Nissan LEAF Drops Major New Beats with Bose Energy Efficient Series Sound System

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The all-electric Nissan LEAF may be known for being quiet on the outside, but now it's boomin' on the inside with the first custom-designed Bose® Energy Efficient Series sound system available on the 2013 model that goes on sale this month.

The Bose system in the LEAF delivers powerful, high-quality audio, but with a significantly smaller and lighter footprint than conventional systems and at about half the electrical current.

"Early adopters of electric vehicles were thrilled to have a zero-emissions vehicle and now that we're expanding the market and it matures, many customers are asking for more amenities in their EV," said Brendan Jones, Nissan director of EV marketing. "We wanted to be able to give them a premium sound system and be conscientious about the amount of energy required to do so."

Nissan, which now assembles the LEAF, its battery and its electric motor all in Tennessee, introduced an expanded range of trim levels for the 2013 LEAF. The Bose system is available as part of the premium package on SV and SL models.

"The Bose Energy Efficient Series sound system delivers on all its promise for LEAF owners. It's remarkably efficient—without conceding on great musical performance," said Brandon Westley, president of the Bose Automotive Systems Division. "This system also demonstrates the unmatched advancements we've achieved in producing highly efficient audio technology in vehicles."

To meet the energy efficient design goals for the LEAF, Nissan engineers focused on using every available watt of power effectively throughout the vehicle, including the sound system. Bose expertise in power-efficient technology led to the development of smaller and lighter speakers and amplifiers that perform at a high level without compromising the LEAF's power, weight or interior space.

Bose engineers also delivered on Nissan's goal to incorporate a powerful bass unit compact enough to be mounted into the small space in the LEAF's rear cargo area. Bose implemented a 4.5-inch Nd® Richbass® woofer in a 6.2-liter custom-engineered Acoustic Waveguide bassbox. The bassbox uses patented technology applied from Bose® Wave® home entertainment products to deliver rich, low-frequency performance from a very small enclosure.

For mid-high-frequency performance, the Bose Energy Efficient Series sound system includes six lightweight speakers strategically placed and acoustically tuned to reproduce music accurately, with more of the detail found in a live performance. There are two one-inch neodymium tweeters, one in each A-pillar; two 6.5-inch wide-range neodymium speakers, one in each front door; and two 5.25-inch wide-range neodymium speakers, one in each rear door.

And at the heart of the sound system, a Bose energy-efficient amplifier operates on much less power and runs cooler than conventional offerings. The amplifier is also smaller and lighter because it doesn't require as many large metal cooling fins to dissipate heat.

U.S. pricing for the new 2013 Nissan LEAF will start at an MSRP of $28,800 for the newly-added S grade, making it the lowest priced five-passenger electric vehicle sold in the United States. Depending on location, some consumers may purchase the vehicle for as low as $18,800 with qualifying federal and state tax credits, putting the LEAF on par with gas-powered vehicles of its size. Nissan will also continue its lease offer for the 2013 LEAF, allowing consumers to lease the electric vehicle for as low as $199 per month for 36 months, which includes tax credits and destination charges.

Additions to the 2013 LEAF include: 17-inch alloy wheels and leather appointed interior on SL models, available Around View® Monitor and 7-speaker Bose® energy efficient audio system and a 6.6 kW onboard charger that significantly reduces 220V charging times and is standard on SV and SL models.

Bose began collaborating with Nissan Motor Company nearly 25 years ago, and the LEAF joins an extensive lineup of Nissan vehicles currently available with Bose sound systems, including the Altima, Armada, GT-R, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest, Rogue, Sentra and Z coupe and convertible.

About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.8 million vehicles in 2011, generating revenue of 9.4 trillion yen ($118.95 billion US). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan and 2011 World Car of the Year awards.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

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Contact Information:

Travis Parman
Nissan North America, Inc.
Corporate Communications
615-725-5828