Nissan LEAF shocks competitors at the Pageant of Power Press Day

A standard all-electric Nissan LEAF has surprised competitors with its performance at the press preview day for the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power event.

 All sorts of exotic machinery were on display at Cholmondeley on 14 June in order to give a taste for the range of vehicles that will be competing in the actual Pageant of Power event, 15-17 July 2011.

To represent Green-Car-Guide Live! - a showcase of green cars - we took along an all-electric Nissan LEAF. We gave passenger rides in the LEAF around the track to a number of the other competing drivers who were inquisitive about the car, and they were amazed at the performance of the completely standard electric family hatchback.

Thanks to the all-electric drive, there is 100% torque available instantly, from standstill. This resulted in acceleration off the start line, even with four adults in the LEAF, that shocked many of the passengers. And the LEAF even handled itself well through the corners, thanks to a very low centre of gravity.

The other competitors, all of whom were driving performance track cars, were in even more disbelief when they discovered that the running costs of the LEAF are around 20% of petrol or diesel cars.

The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power event will be taking place from 15-17 July 2011, and it will include the latest class-leading green cars on static display, and also in action on the track. As well as the zero-emission production Nissan LEAF, which is on sale now and eligible for a £5000 government subsidy, there will also be the NISMO Racing LEAF, which is likely to give the other competitors even more of a fright.

See more information about this unique and exciting event at our special feature about Green-Car-Guide Live! and the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power.