A new Nissan LEAF will be released in December, and it will feature some impressive upgrades, including such luxurious features as a leather seats, a better heating system, and a darker interior. The LEAF is currently the best-selling all-electric vehicle in the U.S., and it just keeps getting better.

The LEAF's upgrades are really a product of consumers' wishes. As Mark Perry, Director of Product and Advanced Planning for Nissan America states that even though current LEAF owners enjoy the vehicle's recycled interior materials, "People want a dark interior, so we're to give them a dark interior, too."¹ For many drivers, this means adding leather as an option. And, with more consumers affected by the continual rise of gasoline prices, the 2013 Nissan LEAF could be an even better seller next year. As Perry notes, "After you pay that $80 to fill up your tank, you get ticked off and you say, 'I want to look at an electric.'"² The LEAF's new, more efficient heater should also impress drivers; the EV's cold-weather range will be expanded up to 20-25 miles.

Nissan will partially fund its upgrades with $1.4 billion in Energy Department loans received in 2010 to build batteries and up to 150,000 EVs every year in the U.S. The current model has an EPA estimated range of 73 miles, but Nissan says it can go up to 100 miles on a single charge, depending on driving and weather conditions.

Stay tuned here with Dick Scott Nissan, conveniently located at 42175 Michigan Avenue Canton, MI 48188, for more updates about the 2013 Nissan LEAF as they become available. In the meantime, check our current selection of new Nissan vehicles.

Source: ^1,2http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120320/AUTO01/203200342/Nissan-debut-improved-Leaf-December?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s