In South Africa the pricey Nissan Leaf electric vehicle struggles to find homes. We do love our bakkies though – and one wonders if this Leaf pick-up could do well, as something of a sparky successor to the much loved 1400 Champ?
That is an unlikely prospect however. The Leaf bakkie you see here is a one-off, created by engineers at the Nissan Technical Centre in Stanfield, Arizona. It was birthed to cart supplies, parts and people around the facility. In addition to being a support vehicle for all the research and development testing that happens here.
It has been christened Sparky by the team at Nissan. And it is the result of cross-pollination between the Leaf and the Frontier - which we know in SA as the Navara. Roland Schellenberg, responsible for durability and reliability at the development centre conceived the idea.
"I needed a project for a team building activity so we can bring the team together. We had a need for a truck. Something to drive around, a shop truck," said Schellenberg. Sparky provides support during vehicle trials at the centre, which vary from heat durability, engine cooling and air conditioner performance. There is also a high-speed oval and four individual road courses designed to test vehicle reliability and ride comfort.
http://youtu.be/-c-ydWELnhc
"Being a slick truck, and not so tough, I see it as a boy – but a boy with a heart. It's something that we all put together. We all share. So it has a little bit of everybody in there," said Schellenberg.
-Ignition Live Reporter