Nissan Leaf is the 2011 European Car of The Year

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It’s a defining moment for zero emission vehicles, what with Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicle named as the 2011 European Car of the Year.

The Leaf is the first all-electric car to win the coveted Car of the Year title in the award’s 47-year history, finishing ahead of 40 other contenders for the big prize. In the final shortlist of seven vehicles, the Leaf scored 257 points, despite splitting opinion to the point where several jurors placed it in last place.

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Its total was nine points clear of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which scored 248 points and 13 clear of the third-placed Vauxhall/Opel Meriva, which had 244.

The remaining finalists were the Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max, at 224 points, the Citroën C3/DS3 at 175, the Volvo S60 and V60 at 145 and the Dacia Duster at 132 points.

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Different approaches in voting by the jury members produced the final result of this contest. As the panel put it, “the launch of a mass-production electric car in the market has been more awarded – twenty top points – than the sheer appeal of Alfa Romeo Giulietta or the practical originality of Opel Meriva. In spite of the lack of a large recharging network and the limited range, the Leaf represents a technical and commercial bet that might otherwise satisfy many potential consumers, especially where public incentives will come to reduce the paying price.”

The awards were voted for by 58 jury members from 23 countries.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • mystvearn on Nov 30, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    “the Leaf scored 257 points, despite splitting opinion to the point where several jurors placed it in last place.”… must be Jeremy Clarkson :P

    I have to disagree with this car winning the first place. It is a good car, but not first place. Citroen DS3 much better. This car is being subsidised by the UK government at £4k/car. I am not sure about other EU countries. If Malaysian goverment want to sponsor RM20k/Electric version of Exora making it retail at RM50k+, then that will be the highest selling hybrid vehicle in Malaysia.

    Speaking of which, does anyone know the sales figures of the Civic Hybrid? It is the cheapest civic, and its a civic, despite its smallre engine, smaller 15” rims. Smart people will get it :P

    I think eletric cars are not mature enough yet. Maybe they can fix the range problem the next 5 years. If the Leaf is sold in Malaysia, this would make the ultimate work commute car for short distance work place. Actually, now that I think about it. The leaf is quite an attractive car for people who fit in that category. Charge at home, go to office. No need to que at petrol stations filling up the car whenever government introduce fuel hike.

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  • transformer on Nov 30, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    though i’m driving Nissan Y10, but i still would say Leaf is ugly…
    remind me of “malaysian terrapin” (or labi-labi in Bahasa)

    they could have done it much much better than this…. sigh…

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  • reuben how on Nov 30, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    I don’t think this kind of electric car is the answer. Something that takes all night to charge and then runs for a few kilometers? Give me the convenience of a petrol alternative and i might consider switching…

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    • Carl Wong on Dec 01, 2010 at 1:39 am

      The mileage should be 100-200km per charge.

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      • How long do you need to plug in. How about your electricity bill? Comes down to how much RM per kilometre right? Any idea?

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        • Carl Wong on Dec 02, 2010 at 3:06 am

          My estimation is a slightly higher electricity bill, which adds up to be much lower than buying fuel. But I don’t know the details, you can search for it.

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  • Carl Wong on Dec 01, 2010 at 1:38 am

    One of the car of the future. I’m starting to love electric cars too :]. In terms of pure performance, they can smoke conventional petrol cars too – the TESLA ROADSTER.

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    • reuben how on Dec 01, 2010 at 4:35 pm

      No, not the car of the future. How can u wait several hours for a “full tank”. Honda FCX clarity. Way better, and in the US, the lease is the same as a camry.

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    • Carl Wong on May 14, 2011 at 4:47 pm

      No smoke for electric cars LOL……Sorry mistake.

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  • electric car is good, but this design really weird, can consider ugly or totally is ugly.

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  • Carl Wong on Dec 02, 2010 at 3:09 am

    In terms of maintenance, electric or hydrogen cars are SUPERB. I almost can’t think of anything that you need to maintain regularly like petroleum cars. No oil changes, air filter changes, xxxx fluid changes and longer service intervals which saves MONEY :)…!!!

    Similarly to hybrids, the brake pads wear out much slower too with the use of regenerative braking. Technology will bring us forward, thanks to Japanese people.

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