Nissan To Fiat: Our Leaf Is Ugly? Look In The Mirror, Buddy!
Nissan Leaf, Solar-Canopy Charging Station In New SIMS Game
The Nissan Leaf is no stranger to videogames. Last year, we had a little race between a Leaf and... Read More
- #6LEADERBOARD RANK
- 1818ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 4COMMENTS POSTED
Also See
-
2013 Nissan Leaf Prices To Start At $28,800 For...
-
Five Top Accessories and Modifications For Your...
-
Nissan CEO Talks Electric Car Sales And Chinese...
See more video ยป
If you've always wanted to see two large car companies having a good, old-fashioned hair-pulling, nails-out, purse-swinging fight, then you're in luck.
Following comments from Fiat at the Los Angeles auto show, hinting that the Nissan Leaf was a form of "visual pollution", Nissan has hit back, criticizing Fiat's own electric car, the 500e.
"Let's be honest, ugliness is probably one of the worst forms of pollution," said Matt Davis, head of Fiat product marketing, to Bloomberg News in L.A. "The Fiat 500e proves that you do not have to give up on good looks to deliver an electric car."
Automotive News reports that Nissan has taken a swipe at Fiat in return.
"Let's face it, Fiat has not shied away from controversial styling themselves," responded Simon Sproule, Nissan head of global marketing communications.
"Many would describe many of their products as visual pollution. Take a long, hard look at the Fiat Doblo."
[The Doblo is a cargo van-turned passenger vehicle--Fiat's equivalent of the Ford Transit Connect--sold in Europe. Its looks haven't been universally popular...]
He went on, "They chose the smallest vehicle in their range with the least amount of passenger functionality... I don't think they have the credibility or the hardware to stand behind these kind of statements."
Fiat has declined to comment on Nissan's rebuttal. Even Fiat itself hasn't been universally supportive of its product, with company chief Sergio Marchionne admitting it doesn't really want to produce the car--the company stands to lose $10,000 on every one it sells.
The Leaf, in contrast, is a project which Nissan fully stands behind. That includes its love-or-hate-it styling.
"You've got enough uniqueness and visual clues to tell its something different," explained Sproule, "but it's still very recognizable as a five-seat hatchback, fully functioning, absolutely competitive with the packaging of the Golf or any other mainstream vehicle."
Still, we'd prefer to let our readers decide: Whose vehicle has suffered the heaviest beating with the ugly stick? Or are both absolute paragons of beauty? Let us know in the comments section below.
+++++++++++
Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.
Related Articles
-
Six New Plug-In Electric Cars Coming For 2014
-
2014 Fiat 500E Drivers Latest To Get Use Of 'Free Car' Loaners
-
Consumer Reports Likes Fiat 500e: Still A Compliance Car, Sadly
-
2013 Fiat 500e: 108 MPGe Highway, Class-Leading Range
-
Follow Us
On Facebook
Most Popular This Week
More »
Can Tesla Raise More Than $1 Billion On Soaring Stock Price? 
Audi Startled By Tesla Sales Success? Deleted Press Release... 
Four Used Plug-In Electric Cars To Avoid 
How Are Electric-Car Batteries Made? Photos From Nissan's New... 
Toyota Accelerates Switch To Lithium-Ion Batteries, Still Lags... Find Green Cars
Photo Galleries
More from High Gear Media
- Follow Us
Have an opinion?
But there is no real direct competitor to the LEAF (national roll-out, company firmly behind it, etc), so people may choose to skip the LEAF because of its looks and delay the coming of EVs. That is most unfortunate.
Personally, I would go for the looks of the Focus EV with the support of a company like Nissan. Unfortunately this combination is not available. Yet
Focus is not much better looking, either. For some reason, there appears to be a pervasive trend for designers to go out of their way to make electric vehicles look particularly ugly and undesirable, although Tesla is a rare and shining exception to this unfortunate trend.
I wholeheartedly agree with you in that this is most unfortunate and that it is severely affecting electric vehicles' image and adoption rates; there is no reason why electric vehicles should be ugly. If anything, they should have premium styling to help them penetrate the market more effectively.
I think "distinct" look of the Prius actually helped the sales since some of the buyers want to make a "statement" that they drive a "green" car.
The same applies to the Leaf. As "controversy" as it is, Leaf is still a distinct design. I can pick it out of crowde of cars miles away. That might be something that many buyers want. They want to make the "EV statement".
A "leveraged" design such as Focus EV or the Fiat 500e don't get nearly as much "distinction" from their ICE version. Only the "fans" or "trained eyes" can pick them out of the crowd...
Unfortunately, the unly statement they have managed to make with the Prius is that they do not understand much (if anything) about automechanics, styling, economy and practicality. The attempt has backfired on those wanting to be "hip" and make a statment.
If it glides by most people, they will just think it is anther "luxury European Sports sedan" until they realize that it is so smooth and quiet and they didn't "hear" it coming or going. Its styling doesn't "shock" you...
I have seen 4 of them (different colors) in real life. I managed to pick it out of crowds of cars.. But it doesn't draw attentions like exotic Italian Sports cars. Leaf is at least distinct enough that people clearly know that it is an EV... (like it or not is another matter).
seriously, I would rather have a car universally judged as attractive but tyhe Leaf is beautiful for what it does and being distinctive is more important than being beautiful but not noticed. If it blended in then the message would not get out as fast. The Leaf's looks say, "Love it or not, the electric car is finally here." It's a great car regardless of how it looks.
I am thinking it would be fun to pick up one of those used Leaf or off-lease Leaf for some do-it-yourself improvement once the battery becomes "useless".
The powertrain should last a long term. But things such as door seals, gaskets, plastic hardwares might NOT last as long in a 20 yr old car...
Note that I used " " around the word "useless". Sure, Nissan might say something. But for the worst case (Heat accelerated degradation), if the battery lose even 50% of its range after 10 years, it becomes a 35 miles EV. At that point, the car will ONLY be good enough for short commute without even using the heat...
"Useless" is a relative term. I would also assume that in 10 years, the technology would hopefully push the battery range easily into the 250-500 miles range. At that rate, the 35 miles range EV is really "useless" in the eyes of latest EV owners.
Also, Nissan claims something that they aren't willing to back it up with warranty. In the engineering world, we call it "marketing talks" with no substance.
No I will not; if anything I will think "there is another person with no taste". Of course, the old Romans did say de gustibus non est disputandum...
He is correct - Nissan Leaf is one of the ugliest vehicles ever designed. It is surprising that Carlos Ghosn is not ashamed of it. It is a blight on an already struggling Nissan.
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!