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John Mahoney10 Aug 2017
NEWS

Next Nissan LEAF gets more power and bigger battery

Japanese car-maker's online configurator spills the beans on the pure-electric car that gets more power and better range

Details of the all-new Nissan LEAF have been leaked online ahead of the pure-electric hatch's official launch on September 6.

Following on from yesterday's leak by a Twitter user, the new info is claimed to have come from a US dealer who had access to the newcomer's official car configurator.

According to Autobytel, which was first to publish the new details, the big news for the next LEAF is it will come with more power and torque.

According to the configurator, the next LEAF’s single electric motor produces 108kW/320Nm -- up from the current LEAF's 80kW/280Nm.

It's not known how much quicker the more powerful LEAF will be, but it’s bound to beat the eight seconds it takes for the current car to reach 100km/h.

The new LEAF will also come with a far greater range than the base car thanks to a more energy dense 40kWh lithium-ion battery cell.

The range isn't confirmed by the new specs, but it's expected to be at least double the current LEAF's with has a 30kWh battery that can cover up to 250km between charges.

Measuring in at 4481mm long, 1791mm wide and standing 1560mm tall, the next LEAF will share the same 2700mm wheelbase as the current car but is 36mm longer, 21mm wider and 10mm taller.

These dimensions should all help liberate more interior space.

As for the rest of the car, thanks to the recent leaked images, we already know the LEAF will look more like an enlarged Micra that will come with advanced aerodynamics designed to minimise drag and help maximise the range at highway speeds.

Inspired by an airplane's wing, the LEAF is claimed to generate zero lift at high speeds, making it more stable at speed and less impacted by cross winds. The aero is said to boost refinement too, reducing wind noise.

Other new innovations introduced by the next LEAF include a new wireless charging feature that uses induction pads to charge your car instead of traditional plug-in cables.

The Japanese car-maker will also introduce a novel one-pedal driving option that will allow drivers to slow and accelerate using just one pedal.

The new e-Pedal replies on heavy brake regeneration to slow the car in normal scenarios, although you’ll still need to stab the brake pedal in an emergency.

Finally, the second-gen LEAF will also gain Nissan’s ProPILOT semi-autonomous cruise control and parking aid.

Set to be revealed at an event in Japan on September 6, the LEAF will face new competition from the Tesla Model 3 when it goes on sale in 2018.

Nissan hasn’t given any indicative pricing for its new range-topping hatch, but the original LEAF was last sold here for around $40,000.

More official teases are expected ahead of the LEAF’s global debut next month.

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