A while back we got news that Nissan was working on making sure the 2013 Nissan Leaf would go farther from the previous versions and they have accomplished that by creating a better heater. This new Leaf is on schedule to start production later this year in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Many reports being released about the expectations that the new heater making the car run further are based on a Japanese language website, Sankei Biz and the information is misleading for Americans because in Japan the tests are run differently and are more lenient than United States testing standards. The Japanese tests have the car at running more than 250 kilometers (155 miles) in all weather conditions. More realistically though is that the 2013 Nissan Leaf will get a 25% better range over the current Leaf which run 73 miles according to the EPA, which would bring the expectations to around 91 miles, which is still a lot of miles to run on a battery. A more efficient motor and upgraded battery also help with that improvement.
While the miles are certainly important, some news we found as exciting, is that there could be a cut in costs for those interested in owning their own Leaf. According to the Sankei Biz website there could be an entry level Leaf released as early as the end of this year. This model is speculated to start at 2.5 million yen, which at today’s exchange rates would be around $31,500 USD. The current version is priced at 3.7 million yen, which equates to $46,600. If this follows through to the American market, the entry level Leaf pricing could be as low as $26,600. What the entry level version Nissan Leaf would include remains to be seen, but that is a much more reasonable price for drivers who are hoping to also save money at the gas pumps. Nissan has not commented with a confirmation or denial of this rumor as of this point yet.
Source Inside EVs