Nissan Leaf's new Bose sound system cuts energy use in half

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Nissan Leaf's new Bose sound system cuts energy use in half

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"The Nissan Leaf doesn't exactly rank up there with Snoop Dogg's '64 Impala when it comes to thumping sound systems, but at least the Japanese automaker is bringing the all-electric's stereo in line with the car's energy efficient approach.

The Japanese automaker worked with Bose to develop a system that cuts energy use in half while increasing sound quality. The Bose Energy Efficient Series, which will be available on the SV and SL versions of the Leaf, uses lighter speakers and amplifiers and adds a 4.5-inch bass woofer – excuse us, a "4.5-inch Nd® Richbass® woofer" – in the rear cargo area. Go ahead and blast Ain't No Fun through that.

On top of the sound system updates, Nissan is looking to spur sales of the 2013 model-year Leaf by dropping the car's base price by $6,400 to $28,800, making it the country's cheapest five-seat electric vehicle. The SV and SL's prices were cut by $3,380 and $2,410, respectively. Last month, Leaf sales fell 3.8 percent from a year earlier to 650 units. Check out Nissan's press release on the greener sound system below.
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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."

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