Nissan will upgrade driver assistance technologies and connected features in the Nissan LEAF for the Japan market from February 2020, in time for the zero-emission model’s 10th anniversary.
The changes include improvements to the LEAF’s ProPILOT driver assistance technology, the ProPILOT Park feature and the NissanConnect system, as well as the introduction of Nissan’s Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention system. New body color options are also available.
Customers in Japan have purchased more than 132,000 Nissan LEAF cars since the pioneering EV model was first introduced in 2010.
Key details of the latest upgrade are:
Driver assistance systems
ProPILOT now offers even more vehicle controllability to reduce driver fatigue and stress. ProPILOT’s speed control has been optimized, especially to provide smoother braking in various conditions for a comfortable, relaxing drive. The system can maintain the driver’s set speed on inclined roadways and balance powertrain output when returning to flatter road surfaces.
ProPILOT Park controls have been fine-tuned to reduce the time it takes to park the car in a garage, or to pull forward into a parking space, by 20%. ProPILOT Park can assist with all parking maneuvers including acceleration, braking, steering, gear shifting and the parking brake.
For the first time on a Nissan EV, the LEAF now also comes with Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention, designed to help prevent collisions when changing lanes.
The LEAF will also be equipped with Canto, Nissan’s signature projected sound that assists the awareness level of pedestrians and others that the EV is approaching when it’s being driven at city speeds or reversing. Originally introduced at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, the sound debuted on the latest Japan-market Nissan Serena.
New NissanConnect services and content
Nissan Door to Door Navigation, which pairs your smartphone and the car’s navigation system to provide seamless directions, now has a specific EV function that displays a recharging plan to help you reach your destination. Map updates can be made over the air. For the first time, the LEAF will come with Docomo in Car Connect®, turning the cabin into a Wi-Fi zone to eliminate smartphone data usage while driving.
Searching for a destination has been made easier by integrating Google search tools, a first for a Nissan car. The Remote My Car Check/Remote Door Lock app checks whether you’ve locked the car – and if you haven’t, lets you do so remotely. An app also lets you check the status of your Nissan – such as speed, location and curfew alert – when it’s being driven by someone else, such as a family member, to ensure their safety and responsibility on the road.
Other changes
The EV NissanConnect navigation system’s 9-inch screen now comes standard, offering better viewing of maps and menus as well as a more user-friendly interface.
New body colors include Vivid Blue and Stealth Gray, and all trim levels come with a shark fin antenna as standard.
Nissan LEAF Autech
Autech Japan Inc., a Nissan subsidiary, is also upgrading the Nissan LEAF Autech edition. It will be introduced at Nissan dealerships across Japan from February 2020.
In addition to the same ProPILOT, ProPILOT Park and NissanConnect upgrades as the base model LEAF, the Nissan LEAF Autech will also come in a new body color unique to Autech – the two-tone Aurora Flare Blue Pearl with Super Black roof. This takes the total color options for the Autech edition to seven.
Recommended retail prices for the latest Nissan LEAF start at 3,326,400 yen. The Nissan LEAF Autech starts at 4,094,200 yen.
