I've been really worried that Nissan is going to ruin the Leaf. As the Leaf is now, its a very nice car that in my book is hard to improve. I'm worried that if they start "Improving" the Leaf, then they'll botch it up pretty bad. Look at how Honda did their Insight. They had a very high quality, ultra fuel efficient, handsome, and very superior car when they launched the 1st gen Insight in 2000. Then, in 2009 they decided to reboot the Insight and it was complete rubbish (no identity, lousy MPG, inferior Honda IMA, no real EV Mode, no wheel skirts, smaller battery, and etc). I just hope Nissan doesn't do this with their Leaf. Nissan really hit a home run with the Leaf and it makes me proud to own own. I love my Leaf and really don't want to see too many changes.
Things I love about the current Leaf:
-Entirely LCD Instrument Cluster & Speedometer
-Eyebrow LCD Speedometer (like that of Toyota & Honda)
-Boot-up sounds
-No stupid ICE grille
-Sleek, futuristic, and dignified exterior
-LED headlamps
-LED tail-lamps (love those tail-lamps)
-No ridiculous instrument cluster dash (just a clean, flat, and computer screen-like dash)
-Instrument Cluster that easy to read and efficient layout.
-Drive Mode Selector that is small, unobtrusive, and not a stupid/archaic metal stick jutting out between the front two seats.
-Impressive EV power-train
-respectable exterior stature (unlike many modern ICE cars out)
-Impressive torque off the line
-No belts, pulleys, or chains to worry about
-No transmission
Things I don't care for with the current Leaf:
Limited EV range (of course, 150-200+ preferred)
No Battery Thermal Management (to maintain optimal battery temperature)
Overheating after multiple DC Rapid Chargers
Bulging headlamps
Cheap interior fabrics and materials
24Kwh (21 kWh usable) battery pack
Overall, I'd very much like to see very little changed. In the least I'd pretty much only add more range.
I've got a 3 year lease with my current Leaf due to expire in May of 2017 and I'm really worried that Nissan will mess up the Leaf. If Nissan botches up the Leaf I'll have to keep my Leaf of go back to a gasoline at my leases end. I really don't want to go back to gas at any cost. I'll never drive on gas again. I can't afford a Tesla Model S, and I won't be able to afford a Model 3 (at $35,000+ when it comes out).
I wish Nissan would give us more info. They've thrown 3 different concepts out there and haven't been clear which one they'll go with. At first I was sure they'd go with the Invitation Concept, and then the Lannia Concept. After that it was possible it could be the Renault Eolab Concept. They've even said they're going to use their stupid new "V-shaped" grille. Why does an EV really need a grille? It doesn't need that much air intake, geez. The Tesla Model 3 doesn't even have a stupid grille. A grille screams ICE car, and imitates a bygone petroleum-based era. Also, why do they want to slaughter the Drag Coefficient of the Leaf with a stupid and ridiculous plunging V-shaped grille? It doesn't need it. It looks stupid on the new Murano and it'll look stupid on the new Leaf (if they go with it). I kind of like the blacked out pillars though.
I don't know anymore. Its crazy (it seems like the Invitation Concept would be best to me). I'd be very happy if they base it off the Invitation Concept since that looks halfway respectable.
I don't know what I'm gonna do. I had it all planned out and then they decided to get wild with the Leaf and now I'm not so certain of the Leaf anymore. I had my plan to just keep re-leasing the Leaf for many years, until the Leaf got so good (with a 200+ Mile range) and then I would buy out that lease. Now... :?