News reports out of Yokohama

My Leaf will only get the finest lube:



Sorry, this is offtopic even for me, but I couldn't resist.

DeaneG said:

I'm pretty sure that the reviewer above was looking at the "instantaneous" energy consumption readout, instead of "average", and this was the reason for his complaint about rapidly changing numbers. The Nissan Leaf website spec sheet says the Leaf has both (just like an ICE car).

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Glad to hear the car is supposed to have an instantaneous energy consumption readout. At least on the Prius, I find that a key to getting good mileage numbers. Not sure where on the display this is shown though - anyone else notice where this might be?

Also - anyone know if there is also an instantaneous readout of the regenerated power? It would also be nice to know when you are regenerating power, and when you start to apply the mechanical breaks. The Prius had a sort of instantaneous one, plus the time average 1 minute and 5 minute displays. Something like that would be great.

Here is an excerpt of interest:

"Our own comments based on a short drive will come by mid-July, after Nissan finally ships one of the prototypes here. It is likely to be later in the summer or even the fall, though, before reviewers are allowed more than a few minutes in the car - and we will, of course, bring you a report on that event as well. So stay tuned."

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/06/nissan-leaf-take-ii-inside-line-takes-a-short-drive-finds-ev-impressive.html

sjfotos said:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/06/nissan-leaf-take-ii-inside-line-takes-a-short-drive-finds-ev-impressive.html

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We'll have to keep an eye out for Peter Nunn's review on Inside Line this week. That sounds like it could be interesting.

mwalsh said:

sjfotos said:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/06/nissan-leaf-take-ii-inside-line-takes-a-short-drive-finds-ev-impressive.html

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We'll have to keep an eye out for Peter Nunn's review on Inside Line this week. That sounds like it could be interesting.

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Yes, I've been disappointed that there have not been more published reviews, given the number of attendees. I know it is a long trip back, but you can write it on the plane !

sjfotos said:

Yes, I've been disappointed that there have not been more published reviews, given the number of attendees. I know it is a long trip back, but you can write it on the plane !

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Number of US attendees were probably not that many - most of the 500 are Japanese. My guess is that Nissan is planning a similar event in the US later (probably after acting on the feedback received in this event ?).

Did we have this one already:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Nissan-Leaf-Leaf/250574/

Some good photos (albeit smaller than I'd ideally want) in the gallery section!

Edit: There is a way to make the pictures bigger. You'll notice the link to the pictures is:

[link]http://cdn.images.autocar.co.uk/612x408FFFFFF/Car/Nissan/Leaf/Nissan-Leaf-1761010320313851200x795.jpg[/link]

If you edit /612x408FFFFFF/ to /1200x795FFFFFF/ the pictures then show at the actual resolution.

mwalsh said:

Did we have this one already:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Nissan-Leaf-Leaf/250574/

Some good photos (albeit smaller than I'd ideally want) in the gallery section!

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I love how that article gets all sorts of stuff wrong... most notably the CVT.

mwalsh said:

Did we have this one already:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Nissan-Leaf-Leaf/250574/

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I think this has not been posted here before - atleast I hadn't read it.

From zero to 30mph, the Leaf accelerates faster than a V6 but progress slows as revs rise. The Leaf will reach 60 mph from rest in 11.5 seconds which is comparable to a base-spec petrol Golf.

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It's difficult to believe anything until Nissan releases more performance data, or we get a couple of instrumented reviews beyond "this is pretty cool".

Finally, another test drive feedback, thought you have to wade through paragraphs before getting there.

500 Journalists and still we have less than 10 reviews......they must all still be at the bar!

"Aside from plugging this car in instead of filling it with petrol, it all feels pretty normal. It is easy to use, easy to drive and has amazing technology. No, you won’t drive from Dublin to Cork in it without stopping and it isn’t that cheap either. But debates about where the electricity comes from aside, it does have zero emissions. Yes, they do seem to be onto something after all."


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2010/0623/1224273105108.html

Dublin to Cork: with two stops at carefully-chosen pubs (with the 30-minute Quick-Charger outside), one would arrive ... 6 hours late, but in jolly good spirits?

garygid said:

Dublin to Cork: with two stops at carefully-chosen pubs (with the 30-minute Quick-Charger outside), one would arrive ... 6 hours late, but in jolly good spirits?

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I would be happy to make that trip for as long as it takes!

One more:

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/leaf/2011/2011-nissan-leaf-prototype-japan-first-drive.html

Edit: Oh, I guess this is the Peter Nunn report we were waiting on.

mwalsh said:

One more:

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/leaf/2011/2011-nissan-leaf-prototype-japan-first-drive.html

Edit: Oh, I guess this is the Peter Nunn report we were waiting on.

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Thank you mwalsh. Finally, a fully written, more informative review.

But the Leaf is heavy, weighing in at more than 3,307 pounds, according to what one engineer told us.

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Is that the final answer on the weight ?

sjfotos said:

Thank you mwalsh. Finally, a fully written, more informative review.

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BUT (and it's a big but to me).....no useful new pictures!

Frankly, and this is not a criticism of Mr. Nunn's article in particular, I'm getting kinda sick of reports that rely on prototype vehicle images. It's not like pre-production vehicle images aren't available from Nissan, even if they don't bother to take their own pictures for whatever reason. Perhaps they're just not that easy to find on the Nissan website? Though we didn't seem to have any trouble, did we? :roll:

mwalsh said:

sjfotos said:

Thank you mwalsh. Finally, a fully written, more informative review.

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BUT (and it's a big but to me).....no useful new pictures!

Frankly, and this is not a criticism of Mr. Nunn's article in particular, I'm getting kinda sick of reports that rely on prototype vehicle images. It's not like pre-production vehicle images aren't available from Nissan, even if they don't bother to take their own pictures for whatever reason. Perhaps they're just not that easy to find on the Nissan website? Though we didn't seem to have any trouble, did we? :roll:

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It is plain laziness

The good news is that the 206 pound-feet of torque available from the Leaf's electric motor is available as soon as you press the accelerator, so the Leaf feels anything but slow as it moves off the line.

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Is that the first mention of the torque ?

LEAFer said:

Is that the first mention of the torque ?

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Not by a very long shot.

It's the first recent mention of the curb weight. It's a few hundred pounds lighter than the last estimate uttered by a Nissan employee.