The next generation 2016 Nissan Leaf has undergone some major changes, making it more superior in terms of price range and features compared to other electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid cars in the market.
Compared to the 2013 model, the 2016 Nissan Leaf will have a much improved electric motor, improved chassis, more compact engine, higher torque, better fuel consumption, refinement and other improvements, said Electric Cars 2016.
According to the report, the 2016 Nissan Leaf will likely have a release date at the end of 2016 and will have the same selling price as the current model between $30,000 and $35,000 per unit for the base model, with the fully-equipped version priced at $40,000. However, the price can further fall to as low as $26,000 because of government grants to electric vehicles, which will make the Nissan Leaf a real alternative to the entire hybrid family car market.
A major improvement in the new 2016 Nissan Leaf is its more compact and more efficient engine that the previous models. This allows the engine to provide the same power compared with the older generation, but requires less cooling equipment, thus giving more space inside the car.
The next generation Nissan Leaf's powertrain is capable of generating roughly 120 horsepower and a bit more than 240 lb-ft of torque which enough for a family car. A single speed gearbox will provide power to the car's front wheels with the help of a differential which is going to transfer all that torque to the ground.
Electric Cars 2016 wrote, "The big news will come in the form of the new battery pack which now uses Lithium Ion technology. This means it can be more compact without sacrificing anything and thanks to that, Nissan told the press that they are aiming with the Leaf for at least 180 miles of electric range. Sure, it is a lot less than the Tesla but considering the price is only a fraction of the Tesla, they might have something on their hands. The best part and the most exciting new feature in the new Leaf must be the Supercharging system which Tesla installed in a few countries. Nissan said that their Leaf will be able to use this system, going from 10% to a full charge in less than 15 minutes which is much faster than Tesla Model S can do."
A separate report by Cars Release Dates 2017 added that engineers at Nissan have refurbished the Nissan Leaf, meaning it will now be sporting a new look and more attractive than the older generation. It said that the Japanese carmaker added new colors to the 2016 Nissan Leaf's exterior The outer coating of the new Nissan Leaf sued organic material and capable of absorbing UV radiation while the vehicle is being driven and the absorbed light is consequently illuminated at night. This spectacle will last for up to eight to ten hours.
The Nissan Leaf hatchback will come with five doors. And because of its more compact engine, the Nissan Leaf offers better leg and head room for passengers compared to previous models. The additional space is expected to make the Nissan Leaf ride more comfortable.
"The acceleration from 0-60 mph will be within nine seconds, and the top speed is capped at 95 mph. the enhanced 24 kWh lithium-ion electric motor will be able to provide an electric range of up to 125 miles," the report added.
