"Pioneering though they were, both first- and second-generation Leafs were compromised. They were adapted from existing internal combustion engine platforms, with the electric powertrains shoehorned inside. The cars' real handicaps were a lack of liquid cooling for the battery packs. Like an older Porsche 911, the Leaf was air-cooled, albeit with none of the collector value. That's all changed for generation three."
"The new Leaf is built on a dedicated EV platform shared with Nissan's alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi, and which we have previously seen used to good effect in the Nissan Ariya. The benefits of using a platform purpose-designed for electric propulsion are obvious from the space efficiency. The new car is 3 inches (75 mm) shorter from the outside, but offers nearly 9 inches (221 mm) more rear leg room (yes, really), making it a much more suitable place to put adults."
"Although the new Leaf is 0.8 inches (20 mm) wider, it's a few mm shorter and has a lower drag coefficient (Cd 0.26), so the overall effect is a more efficient shape. The nose bears a family resemblance to the Ariya, and the body style is sort of a crossover, sort of a fastback sedan, depending on your frame of reference."
Early Nissan Leafs were adapted from combustion-engine platforms, resulting in compromised packaging and air-cooled battery packs that lacked liquid cooling. Generation three uses a dedicated EV platform shared with Renault and Mitsubishi, improving space efficiency and electric propulsion packaging. The new Leaf is 3 inches shorter externally while providing nearly 9 inches more rear legroom, making the rear more suitable for adults. The car is 0.8 inches wider, slightly shorter overall, and achieves a lower drag coefficient (Cd 0.26) for improved efficiency. Design cues echo the Ariya, and iconography includes two vertical stripes (ni) and three horizontal ones (san), with hidden ginkgo-leaf details.
Read at Ars Technica
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