Nissan has won European Car of the Year award (COTY) with the Nissan Leaf, the first electric vehicle to win the award in COTY’s 48-year history.
58 COTY members – leading motoring journalists from 23 European countries – chose the Nissan Leaf as this year’s Car of the Year. This isn’t the first time that Nissan has taken this award. Back in 1993, the Micra became the first Japanese car to win.
President of the COTY jury, Håkan Matson, says that we will see other electric cars named Car of The Year in the future.
The Nissan Leaf is powered by an electric motor that develops 80 kW and 280 N.m of torque, reaching a top speed of 145 km/h. It features air-conditioning, a parking camera, satellite navigation and regenerative braking. Smart phone connectivity allows you to heat or cool the interior of the car via a cellular 'phone.
27 000 units have been pre-ordered globally and will not only be built in Japan, but in the United States and United Kingdom as well.