The Nissan Leaf was named 2011 World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show, taking the top spot ahead of the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8. It is the second important award for the Japanese automaker’s all-electric car after being voted 2011 European Car of the Year.
Here's how the World Car Awards jurors justified their vote:
“The Leaf is the gateway to a brave new electric world from Nissan. This 5-seater, 5-door hatchback is the world's first, purpose-built, mass-produced electric car. It has a range of over 100 miles on a full charge claims Nissan, takes around 8 hours to recharge using 220-240V power supply and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Its low center of gravity produced sharp turn-in with almost no body roll and no understeer. The good news? It feels just like a normal car, only quieter.”
Launched in 2004, the World Car of the Year competition assesses cars with the help of a panel of automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America.
“This accolade recognizes Nissan LEAF, a pioneer in zero-emission mobility, as comparable in its driving performance, quietness and superb handling to gas-powered cars,” said Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn. “And it validates Nissan’s clear vision and the values of sustainable mobility that we want to offer to customers around the world.”
Currently available in Japan, the United States and select European markets, the Leaf will be launched in other global markets in 2012. The EV is built at Nissan’s Oppama plant in Japan, with U.S. and UK manufacturing to follow in late 2012 and early 2013 respectively (in Smyrna, Tennessee and Sunderland).
9 Comments:
Did they have to tow this Leaf to the podium to get there or was the stop/start working properly on this one?
with a comment like that i would post anonymously as well
Wonder if the chrome will bubble on the grill.
turtle mode = nissan commode
By the looks of most of these comments, the buttholes are out.
It's a great first step (and miles ahead of the not-yet-widely-available, and 30% more-expensive Dolt), but... can't...
stand...
the...
"styling"... ugh.
C'mon Nissan, give that homely thing a facelift already!
it is also too expensive as well. It is not the best looking car but then again it is what it is and those who buy this are concerned about the earth and not the looks of this car, as for people trying to save money on gas prices, the price of the car really eat up any savings. This is a car for a green person and like the homely looking poor reliable Toyota Prius it will be a hit and it should be better then Toyota with Nissan who is still a reliable car unlike Toyota's. I guess if all I had to buy was this or the toyota I would buy the leaf so I know I aleast have a safe car
It's going in the right direction (all-EV), but the leaf is not ready for primetime, not with that shit range and awful looks that all nissans have been suffering from lately.
Nissan rushed this car and could have made it loads better; they didn't so I don't see any reason to give it credit beyond it being an electric car - it hasn't exactly set the bar up high, has it now?
Range equal to or better than ICE's, or nothing at all.
The Japanese were born to give quality to the world.
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