It is believe that Nissan might be looking into the possibility of having more than one Nissan Leaf in the market and that besides the successor for the standard Nissan Leaf, we might also be seeing a new Nissan Leaf that will come in with a crossover body.
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Former plant boss Trevor Mann, now Nissan executive vice-president, has suggested there is room to expand the range. “We’ve always said it needn’t be one auto”.
Nissan has been building the Leaf for a few years; the small electric auto has been a success (especially here!) even though it is a little expensive, because it is a bespoke platform with a bespoke motor. One report claims that the next-generation Leaf will carry a whole new powertrain that will better rival segment leader Tesla. The second-gen Leaf is scheduled to debut in 2017 at the latest, so the crossover could be presented at a major auto show the following year. This extended range will ease buyers’ minds, making the Leaf a more viable option for commuters.
In case you forgot, Nissan already sells another electric vehicle beyond the LEAF, namely the e-NV200, and has announced a hybrid version of the popular Rogue.
According to World auto Fans, the aforementioned crossover will likely be a bit larger and heavier, but Nissan will no doubt compensate the added weight by installing more batteries, so expect the range to land in the same ballpark.
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Additionally, the next-generation Leaf will take on less polarizing look.
