Nissan has given Irish consumers the first opportunity in Europe to see and test drive the Nissan LEAF by launching the all-electric vehicle in Dublin city during its European public debut on Wednesday August 4, 2010. The zero emissions car is currently on a country-wide tour calling to Dundrum Shopping Centre, Dublin, Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Cork and Headford Road Shopping Centre, Galway.
Order books are now open in Ireland and Portugal and test drives can also be reserved. This follows strong interest in Europe and the US, while Japanese pre-orders have exceeded 23,000 units since online sales began in April this year.
The LEAF's AC motor develops 107hp and 280Nm of torque and has a top speed of 140km/h. Importantly, a full charge delivers a range of up to 160 kilometres, enough to satisfy the daily driving demands of 80 percent of the world's population - according to surveys.
The LEAF features air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera along with innovative smart phone connectivity that will allow the owner to heat or cool the interior of the car remotely via a mobile phone.
Simon Thomas, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Nissan International SA said: "Nissan LEAF will appeal on many levels; it's a completely zero-emission electric car with all of the financial and environmental benefits that will bring, but it is also a practical family size car and fun to drive. That's a powerful combination, and Nissan LEAF is already attracting significant interest from prospective customers."
The Nissan LEAF is priced at €29,995 in Ireland (taking into consideration the €5,000 Government rebate) including the all-important battery. Running costs are anticipated at less than €1.20 per 100 kilometres in Ireland, representing almost an 80 percent saving on an average small diesel family car.