Nissan Leaf line-up could feature more body styles

The Leaf is an electric vehicle sold by Nissan in global markets, and is also a model being mulled over for the Indian market. The next-gen Nissan Leaf, which is under development for the overseas market, could get extra models as part of its line-up, according to a senior company official.

The new Leaf is likely to have a much-improved battery life, and will possibly stick to the current format five-door hatchback  on a bespoke platform. However, Nissan's Executive VP Trevor Mann believes there could be room to expand the Leaf sub-brand to include other body styles. “There could be more than one Leaf,” he said. “We’ve always said it needn’t be one car. What we’ve got to do is to make sure the market is right. We want to make sure that when we do the next one or we expand the line-up, we’re really taking the market intelligence that we’re gathering and using it."

Although unclear as to how the car manufacturer plans to expand the Leaf range, the considerable success it has seen with its Juke and Qashqai crossovers, this seems to be the body style most likely to be chosen. No time frame has been given for the Leaf replacement, although Mann hinted that it could be different from the usual seven-year model cycle. “The product life could change slightly because it’s an EV,” he said.