Nissan unveils zero-emission hatchback 'Leaf'

Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn drove quietly out of the Japanese automaker's soon-to-open headquarters Sunday in the first public viewing of its new zero-emission vehicle. The blue hatchback had a sporty design and a recharging opening in the front. Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn stands next to Nissan's new electronic vehicle, the Leaf, during the opening ceremony of the company's new headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. It was the first time the external design was shown of Nissan Motor Co.'s environmentally friendly automobile, set to go on sale in Japan, the U.S. and Europe next year. Nissan has promised that the Leaf, which goes into mass-production as a global model in 2012, will be about the same price as a gas-engine car such as the 1.5 million yen ($15,000) Tiida, which sells abroad as the Versa, starting at about $10,000. (AP Photo)Designer Shiro Nakamura said the vehicle was designed to avoid a stereotypical futuristic design. 'This is not a niche car,' he said. 'We didn't make it unusual looking. It had to be a real car'. Nissan's new electronic vehicle, the Leaf, is displayed during an opening ceremony of the company's new headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. It was the first time the external design was shown of Nissan Motor Co.'s environmentally friendly automobile, set to go on sale in Japan, the U.S. and Europe next year. Nissan has promised that the Leaf, which goes into mass-production as a global model in 2012, will be about the same price as a gas-engine car such as the 1.5 million yen ($15,000) Tiida, which sells abroad as the Versa, starting at about $10,000. (AP Photo)