The new Nissan Leaf is called a cool SUV: when will the car be released

One of the first electric vehicles on the market, the Nissan Leaf, will soon be completely updated. The Japanese automaker is preparing to turn it from a nondescript family car into a cool SUV.

According to the British publication Autoexpress, it will come with available onboard bi-directional charging that can reduce fuel costs by up to 50 percent. The technology will debut in the Leaf, which will be assembled in Sunderland. The first cars with it will enter the market in 2026. Then the same chargers are planned to be installed on the new Juke and Qashqai electric vehicles. This is part of Nissan's plan to achieve zero emissions from its cars by 2050. The Leaf and other future models will be sold with a special home wall unit capable of sending electricity to the grid during periods of peak demand and then replenishing it when the need subsides.

Last year, Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida confirmed that the brand's Chill-Out concept, unveiled in 2021, will be the next-generation Leaf. The key elements of the Nissan Leaf Chill-Out concept are both the smooth, rounded roofline and the almost vertical tailgate, as well as the increased ground clearance expected of an SUV crossover.

However, the shape of the headlights is slightly different from the concept, and the production car will also have a more pointed nose. Nissan's signature design cues, such as the black V-motion grille, will be featured on the new Leaf. However, it should not resemble any other model in the brand's lineup.

The new Nissan Leaf is expected to be based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance's AmpR Medium platform (formerly CMF-EV) – even though the two companies reduced their interaction earlier this year. The architecture was designed to maximize the benefits of an all-electric powertrain layout. It also serves as the basis for the Nissan Ariya, our 2022 Car of the Year, as well as the Renault Megane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech.

The Leaf is expected to have the most in common with the Renault Megane hatchback, which is powered by a 217 hp electric motor and a 60 kWh battery pack that provides a 450 km range. However, given the aforementioned aerodynamic profile of the new Leaf, it can go even further on a single charge.

Inside, the Leaf should offer interior space somewhere between the Megane and Scenic and feature Nissan's latest infotainment system, which was introduced in the updated Qashqai. It is based on Google's Android Automotive OS.

Nissan has not yet confirmed when exactly the next generation Leaf will be presented or arrive in showrooms. According to rumors, production should begin in 2026. At the same time, the new product should be fully presented to the public.

However, it has already been confirmed that the Leaf will be one of three new electric vehicles that Nissan will launch by 2026. The others are the next-generation Juke and the successor to the Micra supermini, which will be based on the Renault 5 and will become the brand's base model.

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