Nissan brings updated Leaf to NY Auto Show

As a pioneer of Nissan’s strategy to make electrification accessible to a broader audience, the Japanese carmaker has revised the second generation of the Leaf. For North-American fleets, sales will start during summer, while the car will make its public debut at the New York International Auto Show, which opened its doors this week. In Europe, orders are already being processed.

The new Leaf gets a more attractive design, featuring a new front bumper, darkened headlights, an illuminated brand logo, a fresh colour scheme and glossy black wheel rims, available as 16 inches and 17 inches. Nissan clearly wants to make the appearance and the feel more premium. Also on the inside, higher quality materials can now be found.

For the battery, no significant changes have been made. The all-electric Nissan still offers a choice of two packs: 40 and 62 kWh. EPA figures are subject to confirmation but are expected to remain largely unaltered. Minor improvements might occur, though, now that the compact hatchback has more aerodynamic wheel arches.

New Leaf introduces the latest version of ProPILOT, capable of stop-and-go maneuvers in traffic jams. With the e-Pedal, drivers can also bring the car to a complete halt just by lifting the accelerator. As for connectivity, the car is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa.

Nissan has also revised and simplified the trim levels as to better group the accessories that were in higher demand prior to the facelift.

The upgraded Leaf is rolling out the red carpet for a larger electric offensive, spearheaded by the soon-to-arrive Ariya, which is Nissan’s first EV on a dedicated architecture.

Image Source: Nissan