2012 New York: Infiniti LE Concept Electric Sedan Lights Up Auto Show Floor

2012 New York: Infiniti LE Concept Electric Sedan Lights Up Auto Show Floor Nissan teased the all-electric Leaf as a preview of several EVs to come, including one that would wear the Infiniti badge. Now the first variant – the Infiniti LE Concept sedan – is on display at the 2012 New York auto show, serving as the brand’s first EV. Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn says the LE Concept is about 85 percent of what the production version of this electric Infiniti will look like. By the time that car arrives, we’d be surprised if the car retained the big “Zero Emissions” badges but may keep the LE name, as though Nissan took the “AF” off a Leaf badge.

2012 New York: Infiniti LE Concept Electric Sedan Lights Up Auto Show Floor

2012 New York: Infiniti LE Concept Electric Sedan Lights Up Auto Show Floor

 2012 New York: Infiniti LE Concept Electric Sedan Lights Up Auto Show Floor

2012 New York: Infiniti LE Concept Electric Sedan Lights Up Auto Show Floor

Infiniti LE Concept interior with ambient lighting 300x187 imageThe Infiniti LE Concept is powered by a 100-kW electric motor rated at 134 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, a bump up compared to the Leaf’s 107 hp and 207 lb-ft. The LE’s 24-kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted below the passenger compartment has a driving range of about 100 miles per charge, and while its wheelbase is the same as the Leaf, the LE is 9.4 inches longer at 186.4 inches—1.5 inches shorter than an Infiniti G37 sedan.

The LE’s exterior design features a sloping roofline and short trunk, which Infiniti says helps improve range thanks to a super slippery drag coefficient of 0.25. The concept wears aerodynamic 19-inch wheels and blue LED lights that illuminate the car’s cabin and underbody. Also unique to the LE is an inductive wireless charging unit under the rear diffuser that allows the car to be charged without plugging into an outlet, and a self-park system that automatically positions the car above a charge point.

Inside, the LE Concept’s seats and door trim draw inspiration from Japanese kimonos, and mesh and leather seats are swathed in a purple and white. A pair of large touch-screen interfaces on the dashboard display information on nearby charging stations and driving range.

Infiniti says we can expect to see a production version of the LE within the next two years. View the Infiniti LE Concept First Look HERE and don’t miss the rest of our comprehensive New York auto show coverage HERE.