Nissan Leaf Wins the 2011 European Car of the Year Award

While our readers favored the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in our poll, the jury of the 2011 European Car of the Year Award (COTY) announced that the Nissan Leaf is the winner, earning a total of 257 points. This is the first time in the 47-year history of the competition that the award goes to an electric vehicle.

“The jury acknowledged today that the Nissan LEAF is a breakthrough for electric cars. Nissan LEAF is the first EV that can match conventional cars in many respects”, said Håkan Matson, President of the Jury, Car of the Year.

The Giulietta came in second with 248 points, while the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva took the bronze, with 244 points.

Naturally, Nissan is happy with the result. The firm's CEO Carlos Ghosn commented: “This award recognizes the pioneering zero-emission Nissan LEAF as competitive to conventional cars in terms of safety, performance, spaciousness and handling. It also reflects Nissan's standing as an innovative and exciting brand with a clear vision of the future of transportation, which we call sustainable mobility. With three other electric vehicles in the pipeline from Nissan - and with the imminent market introduction of four additional electric vehicles from our Alliance partner Renault - Nissan LEAF represents a significant first step toward a zero-emission future”.

The Nissan Leaf is a plug-in EV, featuring an 80 kW (107 hp) AC electric motor that's fed by a Nissan-developed laminated lithium-ion battery. The EV accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.9 seconds and it has a driving range of 175 km (109 miles).

Deliveries in Japan and the U.S. start this December, while European customers will have to wait until early 2011. Base price in Europe is €30,000, but there are government incentives in several countries, ranging between €3,000-6,000. The U.S. government offers a $7,500 federal tax credit, which means that the U.S.-spec model starts from $25.280.

By Csaba Daradics

2011 COTY Final Standings

1. Nissan Leaf 257 points

2. Alfa Romeo Giulietta 248 points

3. Opel/Vauxhall Meriva 244 points

4. Ford C-MAX/Grand C-MAX 224 points

5. Citroën C3/DS3 175 points

6. Volvo S60/V60 145 points

7. Dacia Duster 132 points

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http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/11/nissan-leaf-wins-2011-european-car-of_30.html?m=0

Irmscher 'Facelifts' the New Opel Meriva MPV

Opel customizing specialist Irmscher has introduced a tuning program for the all-new Meriva small MPV that we first saw in the flesh at this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

The German tuning firm starts by upgrading the small MPV's exterior with a new radiator grille that's available in silver or black carbon fiber trim, a new roof spoiler and a choice of 16-, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.

The only available performance mods for the time being are a 30mm suspension drop and exhaust silencers with elliptical twin exits.

Irmscher also treats the 2010 Meriva's interior with a leather package that covers the seats, door panels and central armrest and is offered in a variety of colors, along with aluminium door pins and pedals.

The tuner has not released pricing yet on the Meriva sport package.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/03/irmscher-new-opel-meriva-mpv.html?m=0

VIDEO: 2010 Opel Meriva MPV Filmed Inside, Out and on the Road

Having already published a whole bunch of photos and information on the 2010 Meriva, Opel and sister brand Vauxhall came out with a couple of videos of their newest entry in the small MPV segment that will have its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March.

The practical five-seater model with suicide rear doors will be offered with six turbocharged diesel and gasoline engines, spanning from 75HP to 140HP. Watch both videos after the break.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-2010-opel-meriva-mpv-filmed.html?m=0

Opel Releases New Photos of the 2010 Meriva Small MPV Including First Shots of the Interior

It won't be long before we see the new Opel Meriva with its rear suicide doors in the flesh as the 2010 Geneva Salon is just around the corner, but to keep consumer and media interest alike on the boil, Opel went ahead and released a new batch of photographs of the small MPV that include the first shots of the interior.

If you have ever sat in or even seen the cockpit of the new Opel Astra or the Insignia a.k.a. the 2011 Buick Regal in North America, then the Meriva's dashboard styling will look very familiar.

Being a model that is aimed at a somewhat younger crowd, the Meriva does get more trendy color options and upholstery patterns as well as some unique design cues like the styling of the air vents, but other than that, an Astra driver will feel right at home.

Aside from the rear doors that are hinged at the back opening to almost 90 degrees, the second generation of the Meriva also gets an improved Flexspace seating system that allows the rear seats to be mounted back independently to create more boot, leg or shoulder room, or folded down completely optimal cargo-carrying flexibility.

New for the Meriva is the so-called FlexRail lower center console concept between the seats that provides adaptable storage for a variety of everyday items from handbags and magazines to iPods, CDs and tissue boxes for both the front and rear passengers.

Other new features include the optional, full panorama sunroof that's almost two-meters long and the FlexFix bicycle carrier that slides in and out of the rear bumper like a drawer making

The new Meriva will be offered with a total of six turbocharged diesel and gasoline units with outputs ranging from 75 to 140 horsepower.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/01/opel-releases-new-photos-of-2010-meriva.html?m=0