Nissan LEAF 2014 News

Flares have never gone out of fashion in Japan and the annual Tokyo Auto Salon shows why.

The electric dream is fast turning into a nightmare - Australian sales of electric vehicles have dwindled to a trickle.

A vote by 75 motoring journalists from 22 countries has awarded the compact prestige car the World Car of the Year award for 2015.It finished on top of a 24-car field and eventually beat the two other finalists, the Ford Mustang and Volkswagen Passat.The other big prizes for 2015, Green Car of the Year and Performance Car of the Year, went to the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 and the Mercedes-AMG GT coupe.The winners were announced at the New York Motor Show today at an event hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum at the culmination of a six-month voting process.The C-Class delivers levels of refinement, luxury, safety, ride and handling that challenge best-in-class.The awards are in their 11th year and previous winners include the Audi A6, BMW 3 Series, Lexus LS460 and Volkswagen Golf, Polo and Up.To be eligible for the overall World Car award, candidate cars must have become available for sale on at least two continents between January 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015.The WCOTY wins by Mercedes-Benz follow its victories in the Green Car contest in 2007 with the E320 Bluetec and 2012 with the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and its Luxury Car success with the S Class in 2014.“We are extremely delighted of winning the honour of World Car of the Year,” says the chairman of Daimler, Dr Dieter Zetsche.The WCOTY victory follows a similar success for the C-Class in the CarsGuide Car of the Year award.The WCOTY judging panel says: “Taking its design and technological cues from the S-Class, the C-Class employs an all-new aluminium/steel hybrid platform and updated rear-drive powertrains that delivers levels of refinement, luxury, safety, ride and handling that challenge best-in-class.” WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015Overall winner: Mercedes-Benz C-ClassGreen Car: BMW i8Performance Car: Mercedes-AMG GTLuxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S CoupeDesign: Citroen CactusPREVIOUS WORLD COTY WINNERS:2014: Audi A32013: Volkswagen Golf2012: Volkswagen Up2011: Nissan Leaf2010: Volkswagen Polo2009: Volkswagen Golf2008: Mazda22007: Lexus LS4602006: BMW 3 Series2005: Audi A6

Can the new BMW i3 change the way Australians embrace electric cars?The increase in fuel tax has sparked predictable radio chatter this week about the cost of motoring. Apart from ordinary families facing another belt in the budget, experts from all points of the compass talked about the future of fossil fuel and the hybrid and plug-in electric cars already on the road.One spoke of fuel cell cars that generate on-board electricity (but not of the hydrogen stations needed to keep them going).The reality is that electric cars, despite big talk by everyone up to global head of Nissan-Renault Carlos Ghosn, are struggling for traction across the world.So far this year, only 200 Australians have bought a battery car. We don't know how many are with ordinary motorists or government departments and councils.The big problems for battery cars are obvious: cost and 'range anxiety'. The price problem will never go away until governments are prepared to provide the sort of subsidies that have boosted sales in Europe and the US going back to the original Toyota Prius. The Australian list price for a Leaf is $39,990 - it's similar in size to the Pulsar you can buy for less than $20,000. The Holden Volt is $59,990.Range anxiety is the fear of running short of charge, even though Australians typically commute less than 100km daily.Both challenges came into sharp relief this week as I slid into the latest electric contender, the BMW i3. It's a brilliant car, despite four safety stars, trendy, efficient and drives well.BMW has an optional range-extender engine that lifts the distance between charges to 300km but there is still the problem of price - are people prepared to pay at least $63,900 for a future car that's here and now?

