The “world’s cleanest car” is daring its fans to get it dirty. Nissan is launching a social media campaign that will include a series of online videos to showcase a zero-emissions Nissan LEAF with self-cleaning nano-paint technology.
Created to demonstrate its potential use in future production vehicles, this LEAF is armed with Ultra-Ever Dry paint to help repel almost any liquid that may come its way. Nissan first introduced the one-of-a-kind LEAF this past April.
“The LEAF is already one of the cleanest vehicles around even without this incredibly innovative paint technology; that said, we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty to take this to the next level,” said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Getting fans involved via this social media campaign is a fun, creative way to show how the LEAF can stay clean no matter how dirty the world around it may be. A marriage with the Ultra-Ever Dry® exterior coating truly puts this LEAF in a league of its own, and we’re excited to see where this technology can take us.”
First in the series of planned activations, “The Nissan Paint Prank” will launch on YouTube. A “Three Stooges” style calamity, the video catches expressions of innocent bystanders shocked to see what happens as a crew of painters “accidentally” spills buckets of paint on the Nissan LEAF. As bystanders are playfully made aware of the prank, viewers online will be encouraged to visit Nissan’s Instagram channel to participate in a related series of videos.
First up on Instagram, “Guess the Mess” challenges fans to guess the liquid being poured on the self-cleaning LEAF. After guessing the mess, it’s the fans’ turn to decide what gets poured on the LEAF in the final set of videos entitled “Will it Stick?” Fans will be called upon on Instagram to suggest things they’d like to see dumped on the LEAF – ketchup, honey, eggs… anything is in play. Starting next week, Nissan will decide “if it sticks” by sharing videos on Instagram that will include the liquids suggested by selected fans. To encourage suggestions for liquids to pour on the LEAF from Instagram users, all participants will be entered for a chance to win a gift card toward a car wash.
While there are currently no plans for this unique paint coating technology to be applied to Nissan vehicles as standard equipment, Nissan continues to consider the technology as a future aftermarket option.
For 2015, the zero-emissions Nissan LEAF is available in three trim levels: LEAF S, SV and SL, along with option packages offering advanced systems such as Around View Monitor and seven-speaker Bose energy-efficient audio and Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant. The EPA estimated driving range for LEAF on a fully charged battery is rated at 84 miles and MPGe ratings are 126 City, 101 Highway and 114 Combined. Nissan LEAF can be charged up to 80 percent of its full capacity in 30 minutes when equipped with a quick charge port and using a fast charger. Charging at home through a 240V charging dock is estimated to take less than five hours with the 6.6 kW onboard charger (less than eight hours with the S grade’s standard 3.6 kW onboard charger). However, charging times may vary.
