G. David Felt

White and Tan needs a good cleaning to look good especially after years of use imho. I do love my tan interior of my Escalade but have always used Leather wipes to keep the chairs and doors clean.

I see no reason that there cannot be warm, inviting two-tone interiors, rather than the cold blah single black, grey, interiors. I know many here like the Blue on Black that Cadillac has done, but it comes across as a cold interior. Is that really what we want when we pay this kind of money for an auto and spend so much time in it driving it around?

This is where if the IDIOTS in DC ever figure out how to really deal with trade, the Kia EV3/4 that has gotten rave reviews in Europe and Asia for high-quality entry-level interiors will be interesting to see here. Currently on Delay except for Canada and Mexico which will get them built in Korea, shipped to those markets. So later this summer, I hope that when I go up to visit Canada again, I can check one out. I totally agree with you that we have gotten used to a much nicer interior and so when it comes to entry level autos, the cheap plastic interior is not wanted by the masses. Much like technology, young people have complained about why entry level auto's do not have all the tech that their parents auto have and again, cheap entry level, stuff is not included except as an expensive options package.

Creating the all-new third generation Nissan LEAF EV has grown from the funky car it used to be to a real-world family SUV. The exterior design of the all-new LEAF is anchored around aerodynamics while delivering a strong, bold presence to create a family-friendly EV with an impressive coefficient of drag measuring just 0.26 (Cd) for the U.S. market. The low Cd value is aided by the adoption of flush door handles, an active grille shutter, optimized wheel design, flat underfloor and fastback silhouette with the rear liftback supporting an airfoil effect. Per Nissan, the available dimming panoramic roof with heat shielding eliminates the need for physical blinds or sunshades, which can compromise headroom, especially in the rear seat. Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology, allows owners to enjoy year-round comfort at the touch of a button by adjusting the glass's transparency and the amount of light entering the cabin through the movement of ions within its layered structure. Additionally, the panoramic roof features an infrared (IR) reflective coating that reduces sun load. Nissan is adding leading edge technology in their entry level Global EV LEAF by using their CMF-EV platform. With this platform, Nissan is doing a number of groundbreaking innovations in the optimized efficiency for the 21st century. The LEAF will be the first Nissan EV to adopt the all new 3-in-1 electric powertrain that delivers a more responsive, smoother and solid driving experience. This 3-in-1 powertrain is 10% smaller than the second-generation LEAF and incorporates with the motor the inverter and reducer. This new power train delivers up to 160 kW or 214hp and 355 Nm or 261 ft-lbs of torque. This powertrain is two decibels quieter than the second-generation LEAF. This combined unit increased space so that the HVAC system is now under the front hood rather than in the dash allowing for a more spacious open cabin. Ride quality and turning radius have been improved by moving from the current Torsion beam rear suspension to a multi-link rear suspension. This updated suspension allows the turning radius to be reduced by 10cm or 4 inches. Technology did not stop there, the engineering team created a system that captured the heat generated by the on-board charger so that it can optimize the liquid-cooled battery system, enhancing charging during the cold winter The third generation Nissan LEAF has an impressive specification sheet. Looking to improve on the first two generations of ownership experience, this LEAF has the following: 303 Miles of range (EPA Estimate) NACS charging type 250 km or 155 miles of charge in 14 minutes 10% to 80% charge in 35 minutes when connected to a 150kW fast charger Vehicle size and weight Length - 4,405mm or 173.5 inches Width - 1,810 mm or 71.25 inches Height - 1,557mm or 61.3 inches Wheelbase - 2,690mm or 105.9 inches Weight - 1,794kg to 1,982kg or 3,955lbs to 4,369.6lbs Luggage capacity - 420L or 14.8 cubic feet Tire Sizes 215/55R18 235/45/R19 EV capabilities Vehicle-to-load Vehicle-to-home The interior of the third generation LEAF has optional upgrades such as the Premium plus Bose audio system that includes speakers in the headrests. The interior also can be configured based on option packages with two 120V outlets that can discharge up to 1500W of combined power, powering a variety of small to medium-size devices when out and about such as camping. The third generation Nissan LEAF will be assembled at the Tochigi Plant in Japan and the Sunderland, northeast England plant for global sale. Pricing will be released closer to the start of sales in each respective market. For those that want to view the 2026 Nissan LEAF videos, access them here: All-New Nissan LEAF Playlist View full article

Very interesting read, considering that in 2024 the average price per kW was $66.50 or in the case of a Tesla Y with a 60 kWh battery pack, $3,990 base cost to Tesla or in the case of my Kia EV9 with it's 100 kWh battery pack, $6,650 dollars cost. Today, the base cost due to deflated battery material has fallen to a low of $45 per kW or for Tesla, a battery cost of $2,700 or in the EV9 $4,500 for the battery cost. These make huge decreases in EV costs when the price of the most expensive component drops so fast. Just for basic understanding of a full size GM EV Pickup which has a 210 kWh battery pack, last year $13,965 and now in 2025 $9,450 cost on the battery pack. https://www.actumoteur.fr/en/electric-vehicle-battery-prices-just-crashed-harder-than-anyone-predicted-27490.html

Same here in Washington, there is a ton of Summer projects with major road detours and sections that are totally closed during the night, traffic is a snail pace and especially this week with World Cup here, just best to not go anywhere.