LEAF Aero Style Concept

[Rokeby]

Nissan's LEAF "Aero Style" concept car at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon:



Hmm... Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads...

I like it. It takes the carp out of "Carpe diem."

Can't find any pictures of what changes were made in the rear.

And for comparison, the OEM LEAF:



Full story.

[Cd]

Nice wheels !
Hope they actually produce something similar.

[Cd]

Does anyone know why that the Leaf has a grille ??
The chrome strip makes it look like an ugly fish with braces.
I like the concept grille much better.
If I buy one someday, the first thing ill do is slap a grille block over that.

[Rokeby]

Grill is air inlet for battery temp management.

Aero-wise, my discerning eye sees...
* Oversize, low profile tires ... aero or glitz
* Body lowered ?
* Full wheel covers +
* Hidden wipers +?
* Lowered bumper cover +
* Splitter +
* Side skirts +
* Shaved handles ?
* Window tint -- energy saving by reduced thermal load on AC?

I wonder if there's a diffuser at the back.

Chrome exhaust tip?

I wonder what the panel is around the license plate on both cars.
An access panel... For what?

[Cd]

Hate to say it, but that is a CG rendering in the first image.
Hope they actually build it.

[cfg83]

Rokeby -

Looks nice. The Honda CR-Z is already sprouting (mostly performance-aero?) body kits, so why not one for the Leaf?

CarloSW2

[d0sitmatr]

I really like it, and would buy it in a sec if it most likely wouldnt cost me an arm n leg...

Originally Posted by Rokeby

Grill is air inlet for battery temp management.

Aero-wise, my discerning eye sees...
* Oversize, low profile tires ... aero or glitz
* Body lowered ?
* Full wheel covers +
* Hidden wipers +?
* Lowered bumper cover +
* Splitter +
* Side skirts +
* Shaved handles ?
* Window tint -- energy saving by reduced thermal load on AC?

I wonder if there's a diffuser at the back.

Chrome exhaust tip?

I wonder what the panel is around the license plate on both cars.
An access panel... For what?

oversized rims/tires = fills the fender well up more. might be glitz, but also functional.
if you cant see the wipers, my guess they are hidden
I dont see shaved handles, they look the same as stock, but from the looks of it, could be pretty easy to do.
window tint def allows for less use of the AC system by keeping the sun out of the car, about 70% of a cars internal temps are from the sun warming the interior.

my recommendations:
headlights need to sit flush and tapered to the front.
rear wheel skirt, either full or partial.
an even lower front air dam, or possibly diffusers.
and of course, maybe a belly pan if it doesnt already have one.

[Rokeby]

Originally Posted by d0sitmatr

...my recommendations:
headlights need to sit flush and tapered to the front.
rear wheel skirt, either full or partial.
an even lower front air dam, or possibly diffusers.
and of course, maybe a belly pan if it doesnt already have one.

The weirdo headlights split the air flow headed towards the side mirrors.
Less wind noise is reported from the mirrors... so probably aero +:
Nissan Leaf Alternative to Side Mirror Delete

Agree on wheel skirts... but I think most consumers see them as '50s retro.

The undertray/belly pan is essentially flat:

[Cd]

The wheels are a definite improvement. Not only is there less of a gap in the wheel wells, but the wheels are more flush with the outside of the body - and they look cool as well.

As flat and flush as the wheels are in that concept, there probably wouldn't be that much of an improvement if they were fully covered. ( my guess )

I wonder if they actually lowered it, or if that is just the body kit. To me it just looks like the side skirts are just making it look as if the car is lower.

Besides looking better, those side skirts also help shield that back tire too.

I really hope they make this available. It sure helps make the car look better.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by d0sitmatr

if you cant see the wipers, my guess they are hidden

The pic of the concept is taken from a lower angle (you see less of the roof line up front).

This means the wipers get optically hidden by the bonnet, but they are sill there.
Nissan could have done a better job there.
Hiding the wipers is also good for lowering pedestrian injuries.