Colour of green Vickar Nissan’s new Leaf

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/09/2011 (5501 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AFTER a European debut a year ago and a winter unveiling in the U.S. the Nissan leaf — the first commercially available, 100-per-cent electric car in almost 100 years — has come to Canada.

The first unit showed up in Vickar Nissan’s showroom just about a week ago.

“We are the only Nissan dealer in Manitoba, Saskatchewan or northwestern Ontario who has been chosen to carry the Leaf at the moment,” said dealership president Stephen Vickar.

“Nick Guffei, one of our sales managers, sales rep Bill Kueneman, two technicians and our service manager underwent detailed training in Vancouver regarding the Leaf. We needed to get specialized tools.”

The Leaf has no gas engine and no transmission and therefore needs virtually no servicing and very little maintenance, Guffei added. There is no tailpipe and zero emissions.

“Almost all of the body parts are made of recycled composite materials which are biodegradeable,” he said. “The model runs so quietly that the manufacturer added an outside bell to warn pedestrians that the vehicle is approaching.”

The Leaf has a top speed of 155 km/h and can seat five passengers. Its lithium-ion battery, when fully charged, has a range of 165 km. Using regular voltage, it takes 20 hours to recharge the battery but, with a home docking system installed, you can recharge it fully in eight hours.

A fast-charging system, which can recharge the battery fully in half an hour, is in use in Japan and should be available in Canada at some point, Guffei said. While he foresees a chain of charging stations emerging eventually, Vickar Nissan now has the only station in town aside from customer installations.

An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries at a set time such as during off-peak hours. The Leaf’s SL trim has a small solar panel at the rear of the roof/spoiler that can trickle-charge the auxiliary battery. Users’ mobile phones can be used to turn on the air-conditioner and heater, and reset charging functions even when the vehicle is powered down.

One of the other features of the model is an icon on the dash that shows the driver how many trees he or she is saving by driving the Leaf.

Guffei noted that Nissan offers an eight-year warranty on all the electronic parts.

While the Leaf is selling for $38,395 not just anyone can buy one. “The consumer has to be right for the car,” Vickar said. “You have to have access to a plug-in and you have to be driving regularly only within the battery’s range.”

Before selling a model, a Nissan team will come and assess your home and circumstances. You will also be required to install a docking station in your home at a cost beginning at $2,500. And you can only buy the model online.

Vickar Nissan will be hosting a ride-and-drive day on Oct. 6 from noon to 7 p.m. for folks who want to try out the Leaf.

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Vickar Nissan also welcomed the redesigned 2012 Versa sedan last week. Guffei said the new model, with its 1.6L, four-cylinder engine and direct-injection gasoline system gets 60 miles to the gallon. The starting price is $12,000 (plus freight and pdi) and the model tops out at under $20,000 with all the options.

“We have already sold one Versa and more are on the way,” he added.

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Winnipeg Volkswagen dealers (Auto Haus Volkswagen and St. James Volkswagen) are expecting big things from the newly arrived, all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The first units arrived in dealer showrooms on Aug. 22 and, Auto Haus sales manager Kirk Cancilla said “everyone who has come in and seen it, loves it.”

While the model has been totally redesigned, Cancilla said the major factor in expected sales increases is a significant reduction in the new Passat’s price. Starting at $23,975 (plus freight and pdi), the new model is almost $4,000 less than earlier models and comes with many more standard features.

“The new price makes the Passat more competitive with other manufacturers’ models in its class and comes with more standard features than the competition,” he said. “Just as with the Jetta when it was reduced in price, we expect to see a number of buyers who may have never considered Volkswagen before.”

The roomy 2012 Passat is available in three engine options. The 2.5L, four-cylinder version produces 170 h.p. The 3.6L, six-cylinder option puts out 280 h.p. Then there is the 2.0 TDI Clean Diesel model.

“Volkswagen hasn’t produced a diesel-powered model since 2005,” Cancilla said. “That is going to be a major selling point.”

Among the 2012 Passat’s standard features are a front grille with chrome side and rear fender applications, 16-inch wheels, immobilizer, a leather-wrapped, multifunctional steering wheel, Bluetooth technology and driver, front passenger and side-curtain airbags.

“Our new Passat is larger, wider and lighter than its predecessors,” Cancilla said. “We have one model here currently for test driving. We think the Passat is going to sell itself.”

He added that Auto Haus is planning an official launch for the new model in the second week of September.