SPY PICS: Nissan turning over new LEAF

Nissan is claiming its new LEAF represents 'the next step forward in Nissan's Intelligent Mobility vision' in the lead-up to the electric vehicle's global debut in Japan on September 6.

Pictured here in spy photos, the LEAF is expected to be a more conventional design inside and out, incorporating known styling cues from Nissan's current passenger-car and SUV range, rather than the concept car unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year. Under the skin, however, the new LEAF will be packed with driver-assist technology, such as self-parking, and will feature an autonomous motoring facility named ProPILOT /watch-nissan-details-next-leaf’s-autonomous-technology-107928.

Long rumoured to offer considerably higher range, the LEAF will migrate from the 30kWh battery of the current car to a 60kWh battery, it has been reported. That could come close to doubling the LEAF's 250km range.

It's also speculated that the LEAF will be compatible with wireless ('inductive') charging, which BMW plans to introduce to Australia.

In other parts of the world, the new LEAF will compete with Chevrolet's Bolt, but with the Holden-designed EV specifically ruled out for Australia, the Nissan will have the local market largely to itself.

Nissan Australia has seen sales of the LEAF slow to a trickle. Just 42 cars were sold in 2016, versus 136 the year before. For 2017 Nissan has sold just two cars up to the end of June. Competitive pricing and the longer range will be critical to the new LEAF regaining lost sales volumes.