"Car Of The Year" LEAF Now Tops Safety Rating

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – April 28, 2011: The zero-emission Nissan LEAF has now won two more major accolades, being named 2011 World Car of the Year and then earning the top rating in the respected IIHS safety awards in the USA.

An international panel including leading Australian motoring journalists voted for the LEAF, edging out the new BMW 5-Series and Audi A8 for top spot in the prestigious World Car judging.

The jurors cited the Nissan LEAF as “the gateway to a brave new electric world from Nissan”, yet observed “It feels just like a normal car, only quieter.”

It was an historic award for the world’s first affordable mass-market, all-electric vehicle, which was previously named European Car of the Year.

The World Car of the Year competition was launched in 2004, with winners chosen by a panel of automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America

Now, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just awarded the 2011 Nissan LEAF a ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating, joining other ‘family’ members, the Nissan Cube and Infiniti M37/M56 on this year’s list.

The Top Safety Pick is given to vehicles that achieve the Institute’s highest rating of ‘Good’ in front, rear and side impact protection as well as being equipped with electronic stability control and earning a good rating in roof strength.

The Nissan LEAF is the first 100 percent electric vehicle to be tested by the IIHS.

Standard Nissan LEAF safety systems include Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors, front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection, 3-point ALR/ELR seat belts (driver’s seat ELR only) with pretensioners and load limiters, child seat upper tether anchor, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system and child safety rear door locks.

Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS) are also standard on all LEAF models.

Nissan LEAF is available in Japan, the United States and selected European markets and will be released in Australia in 2012.

Nissan, with its Alliance partner, Renault, has formed partnerships with more than 90 governments, cities and other organisations around the world, not only to develop and produce EV and lithium-ion batteries but also to promote sustainable mobility.

Nissan is also taking a comprehensive approach to encourage to the world to more sustainable mobility such as improvement of charging service, infrastructure deployment, the promotion of the use of recycled materials and overall energy management system including second-life use of lithium-ion batteries.