It’s Leaf, Jim, but not as we
know it...
Excellent punning. Yep, this
really is a Nissan Leaf, but unlike
any we’ve ever seen before. It’s
been decked out with off-road
suspension, ultra-tough tyres and
LED lighting to make it look like an
emergency response vehicle.Oh... so it’s not an emergency
response vehicle?
Not really, as Nissan says this is
just a working prototype, but it
does highlight how great battery
tech is for disaster management.
Designed as a first responder, the
Re-Leaf – a pretty excruciating
pun in itself – features external
110/230v plug sockets that can
power things like jackhammers,
medical ventilators and water
treatment devices when mains
electricity has been knocked out.
In fact, Leafs (Leaves?) have been
powering stricken homes in Japan
since 2011. It’s all thanks to V2G(Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2X
(Vehicle-to-Everything) tech,
allowing you to plug almost
anything into the car’s batteries.Is that a massive TV in the boot?
Yes, but this isn’t some Pimp
My Ride flourish, as the bespoke
desk pulls out to become a mobile
command centre so operatives
can dish out vital comms. The rear
seats have also been removed
and a custom bulkhead installed
so tools don’t fly around the cabin
when you’re racing to the rescue.Is it wrong that I now kind of want
a Leaf?
Not at all, because the Re-Leaf
looks undeniably awesome with
its wider track, raised ride height
and meaty sump guard. It’s a
shame the marque doesn’t offer
an AWD version with similarly
beefed-up styling... including
optional flashing neon light bar
and giant TV in the back.E AIN’T HEAVY,
E’S MY BROTHER
Honda has unveiled
its SUV E:Concept,
which looks like an
electric crossover
version of the
Japanese maker’s
cutesy E hatchback.
There’s a distinct
lack of technical
details for now but
the concept shows
a voice-controlled
infotainment
system and the
latest generation of
self-driving smarts.‘M’ IS FOR
MOTORBIKE
BMW’s madcap
M division has
got its hands on
a motorcycle... and
it’s as bonkers as
you’d expect. The
M 1000 RR’s 999cc
engine red-lines
at 15,100rpm and
delivers 209bhp,
yet it weighs less
than 200kg. Sounds
like the next best
thing to strapping
yourself to a
Space-X rocket.TAYCAN IT TO
THE GERMANS
Polestar is putting
its fully electric
Porsche Taycan
rival into production.
The Precept was
unveiled as a
concept earlier
this year, but
now we hear
carbon-neutral
production is due
to start within a
few years. It’s a
four-door GT with
headlights inspired
by Thor’s hammer.Nissan Re-Leaf
LEAF NO ONE BEHIND
£N/A (concept) / nissan.co.uk NEWS DASHBOARD
WHE EL S