THE Audi A3 small car -- which owes much of its DNA to the Volkswagen Golf -- has won the 2014 World Car of the Year, as voted by 69 jurors from 22 countries. The luxury hatch toppled the widely-tipped favourite, the Mazda3 from Japan, in the awards announced at the New York motor show today.The Audi A3 was among five German cars that took out a cleansweep of the 2014 World Car of the Year categories, and it was Audi’s second win in 10 years, having won the inaugural award. Indeed, German cars have won seven of the past 10 World Car of the Year awards, Japanese brands have won the remaining three.Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Audi's North America president Scott Keogh said: “The Audi A3 has only been on sale three weeks and already it’s off to a flying start.”Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi, said: “This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate.”The Audi A3 was among 24 finalists that included the BMW i3 electric car, which won the Green Car of the Year and the Car Design of the Year. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the Luxury Car of the Year while the Porsche 911 GT3 was awarded top performance car honours.But the Mazda3 had emerged as an early favourite for the outright World Car of the Year award following rave reviews globally since it went on sale late last year. The previous generation Mazda3 has been Australia’s top selling car for two of the past three years, and was the vehicle that ended the Holden Commodore’s record 15-years as the market leader, in 2011.The Mazda3 is returned to the top of the sales charts so far this year -- after being overtaken by the Toyota Corolla in 2013 -- and is likely to take out top-seller status this year buoyed by the new model which went on sale in January.World car of the year winners2014 – Audi A32013 -- Volkswagen Golf Mk72012 -- Volkswagen Up2011 -- Nissan Leaf2010 -- Volkswagen Polo2009 -- Volkswagen Golf Mk62008 -- Mazda22007 -- Lexus LS4602006 -- BMW 3 Series2005 -- Audi A62014 World Car of The Year category winnersGreen car of the Year -- BMW i3 electric carCar Design of the Year -- BMW i3 electric carPerformance Car of the Year -- Porsche 911 GT3Luxury Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz S-ClassThis reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

New-car prices will hit new lows between now and the end of the month as Japanese brands push to reach their sales targets before the end of the Japanese financial year, which is March 31.March is typically the second-biggest month of the year for new-car sales behind June, the end of the Australian financial year. The good news for car buyers is that the heavy discounting from the Japanese companies also brings down prices across the industry as rivals try to compete.The profit margins on some cars are so slim that dealers claim they only make money on window tinting -- and finance if arranged through the dealership. Last year, the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Pulsar had their prices wound back by 20 years to $19,990, and others followed.The Japanese Government has for the past 12 months artificially devalued the Yen to boost exports and keep their car factories running at full capacity. Car companies and dealers refused to comment on-the-record about the "D-word" -- discount -- but a search across the industry found some sharp deals on popular cars.The cheapest models from Japanese brands are the Suzuki Alto ($11,990 drive-away) and the Mitsubishi Mirage ($12,990 drive-away), both about $3000 off their full recommended retail prices. Despite their bargain prices both five-door hatchbacks come with the latest safety features, including six airbags and stability control.Meanwhile Suzuki has the cheapest small car below $20,000 with a built-in navigation system: the special edition Swift Navigator is $16,990 drive-away, about $3500 off.Nissan's website says its Pulsar small car is $22,315 drive-away but we found several dealers prepared to sell one for $18,990 drive-away, more than $3000 off. "We'll sell you a car but there's nothing in it for us," said one Nissan dealer who did not want to be named. "That's a white car with manual transmission and standard-issue number plates." Automatic transmission typically adds $2000, metallic paint adds up to $550 on some brands and, in NSW, premium number plates cost about $60 more than standard-issue plates.The only people not celebrating the sharp new-car prices are the dealers. "It's not uncommon to not make a dollar on the car," said a Mitsubishi dealer. "We hope to make it back on accessories, finance or when the customer comes back to get the car serviced."Car dealers typically get a commission of about $1200 on the finance on a $20,000 car -- if the finance is arranged through the dealership. "That's more than the profit on the car," said another dealer. Buyers might also get lucky if the dealer is a few cars short of their monthly sales target."Sometimes you'll rip up a car (sell it below cost) in the last one or two days of the month, just to get over the line," said one multi-franchise dealer principal with more than 20 years' experience in the trade. "That sale could mean the difference between getting a big bonus from the factory, or nothing."The biggest discounts are on the dearest cars. The Nissan 370Z sports-car is now $59,990 drive-away, it was $72,000 plus on-road costs the same time last year, a saving of about $15,000. The Nissan Leaf electric car is now $39,990 drive-away, compared to $51,500 plus on-road costs when it was launched two years ago, a saving of about $14,000 off the full RRP. The Mitsubishi Pajero GLX-R 4WD wagon is now $54,990 drive-away -- it is normally $60,000 drive-away -- but dealers we spoke to said there was at least a further "$1000 to $2000 wriggle room" left in this deal.For those looking for a family sedan the locally-made Toyota Camry can be bought at a discounted price of $29,990 drive-away with Toyota's 1 per cent finance, about $3000 off the full RRP -- and more than $3000 off the repayments at market interest rates. This deal is unique because, customarily, low interest rate offers apply only to the full RRP of the car, which is how the car companies fund the deal.In most cases it is cheaper to arrange your own finance and haggle hard on the price of the car. But Toyota has bucked this trend by offering a low interest rate as well as a drive-away price on the Camry to keep the struggling Toyota factory at Altona running.Meanwhile the Mazda CX-9 Luxury SUV normally sells for $52,980 plus on-roads, but it is now $51,990 drive-away, a saving of about $5000 off the full RRP. But as with the Mitsubishi Pajero deal, Mazda dealers say there is still a further $1000 to $2000 to negotiate off the luxury version of the Mazda CX-9 if buyers sign on the dotted line by the end of the month.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

