Currently reading: New Nissan Leaf e+ launched with extra power and range

Limited edition of Nissan's popular electric car gains bigger batteries and produces 214bhp

A new range-topping version of the Nissan Leaf EV has been revealed by Nissan, featuring a boost in power and a longer range.

The Leaf 3.Zero e+ Limited Edition, launched at CES in Las Vegas, replaces the electric car’s standard 40kWh battery with a 62kWh unit. Nissan says it can achieve 239 miles on the WLTP test cycle, a 62-mile increase on the standard model.

The special edition, of which 5000 units will be offered in Europe, has also had its power increased to 214bhp, compared with 148bhp for the standard model. The car also features 250lb ft of torque and an increased top speed of 97mph.

The new 62kWh battery features 288 cells, compared with 192 in the standard unit. Nissan says it offers an increase of 25% in energy density and 55% in energy storage capacity but is a similar size to the 40kWh battery. The car sits 5mm higher on 16in wheels to account for the underfloor battery, but all other dimensions are unchanged.

Inside, there is a new 8.0in infotainment screen, with Nissan promising additional connectivity services. There are also new two-tone body colours.

Nissan has also launched a new Leaf 3.Zero model, which features the interior and exterior upgrades while retaining the 40kWh battery and standard power output of the original car.

The Leaf 3.Zero e+ will be priced from £36,795 in the UK, including the £3500 government grant for zero-emission cars, while the 3.Zero will start at £31,095 (including grant). The regular Nissan Leaf starts from £21,990.

Both are now available to order. Deliveries of the Leaf 3.Zero will start in May, with the e+ arriving in the UK in the summer.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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coolboy 9 January 2019

died on the beach

 with a new 70 kW DC charging capability (100 kW peak)...

 tsk, tsk, no good

LP in Brighton 9 January 2019

Silly price agreed!

Yes, the Leaf has a silly price, agreed. In fact Nissan is practically giving it away considering the billions of pounds spent developing it as well as its battery.  

To judge it in conventioal car terms is to miss the point and ignore the fact that the earth has finite resources and is becoming heavily polluted. Who cares if it's only capable of 100mph? What matters is that EVs are approximately four times as efficient so far as distance travelled per kWhr expended and emit zero pollution in use. Plus they are fast accelerating, recover braking energy, require no gearbox and are practically silent.

Sure there are some disadvantages compared with combustion engine cars, but that's to be expected given the petrol engine's century long continuous development. Now it's time for electric power to catch up, and I'd say that Nissan has made a pretty good start. 

Rexbo 9 January 2019

Silly price...

£37k after the grant, nonsensical. Until we have an electric car with this range or better in the £high teens to low £ twenties it doesn’t make sense or much of an impact. Despite what manufacturers / media say a £30k car is not affordable for the majority..and until the majority run electric / hydrogen cars there won’t be any significant change in the level of pollution..sadly.

si73 10 January 2019

Rexbo wrote:

Rexbo wrote:

£37k after the grant, nonsensical. Until we have an electric car with this range or better in the £high teens to low £ twenties it doesn’t make sense or much of an impact. Despite what manufacturers / media say a £30k car is not affordable for the majority..and until the majority run electric / hydrogen cars there won’t be any significant change in the level of pollution..sadly.

Totally agree, £30k+ is not affordable, a real game changer as you say will be when you can pay up to £20k for similar range.
What I really don't get is why this is a limited edition, this battery should be a permanent option on the basic car as well.