The zero-emission Nissan Leaf is the winner of the World Car of the Year award at the New York Car Show, marking the first time that a fully electric car has taken the accolade.
The 57 jurors from 23 countries remarked that the Leaf “feels like a normal car, only quieter.” The Leaf beat off new models from Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, Opel and Volvo and finished ahead of the Audi A8 limousine.
The Leaf is a five-door, mid-sized hatchback which was introduced in the United States and Japan in December 2010. It produces no tailpipe emissions thanks to a front-mounted electric motor which gets its power from a lithium battery pack.
Nissan claims a range of 160 kilometres but according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the car can typically cover 117 kilometres (73 miles) before a full recharge is required.
