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| Nissan Leaf Nissan is banking on the Leaf to catapult it into the lead in the race for ultraclean vehicles. And selling the car may hinge on the appeal of its quirky, high-tech features as much as the merits of its battery-powered drivetrain. The aim: Telegraph to customers that this is no ordinary car. Aside from its 80-kilowatt motor and lithium ion batteries, the Leaf sports: Bumpers and interior trim made from recycled plastic bottles and fabrics; batteries that can be recharged remotely through the driver's mobile phone; special tires to reduce running noise usually masked by a noisy combustion engine; and rear tail fins to improve aerodynamics and deliver a slick 0.28 drag coefficient. Nissan is banking on mass production of this electric vehicle to catapult it ahead of rivals Toyota and Honda in the race for zero-emissions cars. Drivetrain: Electric motor and lithium-ion battery Who designed it: Masato Inoue, chief designer in Nissan's Exploratory Design Department What’s cool: Can drive 100 miles on full charge; recharges in eight hours Will it be built? Yes; goes on sale next year |
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