The 100% electric Nissan LEAF has been awarded 2011 European Car of the Year, beating 40 contenders to win Europe's most important motoring prize. Voted by 57 motorist journalists coming from 23 European countries, it's the first time in the 47-year history of the annual competition that this award is given to an electric vehicle.
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s President and CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “This award recognizes the Nissan LEAF as competitive to conventional cars in terms of safety, performance, spaciousness and handling. It also reflects Nissan’s standing as an innovative and exciting brand with a clear vision of the future of transportation, which we call sustainable mobility. With three other electric vehicles in the pipeline and with the imminent market introduction of four additional electric vehicles from our Alliance partner Renault, the Nissan LEAF represents a significant first step toward a zero-emission future”.
Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, the Nissan LEAF is a mid-sized hatchback vehicle that can carry five adults and that is capable of traveling a range of 160 kilometres. Its electric motor produces 80-kW/107-hp, with an impressive 206 lb-ft of torque, giving the car a top speed of 140 km/h.
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| Photo: Nissan |
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s President and CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “This award recognizes the Nissan LEAF as competitive to conventional cars in terms of safety, performance, spaciousness and handling. It also reflects Nissan’s standing as an innovative and exciting brand with a clear vision of the future of transportation, which we call sustainable mobility. With three other electric vehicles in the pipeline and with the imminent market introduction of four additional electric vehicles from our Alliance partner Renault, the Nissan LEAF represents a significant first step toward a zero-emission future”.
Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, the Nissan LEAF is a mid-sized hatchback vehicle that can carry five adults and that is capable of traveling a range of 160 kilometres. Its electric motor produces 80-kW/107-hp, with an impressive 206 lb-ft of torque, giving the car a top speed of 140 km/h.