Nissan and Chrysler released a joint statement today announcing the end of their partnership to produce three vehicles:
Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn unveiled Nissan’s first zero-emission electric vehicle (EV) at the company’s new headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday, in the form of a blue hatchback. The hatchback, which is set to go on sale in Japan, the U.S. next year and worldwide from 2012, had a sporty design penned by Nissan designer, Shiro Nakamura, and was the first time the external design of the EV was revealed. Nakamura said the EV was designed to be a real car rather than a futuristic design as Nissan does not intended the Leaf to be a niche car; a sentiment reiterated by Carlos Ghosn.
YOKOSUKA, Japan – Nissan Motor Co. demonstrated its super-quiet, pure zero-emission electric vehicle (EV) platform on a Versa/Tiida-based prototype earlier today. The prototype uses a 24 kWh compact lithium-ion battery pack located under the vehicle floor to allow for more cabin and luggage space. The battery is recharged while the car is driving by the energy from the braking system, extending the driving range to 160 kilometres (99 miles) under a full charge. A handy navigation map screen on the EV’s dashboard provides a driving radius within range of the car’s charge, so drivers won’t get stranded on the highway. The electric motor powering the EV delivers 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque for response and powerful acceleration.
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