Nissan Leaf gets Japan upgrades

Upgraded driver assistance technologies and connected features will be added to the Nissan Leaf for the Japan market from February.

The changes coming in time for the EV’s 10th anniversary include improvements to the Leaf’s ProPilot driver assistance technology, the ProPilot Park feature and the NissanConnect1 system, as well as the introduction of Nissan’s Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention system.

New body colour options are also available, with the upgrades expected to eventually filter down to the used car market.

Customers in Japan have purchased more than 132,000 Nissan Leaf cars since the pioneering EV model was first introduced in 2010.

ProPilot now offers even more vehicle controllability to reduce driver fatigue and stress

Its speed control has been optimised, especially to provide smoother braking in various conditions. 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 by 20% that it takes to park the car in a garage or to pull forward into a parking space.

It can assist with all parking manoeuvres 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 include Nissan Door to Door Navigation, which pairs your smartphone and the car’s navigation system to provide seamless directions.

It now has a specific EV function that displays a recharging plan to help drivers reach their 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.

Seeking a destination has been made easier by integrating Google search tools, also a first for a Nissan car.

The Remote My Car Check/Remote Door Lock app checks whether the car’s locked – and if not lets you do so remotely.

An app also lets you check the vehicle’s status – such as speed, location and curfew alert – when it’s being driven by someone else to ensure their safety and responsibility on the road.

Other changes see the EV NissanConnect navigation system’s nine-inch screen now standard, offering better viewing of maps and menus as well as a more user-friendly interface.

New body colours include Vivid Blue and Stealth Gray, and all trim levels come with a shark fin antenna as standard.

Nissan subsidiary Autech Japan is also upgrading the Nissan Leaf Autech edition, to be introduced at Nissan dealerships across Japan from February.

It will come with the same Leaf upgrades plus a new body colour – the two-tone Aurora Flare Blue Pearl with Super Black roof, which takes colour options for the Autech edition to seven.

Recommended retail prices in Japan for the latest Nissan Leaf start at 3326,400 yen with the Autech starting at 4094,200 yen.

The NissanConnect service requires a paid annual contract.