Nissan has unveiled a sportier version of the LEAF electric vehicle that may appeal to more people at the Tokyo motor show. Called the Nissan LEAF Aero Style it has the same all-electric powertrain but gains some visual enhancements that Nissan says give it a special feel and enhanced attractiveness. The car features a new look front bumper with built-in LED daytime running lights, side sill protectors and a rear air diffuser. It also adds new look 17-inch aluminium-alloy wheels with a special blue accent to give the car a unique feel. Nissan's executive vice president Takao Katagiri said the car's popularity had been extraordinary since its launch, with global sales already topping 83,000 units. "We hope you look forward to the introduction of the Nissan LEAF Aero Style that will retain all the important virtues of the cutting-edge LEAF, but adds a high level of excitement that will surely satisfy all of our customers," he said. The Tokyo show car was finished in a dark metal grey colour, designed to accentuate its stylishness. Nissan says LEAF Aero Style will appeal to customers who want to add an individual touch to their car. The car is set for release in Japan this month but there's no word if and when we can expect to see it (maybe when they've cleared the backlog of LEAFs sitting in showrooms around the country). While the Leaf has been popular in other markets, it has failed to excite buyers here. So far Nissan has sold 161 electric LEAFs this year. _______________________________________  

But do we really care more about volts and hertz than kiloWatts and Newton-metres?

