2018 Nissan Leaf - latest on 148bhp electric hatchback and its e-Pedal

The 2018 Nissan Leaf has been previewed again ahead of its 6 September reveal, with a new picture showing the car's rear light design more clearly.

Nissan's official shot comes after images of the full car were leaked onto the internet by a Twitter user in a Nissan Oppama factory in Japan, where production of the car will be handled.

The car's design appears to be inspired by the Micra, as shown by sightings of development cars (see gallery), with sharper lines on the body and a more aggressively stooped nose. 

Earlier leaked information posted onto automotive media and marketing site Autobytel suggests the car will have a 148bhp electric drivetrain. This would give the upcoming Leaf about 40bhp more than the outgoing model. Information also shows that the car will have a 40kWh battery; 10kWh higher than the current one's largest option.

Although unconfirmed by Nissan, the information backs suggestions that the new Leaf will have substantially more range. It is predicted to be capable of 340 miles on one charge - more than double that of the old model.

This range will be boosted with the use of new e-Pedal technology (video above), which enhances the car's ability to recharge the batteries while on the move by encouraging the use of just the accelerator pedal. Using the resistance provided by the driveline's regenerative technology to slow the car maximises the amount of time the batteries are re-energised.

Along with the improved drivetrain, the car's range improvement will have been possible as a result of the more slippery exterior. Nissan offered a glimpse of its aerodynamic performance in a preview picture, which shows a silhouette of the car with air lines passing over it (see below).

Nissan is aiming to make the Leaf the segment's most autonomous-capable model, with ProPilot Park its newest system. Using sonars and cameras, the car will be able to park itself in parallel, angled, front or straight back-in parking spots, handling throttle, braking and steering input.

This park assist system will come as part of the car's ProPilot technology, which also includes a single-lane semi-autonomous feature. It will be Nissan's most advanced autonomous model on sale.

When the future Leaf arrives on roads next year, it will lead Nissan's bid to grow EVs to 20 percent of sales by 2020.