New Nissan Leaf launched at 2018 Thailand International Motor Expo

KUALA LUMPUR: Nissan has launched the updated Nissan Leaf at the ongoing 2018 Thailand International Motor Expo. The delivery of the EV will start globally from March 2019. The new Leaf was displayed previously at the 2018 KLIMS (KL International Motor Show), which hints that the Malaysian market might soon witness the launch of the EV.

The new Leaf comes with an EM57 electric motor, which is capable of producing 38% more power and 26% more torque. The electric motor now produces 148 hp power along with a maximum torque of 320 Nm. The motor gets power from a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery. The operating range is also improved and the EV now offers a range of 378 km. The range has been confirmed by NEDC test cycle.

Nissan claims that the 40 kWh lithium-ion battery only takes 8 hours to refill if plugged to a power source of 6 kW. However, if you use the 3 kW power source, the refuelling will take 16 hours. The battery also supports quick-charging and it is claimed that it can be charged up to 80% only in 40 minutes, provided you use the CHAdeMO charging socket.

The electric vehicle comes with ProPILOT single-lane autonomous driving tech that enhances the convenience while driving by reducing the risk of an accident or crash. The feature ensures that the vehicle will maintain a safe distance from the one in front. The driver can set the speed between 30 kmph to 100 kmph and the system can use brakes to completely stop the engine when needed.

To make starting, stopping, holding, decelerating, and accelerating simple, the 2019 Nissan Leaf features an e-Pedal. It alone can do all the tasks single-handedly.

New Nissan Leaf comes with six airbags and a Nissan Safety Shield system. It includes intelligent around view monitor, lane departure warning, intelligent lane intervention, emergency assist for pedal misapplication, blind spot warning, intelligent emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, and traffic sign recognition.