The idea is good, and the green power pluses are mostly fine, but no-one wants to pay to play this way.Global sales of plug-in cars are currently little more than a trickle, even if Tesla of America is currently trumpeting a showroom success - thanks to massive government subsidies across the Pacific - that means its Model S outsold the about-to-be-replaced Benz C-Class last month in the USA.Here in Australia, Nissan has slashed the price of its plug-in Leaf by $7000 and has an $85-a-week repayment plan to try and entice buyers.But the numbers are not good and even Carlos Ghosn, global boss of the Nissan-Renault alliance that leads the mainstream conversion to battery power, says it's going to take time - and large-scale conversion work in China - to turn electric power into anything beyond an oddity.We're expecting the Renault Zoe in 2014 and it drives well and looks good, but Renault Australia has effectively cancelled its plan for a Fluence electric car because Better Place - the start-up energy company that's in all sorts of trouble - cannot deliver on its plans for battery-swap stations across Australia.But there is something new that could also help and it plugs into one of the oldest maxims in the car business - Racing improves the Breed.This tagline is mostly applied to V8-powered racers that have fuelled our appetite for V8 muscle cars, but it applies just as well - or better - to a new category called Formula E. Think of it as F1 with batteries.The plug-in racers are set to run in 2014 in a new world championship that's also intended to take the whisper-quiet contenders into the hearts of some of the world's biggest and best-known cities, including Rome, Rio, London and even Bangkok. The organisers are planning for 20 cars in 10 teams.Not surprisingly, Renault is an early adopter for Formula E and will supply cars and power packs, while TAG-Heuer wants to time the action and get a nice green rub-off for its watch business.“We believe that motorsport is an efficient manner to promote the efficiency of new technologies, and we’re eager to use that single-seater in FIA Formula E championship to show our technology is the best,” says Patric Ratti, managing director of Renault Sport Technologies.But the key to Formula E is huge support from Paris, and the global headquarters of the FIA. The French organisation is responsible for overall governance of world motorsport but is taking a growing role in road safety and the future of the automobile, including its electrification.It believes Formula E can be a powerful tool to drive electric power forward, as well as showcasing the advantages of plug-in power and the performance potential of battery cars.The conversion plan looks shakier in Australia, because we rely on dirty coal combustion for almost all our power, but it still has plenty going for it.A bunch of high-tech single seaters will highlight the latest developments in electric power and, provided no-one runs out of zap, it's a formula for potential success that could revive another of those hoary old slogans from the past.You know it - Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

But anyone who bought one has just had thousands of dollars wiped from the value of their vehicle.  Japanese car maker Nissan has slashed the price of its slow-selling Leaf to $39,990 drive-away, less than 12 months after it went on sale in Australia. The new RRP equates to $36,000 before on-road costs are added, which makes the Nissan Leaf at least $15,000 cheaper than the $51,500 price it was introduced at locally in July 2012.Nissan Australia then dropped the price of the Leaf to $46,990 in December last year, but that too failed to spark sales.In a last ditch effort to get Australians to buy a car that runs purely on electricity and has a maximum driving range of 160km, Nissan has gutted the price to within $3000 of a Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid (which starts at $33,990 but stretches beyond $40,000 on some models)."We want to sell more," said Nissan Australia spokesman Peter Fadeyev. "We want to stimulate the market."However the 116 pioneer buyers who paid full price and have already taken delivery of a Nissan Leaf may not be so happy about the price cut because it will immediately affect their car's already weak resale value."Early adopter" customers will not be reimbursed the price difference, Nissan says. When asked if those Leaf customers brave enough to take an early punt could look forward to a cheque in the mail, the Nissan spokesman said: "No. New car prices change. We reserve that right like all car makers."Electric cars were hailed as the saviour of the automobile with their reinvention in the modern era five years ago, with some companies claiming up to 10 per cent of all new cars sold by 2020 would run on electric power.But the limited driving range and high cost of the battery technology -- which has pushed up the price of electric cars -- have blunted their appeal in Australia and overseas. And the most informed forecasts are now at less than 2 per cent by 2020.The car industry now says electric cars with "range extending" petrol engines are the next phase of hybrid cars and will find broader appeal.Vehicles like the Holden Volt can be driven a distance of up to 88km on electric power alone before a petrol motor takes over, to give an overall driving range of about 400km. But for all its tech savvy, the Volt's local appeal is limited somewhat by its $60,000 price.Mitsubishi and others have adopted a similar plug-in hybrid philosophy with their new generation hybrid cars.Toyota, the world's biggest seller of hybrid vehicles, also has plans to introduce a plug-in version of its Prius that can travel 20km on a single charge before switching to petrol power.  Today's Prius can drive about 1km on battery power alone. The plug-in Prius has been sold in limited numbers locally and overseas but should reach the mainstream when the new model arrives in three years.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling