It looks like the next-gen Nissan Leaf will become a crossover
It looks like the next-gen Nissan Leaf will become a crossover
It’s safe to say that the Nissan Leaf kickstarted the Japanese automaker’s stronger push toward electrification. It remains the company’s highest-selling battery electric vehicle in terms of cumulative sales.
So far, there have been two generations of the Leaf. The first one ran from 2011 to 2017, while the second one is still in production today. Both Leafs (Leaves?) are C-segment hatchbacks, meaning they’re the size of a Mazda 3 Sportback or a Civic Hatch.
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The Nissan Chill-Out concept, the possible next-gen Nissan Leaf
PHOTO BY Nissan
But now, Nissan is hard at work at the third-generation model. It is said that it will be revealed sometime in 2025 as a 2026 model. However, that’s not the big news. Various automotive media publications are saying that the EV will undergo a radical change. It will no longer be a C-segment hatch and instead be transformed into a coupe crossover.
A report from auto website Carscoops cites ‘a source from within the company’ for the claim. It is said that the third-generation Leaf will draw inspiration from the Ariya, as well as the Chill Out concept from 2021, pictured here. The source also added that it will be built at the company’s assembly line in England (Sunderland).
The Nissan Chill-Out concept, the possible next-gen Nissan Leaf
PHOTO BY Nissan
Should that be the case, it will be a huge leap for the Leaf. And given that crossovers are all the rage these days, it’s a move that might just pay off for Nissan in the long run. The brand’s crossover, truck, and SUV offerings have been outselling the standard sedan and hatchback models for quite some time now, so one can say it’s also a business move.
For now, however, it’s a long wait to see if this report is substantiated. Still, it will be an brave and bold new direction for the Leaf if it does push through.
More photos of the Nissan Chill Out concept:
The Nissan Chill-Out concept, the possible next-gen Nissan Leaf
PHOTO BY Nissan
The Nissan Chill-Out concept, the possible next-gen Nissan Leaf
PHOTO BY Nissan