As 2011 came to an end last month, the Japanese auto maker reported that over 10,000 of their Leaf EV cars were on the roads of America. Things will only go up from here, as the company now has an OK from almost 40 states to allow EV travel on highways, and each state has its own network of charging ports.

In December, almost 7,000 reservations had been reported by Nissan dealers for test drives and purchases of 2012 Leaf EVs.

“From a Leaf perspective, 2011 was a great year and very positive for the company,” said Brendan Jones, Nissan Leaf Marketing and Sales Strategist, Nissan North America. “[10,000 sales] is more EVs than have been sold in the United States — and 20,000 globally — than all the other OEMs combined throughout the world. So that’s an outstanding achievement.”

Source: Green Car Reports

First off, the all new Nissan Leaf will attempt to “become the fastest vehicle to be driven up the hill – backwards.” Nissan adds the fact that “Unlike petrol-powered cars, in which reverse gear allows only low speeds, the Leaf has an electric powertrain that, theoretically, enables it to be driven backwards as fast as it can go forwards.” This means Leaf has the potential to hit 90 mph.

Secondly, a Nissan Juke will attempt to set a speed record for being “the fastest four-wheeled vehicle to drive up the hill on just two wheels.”

Professional stunt driver Terry Grant will perform both stunts, and commented, “I’ve experienced Goodwood before, but never attempted to set a new record. To have the chance to grab not only one but two records at the same event will hopefully provide everyone with a very entertaining spectacle.”

Source: WCF

Former Hollywood bad boy Robert Downey Jr. has performed a complete 180 when it comes to his behavior – with hit movies like Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man and Due Date, his star is shinning again. Include a huge contract to be the voice of Nissan (along with the promotion of an all new Leaf electric car) Downey seems to be doing no wrong.

Nissan’s tiny EV was teased prior to a Paris Motor Show unveiling. Details about the car are limited, but the Japanese auto maker has stated Townpod will combine “eye-catching design with a spacious and practical interior.”

Yes…this is the only image they’ve released so far.

With the goal of attracting creative and tech-savvy entrepreneurs, Townpod concept will usher in a “new-era of flexible, stylish vehicles that will bring electric-vehicle mobility to the masses.” Along with this new mini-Nissan, the company will also display their updated Juke, Micra and Leaf vehicles in Paris. Many of these are run on electric-only powerplants, helping Nissan secure a place as one of the world’s top green car producers.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf features an electric motor with 107 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Power is provided by laminated lithium-ion batteries, which allow the Leaf to travel approximately 99 miles on a single charge. Once depleted, the batteries can be fully recharged in eight hours, using a standard household outlet.

U.S. pricing starts at around $32,000 ($25,280 after a $7,500 federal tax credit) and that alone has brought customers into dealership lots for reservations. For now, Nissan has not announced any more Leaf production added on to this year, but that may change as demand grows.

Either that, or people will just have to go out and put down a $99 reservation of a 2012 model.

From Free Press: More than 6,600 people had reserved a Nissan Leaf by Friday morning, just a few days after the automaker started taking reservations for the all-electric vehicle. 

The reservations come from potential buyers in the U.S. who paid a $99 refundable deposit to reserve their Leaf. The hatchback Leaf, slated to drive about 100 miles per charge, is to be priced at $32,780, before a $7,500 tax credit.

The company’s goal is to have 20,000 reservations by the time the vehicle goes on sale in select markets, including Washington, Oregon and California, in December.

According to designers who chatted with Financial Times, “The Nissan Leaf will be equipped with a 24kWh Lithium Ion battery manufactured by NEC and, over time, the performance of the battery will decline. This is the nature of batteries. When the battery’s capacity reaches 80% of it’s original, it’ll need to be replaced…The plan will also help to reduce the purchase and lease prices of the Nissan Leaf by offsetting the high additional cost of battery.”

And from the press release via Nissan:
The world’s first EV designed for large-scale volume production
• High-performance, zero-emission power train and platform take the “joy of driving” to another dimension.
• A design that evokes a clean and intelligent image and a body that achieves optimal aerodynamics and wind noise characteristics are packaged into this innovative and original five-passenger, five-door hatchback.
• Has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge, which is sufficient for most daily needs.
• Features an advanced IT system that is specially designed for zero-emission mobility. Navigation screen supports the driver by displaying range autonomy areas and battery-charging spots with a touch of a button.

honestly, we can’t wait to give one a test ride – but for now we hope you enjoy the Leaf Photos… and your daydreaming.
Source: Jalopnik

Here’s a quick rundown of the 8 new Nissan / Infiniti Models coming by the middle of 2011, thanks to CarConnection:

Infiniti M: A new six-cylinder and V-8 luxury sedan coming this spring.
40th Anniversary Nissan 370Z: An uprated version of the Touring spec Nissan 370Z that goes on sale this spring.
Infiniti QX56: A replacement for the aging QX full-size SUV is coming this summer.
Nissan Juke: A European designed compact crossover will be introduced locally in September.
Nissan NV 2500: A full-size commercial van similar to Ford’s Econoline that goes on sale in November.
Nissan Quest: A replacement for the slow-selling and now discontinued minivan is coming in January, 2011.
Nissan Leaf: One of the first all-electric vehicles from a major automaker will hit showrooms in December in the form of the new Leaf.
Brand new Infiniti: Not much is known about this model except that it will be derived from an existing model and possibly featuring a hybrid or all-electric powertrain.

Nissan LEAF is our first zero-emissions electric car. Don’t confuse it with a hybrid or any other type of gas-powered, eco-friendly vehicle. This is electric – 100%. That means it burns zero gas and produces zero emissions. But this is no golf-cart. Off the line, Nissan LEAF performs like a V6. Plus, there’s room for five, and it comes with all the quality, reliability and versatility you’ve come to expect from Nissan cars.

- Zero tailpipe emissions
- 100% electric — no gas required
- Competitively priced
- Speeds up to 90 mph
- 5 passengers, 5 doors
- Advanced airbags, premium audio, Nissan navigation system, and more