Nissan Leaf he 100-percent electric, zero-emission was named 2011 World Car of the Year, edging out the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8 for the top spot, the carmaker said in a statement.

It is a great joy that the world's first, mass-marketed electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, has won the prestigious award of 2011 World Car of the Year, Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said.

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, The Leaf is the gateway to a brave new electric world from Nissan. It has a range of over 100 miles on a full charge claims Nissan, takes around 8 hours to recharge using 220-240V power supply and produces zero tailpipe emissions.

The World Car of the Year competition was launched in 2004, with winners chosen by a panel of automotive journalists from Asia, Europe and North America.

Nissan LEAF is available in Japan, the United States and select European markets and will be released in other global markets in 2012. The vehicle is currently built at Nissan's Oppama, Japan plant. It also will be manufactured at the company's Smyrna, Tenn., plant in the United States in late 2012 and at Nissan's Sunderland plant in the United Kingdom by early 2013.

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