2019 Nissan Leaf Plus Debuts at CES With 226-Mile Range
Long-range model also offers more power
Nissan has finally introduced a long-range version of the Leaf. The model will travel an EPA-estimated 226 miles, and it will have more power than the standard version.
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Range increases about 40 percent from the regular Leaf, which is rated at 150 miles. This increase comes thanks to a new 62-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Although it has a greater energy density and increased storage capacity, the new battery is almost the same physical size and configuration as the standard battery.
Nissan says power output has increased to 215 hp, about a 45-percent increase over the current model's 147 hp. Torque goes up from 236 lb-ft to 250 lb-ft. Top speed is also increased by 10 percent, and Nissan says accelerating from 50 to 75 mph is 13 percent quicker.
Nissan has optimized the e-Pedal featureto accommodate the new model's additional power and increased mass. E-pedal adds strong regenerative braking, allowing drivers to start, accelerate, and decelerate only with the accelerator pedal.
When it comes to charging, expect the new model, via a 100-kilowatt quick charger, to achieve similar charging times to the regular Leaf with a 50-kilowatt (DC) fast charger. That should mean up to an 80-percent charge in 40 minutes. Opting for the long-range model doesn't change the battery warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The new model receives an 8-inch display with an updated navigation system that links to your smartphone. Customers can also now update apps, maps, and firmware over the air with the touch of a button.
In the U.S. and Canada, the new model will be sold under the Leaf Plus Series.Other markets will call it the Leaf e+. Trim levels will include S Plus, SV Plus, and SL Plus.
The long-range Leaf goes on sale in the U.S. in spring 2019, so expect pricing to be announced closer to launch.
Source: Nissan
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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