The Nissan LEAF will become a crossover in 2025
This should get me kicked out of the writer’s guild, but cannot be resisted. Nissan is turning over a new LEAF. Oof.
Actually, there is a lot here. The Nissan LEAF, in its various generations and updates, has been with us since 2010. It was the world’s first affordable EV and best seller in this segment until quite recently. But the sedan and hatchback have since slipped out of favour and, to move with the trend, the next-gen LEAF will be a crossover/small SUV. This car will be based on the Alliance modular CMF-EV platform.
As part of Nissan’s £1-billion investment in its giant Sunderland factory in the UK, this LEAF crossover will be launched and built there, joining the other EV crossovers like the Juke, Qashqai, Ariva and X-Trail.
In line with other major carmakers, Nissan will not develop any new ICE models in Europe, because of the cost of meeting the new EU7 emissions standards, because that cost would account for half the profit margin per car – around €2000. Instead, it will source underpinnings from its alliance partners for replacements such as the Micra.
Nissan expects 80 percent of its sales to be EV by 2030 and will have electrified its entire range as full EVs or hybrids by 2025. Although it has explored hydrogen power, it has abandoned this for the time being to focus on EV for now.
Because of the drive to EVs, the future of Nissan’s flagship GT-R and Z sports cars are uncertain at the moment, although extremely hot EV sports cars are very much in evidence with other marques. An EV Z may well show its face in the near future. In the meantime, Nissan will continue its participation in Formula E, because this is a great way to promote its electric ambitions.
The current second-generation Nissan LEAF is available in South Africa. It is a slick hatchback with an AC synchronous electric motor and a lithium-ion battery that gives it a range of 175km, a maximum speed of 145km per hour and 0 – 100km/h in 11.9 seconds.
To have a look at the LEAF or the other Nissan models available here, please visit our website.
