan should leave it that way .. Elegant & quirky & futuristic is the way to go with EV's design .. .. and because of the 'small capacity'(low range) of the nowadays batteries EV's should be possibly small and light .. Renault ZOE is probably the closest to 'my' definition(small,stylish city-car) of a succesful EV that works in a 'real world'.. Companies still must work on 'range', though: Good urban commuter should get at least! 250km range(you would charge 'that thing' once/twice a week , .. not every day!..) ... BTW: What is the 'real cost' of Tesla S(without gov't subsidiaries:)?

    • Clivesl Clivesl on May 13, 2014

      I recently priced one out, nicely equipped as they say, and it came in around $86,000 and change.

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