Nissan LEAF introduces pedestrian alert sound
New updates to pure-electric hatch also includes fresh in-car tech and extra driver assist aidsNissan has confirmed it will introduce upgrades for the pure-electric 2021 Nissan LEAF that focus on increasing safety and include a new pedestrian alert system.
The new warning tone, called the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), or 'Canto' by the engineers who developed it, is claimed to artificially simulate driving sounds to alert other road users of the near-silent LEAF's approach.
Created in partnership with engineers and sound designers in Nissan Japan and then adapted in Nissan's technical centre in Europe, the sound emitted varies in tone and pitch depending on whether the vehicle is accelerating, decelerating or reversing.
Activated when travelling at speeds of up to 30km/h, the noise generated is designed to not be too alarming to pedestrians or residents and passengers.
Commenting on AVAS, Nissan's product planning boss Marco Fioravanti said: "Customer safety is paramount, not only for those behind the wheel, but those surrounding the car as well.
"As the world becomes more and more electrified, this sound will soon become part of the soundscape of our roads as Nissan's signature EV sound moves us closer to our goal of a zero-fatality driving experience."
As well as adding AVAS to the LEAF's safety armoury, the Nissan LEAF's new driver assistance aids include Blind Spot Intervention that automatically steers you back in line if you stray into another vehicle's path.
There's also a new Intelligent Rear View Mirror as standard.
Nissan Australia is still to confirm when the upgraded LEAF models will arrive in our market.
The LEAF is offered with a 40kWh lithium-ion battery or a larger 62kWh power pack in the recently-launched Nissan LEAF e+ that offers a WLTP-verified range of up to 385km
Pricing for the zero-emissions Nissan kicks off from $49,990 plus on-road costs for the standard LEAF and stretches to $60,490 plus ORCs for the long-range LEAF e+.
In some European markets the upgraded Nissan EV has been introduced without any price penalty.
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