Nay Sayers! Eat This! Order You LEAF Next week!

Yes, Chris at Criswell comes through and here's the proof.  I just received the following e-mail from Nissan:

Hi redacted, thanks for reserving and patiently waiting to order your 100% electric Nissan LEAF™. We're very excited to let you know you'll be able to order your new 2012 Nissan LEAF next week.

So what is new for the 2012 Nissan LEAF? We have taken feedback directly from our customers by making the most popular optional equipment on the 2011 model standard equipment on the 2012.

This equipment includes a battery heater for cold-weather operation, heated outside mirrors, heated front steering wheel, heated front and rear seats and rear HVAC duct. The Quick Charge Port is also added as standard equipment on the Nissan LEAF SL model.

The 2012 Nissan LEAF is available starting at $369 a month/36-month lease ($2,599 initial payment – excludes tax, title and license)*.

We'll send you an e-mail when it's time to work with a dealer to pick your car's color, review options and get a quote.

For more information available to Nissan LEAF reservation holders, please click here.

Now, although the MSRP for the 2012 LEAF isn't quoted in this e-mail, it can be found in the official press release from this morning: $35,200 for the base SV trim level and $37,250 for the base SL.  The lease is still pretty low but since I drive a lot more than the 15K mile terms of the lease per year, it really won't easily work for me.  Also, I'm really pretty desperate to get the 6.6kW charger for the J1772 port which still isn't scheduled to be in the car until the 2013 model year when the car's manufactured at the new Smyrna plant.

I also received this posting from one of my blog readers which I have edited to take out his or her personal information

I have reservation number redacted reserved on 4/20/2010. As of Saturday 16 July I have not had word one from Nissan on ordering since 12/19/2010. I haven't even had a Leaf News since 3/29/2011. My profile states my reservation is complete, but all other options have been disabled. So no I do not believe all 2 areas will be allowed to order. In fact, I doubt they let the rest of the country order until the 2013's start rolling off the TN plant.

I am very happy to report you as incorrect on the first point.  And, for those waiting for the cold weather package, here it is.  For those in the Eye-Poked Eight states of AL, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, as well as the newly added Tier 2 states of IL and MS, your time has finally come!  So call your dealer and verify the price now because if you don't like the price you're offered when your dashboard opens you'll have to wait 24 hours to renegotiate and order again!

And what about the rest of the U.S.?  Well, after Tier 2, or Wave 2 as it's now called, we have the following from that press release:

Nissan will expand into additional new markets as the year continues. In the fall, orders from existing reservations and new reservations will begin in Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By the end of the year, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island will be added as markets where the Nissan LEAF will be available for order.

In other words, Wave 3 will include CT, CO, MA, NH, NJ and NY, bringing the total number of states including the District of Columbia up to 22 23.  Then Wave 4 begins with DE, IN, LA, NE, OH, PA and RI, bring us to 30 31 of 51!  Finally, the remaining 21 20 states will be able to order for the final tier, Wave 5.

So congratulations Tier 2!  Here's to making the Right Coast the Environmental Coast!