Nissan made minor updates to the 2020 Nissan Leaf

MANILA: Nissan just announced that its new Leaf model that will be available early next year. It will get several minor upgrades including improvements on its driver assist feature and connectivity options.

Driver assistance systems

One of the changes is the improvement to the Leaf’s ProPILOT driver assistance technology which will include the ProPILOT Park feature, the NissanConnect1 system, and Nissan’s Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention system.

According to Nissan, the upgraded driver assistance systems will offer optimized control to reduce the stress and fatigue of the driver by providing “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.”

The ProPILOT Park control was also improved which is now 20 percent more responsive when parking in a garage or pulling forward into a parking slot. It can now also assist with all the details of parking such as accelerating, braking, steering, gear shifting, and braking. While the Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention lessens the risk of collisions when changing lanes.

The new upgraded 2020 Nissan Leaf will also come standard with Canto—the company’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.”

Connectivity

Connectivity in the new Leaf was improved via the Door to Door Navigation which allows users to pair their smartphones with the car’s navigation system for traffic updates and seamless navigation. The maps can also be updated over the air for data accuracy.

Another update on the 2020 Leaf is the ability of the car to display the EV function and recharging plan to ensure that you reach your destination. Docomo in Car Connect will also be made available to make the cabin into a Wi-Fi zone so you can remain connected wherever you go.

Other connectivity upgrades include Google search tools; Remote My Car Check/Remote Door Lock app—which helps you check if you’ve locked your car and can lock your car remotely if you forgot to do so; and a Nissan app which shows status updates about your car.

Other minor Leaf upgrades to look forward to:

• New body color options include Vivid Blue and Stealth Gray among others
• Shark fin antenna now comes standard in all trim levels
• A 9-inch infotainment system that now comes standard with the EV NissanConnect navigation system
• An updated navigation system that offers a more user-friendly interface and better map readability

For those wondering or hoping if there are improvements in the battery, we’d just like to set your expectations, that for now, there is none. But the company is contemplating on introducing the 160kW/340Nm e+ version of the Leaf, with a 62kWh battery that’s capable of providing 385km range. In comparison, the standard Leaf comes with 110kW/320Nm with a 40kWh battery has a driving range of 270km.

The new Leaf with upgrades will be released in Japan come February 2020 just in time for its 10th year anniversary.

Also Read: Nissan transforms the Leaf into mobile Christmas tree