Before its world debut at the IAA 2017 next week, the second-generation Nissan Leaf went into production at the Oppama plant in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture. This is the first of three factories where the 2018 Leaf will be built, with the United States (Smyrna, Tennessee) and United Kingdom (Sunderland) to follow.
The American and British sites are now preparing to welcome the 2018 Nissan Leaf, with production expected to kick off by December. Deliveries of the compact-sized EV are scheduled to start in January 2018, with the automaker hoping to sell a lot of Leafs. Or Leaves, whatever the plural may be.
“We’re proud to continue manufacturing the Nissan Leaf at three plants globally,” declared Fumiaki Matsumoto, the executive vice president of manufacturing and supply chain management. “The Nissan Leaf is the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility with its many advanced technologies. Nissan employees in Oppama, Smyrna and Sunderland are excited to continue producing the most popular electric vehicle in the world,” he concluded.
Regarding popularity, it should be noted the Tesla Model S sold better than the Nissan Leaf in the U.S. in the first eight months of 2017. The all-new Model 3 is also pretty much in demand, whereas the Chevrolet Bolt is now available all across the U.S. In Europe, meanwhile, the badge-engineered Opel and Vauxhall Ampera-e are selling ok-ish, especially in Norway.
Priced at less than $30,000 before the federal tax credit of $7,500, the 2018 Nissan Leaf is less expensive than main competitors Model 3, Bolt, and Ampera-e in Europe. For the money, the Japanese automaker offers an EPA-rated 150 miles of range. That'd be 378 kilometers (NEDC) in Europe.
In terms of powertrain, the 40 kWh lithium-ion battery channels electricity to a 147-horsepower (150 PS) and 236-lb.ft. (320 Nm) electric motor. Front-wheel-drive and benefitting from torsion beam-type rear suspension, the Leaf needs 40 minutes to quick-charge its battery up to 80 percent. From 3 kW and 6 kW plugs, make that 16 and 8 hours, respectively.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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