This month, Nissan North America will roll out the 2012 model of its LEAF with enhanced standard equipment – including quick-charging capability, and features that will improve cold-weather operation and comfort.
On July 25, Nissan will begin processing existing reservations for the LEAF in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. A week later, on August 4, Nissan on will accept orders from the general public, both in abovementioned new markets, as well as in sales territories where the Nissan LEAF already has been offered (including the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington). Drivers can expect delivery of their 2012 models in the fall.
The improvements to the already-popular vehicle are based on feedback from thousands of owners who already have driven several millions of miles in the first 100-percent electric car for the mass market.
“Many … consumers have eagerly anticipated ordering a Nissan LEAF of their own, and now we can make zero-emissions mobility a reality in more markets,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at Nissan North America. “In response to direct feedback from Nissan LEAF owners, the features that customers want most will come standard on the 2012 Nissan LEAF – including quick charging and cold-weather features.”
For the 2012 model, Nissan has standardized the most popular options, including:
DC fast-charge capability: The vast majority of 2011 model consumers have opted for the DC fast -hare port, which enables the vehicle to be charged at 480V – reducing the time necessary to charge the vehicle from empty to 80 percent full to less than 30 minutes. As DC fast-charge stations proliferate across the country, Nissan expects this feature to become even more popular. For 2012, fast-charging capability will be standard on the SL trim level.
Cold weather features: As the Nissan LEAF rolls out to U.S. markets with colder climates, cold -weather features become standard equipment on all trim levels of the Nissan LEAF. These include a battery warmer, heated steering wheel, and heated seats in both the front and rear.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the 2012 Nissan LEAF is $35,200 for the SV trim level, and $37,250 for the SL trim level. The monthly lease price will begin at a highly competitive $369.
Nissan will expand into additional new markets as the year continues. In the fall, orders from existing reservations and new reservations will begin in Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By the end of the year, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island will be added as markets where the Nissan LEAF will be available for order.
More than 4,000 Nissan LEAFs have been delivered to U.S. customers, and Nissan, as it begins the next phase of the launch, continues to learn from their experiences. While 82 percent have never previously owned a Nissan, a full 75 percent considered no other vehicle than the Nissan LEAF in their purchase decision. On a whole, these early adopters report that they are using the Nissan LEAF as their primary car, and driving it far more than they had originally anticipated. These consumers, most of whom are highly educated and have high income levels, are technologically savvy, environmentally conscious, and consider themselves advocates for electric-car technology.
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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
