It looks like the Mercedes CLA won’t be the only important vehicle to debut at CES as Nissan has announced it will use the event to stage introduction of a new model.
While Nissan is staying tight-lipped, previous reports have suggested it will be the long-range version of the Leaf. The car was originally slated to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but the arrest of Carlos Ghosn threw a wrench into those plans.
The Ghosn issue still isn’t fully resolved, but Nissan appears to be charging ahead with plans to show the long-range Leaf in Las Vegas. While Nissan declined to confirm the rumor, the company will show the Leaf Nismo RC at the event. The automaker will also have an “EV cafe” and this suggests the company will use the event to focus on electric vehicles.
If the long-range Leaf debuts at the show, it will likely have a larger 60 kWh battery pack. This should enable the model to have approximately 225 miles (362 km) of range which is about 75 miles (120 km) more than the standard model. This would make the Leaf more competitive with the Chevrolet Bolt and Kia Niro EV which can both travel more than 230 miles (370 km) on a single charge.
Besides introducing a new model, Nissan which show the IMx KURO concept and give demonstrations about Nissan Energy. The automaker will also introduce a new technology that promises to allow people to “see the invisible.” The technology appears to be related to driver assistance systems and Nissan hinted it will allow for an “entirely new driving experience through connected worlds.”
