European COTY: Nissan Leaf

[henk4]

The Nissan is the European Car of the Year, just ahead of the Giulietta, the Opel Meriva and the Ford C-Max.

[Brix]

A bit fun as a Nissan electric car (not the leaf though) created a larger fire on a danish ferry not long ago!

[aiasib]

I haven't seen a single one here in the wild yet. Are they prevalent in Denmark? Or anywhere else in Europe? UK? Anyone?

also, that makes two COTYs awarded to all-electric cars...auspicious or gimmicky? What do you think?

[Wouter Melissen]

also, that makes two COTYs awarded to all-electric cars...auspicious or gimmicky? What do you think?

The Volt is not all-electric. Its drivetrain makes perfect sense, unlike the Leaf's.

[Ferrer]

What a surprise.

[aiasib]

The Volt is not all-electric. Its drivetrain makes perfect sense, unlike the Leaf's.

True true. I stand corrected.

EDIT: in answering my earlier post about availability- info from wikpda says: limited releases in in 2011 with "...global market availability planned for 2012" and "...full US market rollout planned for 2012."

Seems kinda anachronistic or premature, to give the award out now...

[Matra et Alpine]

Not sure why the Leaf isn't sensible IF they install enough 500V charging locations 9 ie in garages and office parking blocks )

I AM please to see Audi e-tron concept demonstrated a state-of-the-art petrol engine to charge it's batteries when running .... a WANKEL

As usual the biggest annoyance on the Leaf is ...
Equivalent $$ prices : (from wiki)
Japan $44,600
United States $32,780 <<<<<<<<<<< WTF
Ireland $45,100
UK $44,800
Netherlands $42,300

[LHamilton_w]

As usual the biggest annoyance on the Leaf is ...
Equivalent $$ prices : (from wiki)
Japan $44,600
United States $32,780 <<<<<<<<<<< WTF
Ireland $45,100
UK $44,800
Netherlands $42,300

Haha . You Euros get ALL the options though and many more configurations. Oh well, I guess that's the tradeoff for us paying lower prices...

I don't remember, but is it $32k before or after the tax incentives?

[culver]

$32k is the pre-incentive price.

[Ferrer]

By the way, a long time ago we discussed about the price differences, and it turned out to be that our prices weren't the highest...

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It's an interesting choice, for sure. I guess it's because it's a truly viable example of an electric car as supported by a large manufacturer.

Or it's greenwashing, make up your own mind.

Is this the first time the award has been given to a Non-EU made car?

[Ferrer]

Is this the first time the award has been given to a Non-EU made car?

Nope. It was another Nissan, the Micra in 1993.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

I believe the Micra was made in Sunderland, UK.

[TVRs4eva]

Not sure why the Leaf isn't sensible IF they install enough 500V charging locations 9 ie in garages and office parking blocks )

I AM please to see Audi e-tron concept demonstrated a state-of-the-art petrol engine to charge it's batteries when running .... a WANKEL

As usual the biggest annoyance on the Leaf is ...
Equivalent $$ prices : (from wiki)
Japan $44,600
United States $32,780 <<<<<<<<<<< WTF
Ireland $45,100
UK $44,800
Netherlands $42,300

Well, a part of me thinks that a large portion of the US car market still isn't open to the idea of driving around in a small, "wimpy" electric car. It seems more suited for the Euro market, and honestly, if it were to cost $45K USD, I'm betting that every state besides California and New York would have a real tough time selling it.