Using an age-old trick to keep an aging car salable, Nissan announced the release of a new Black Edition LEAF. On sale now in the UK, the 2017 Nissan LEAF Black Edition comes with a range of, well, black extras, and it is priced from from £26,890.

Now, that price includes the £4,500 government plug-in vehicle grant, but whichever way you cut it, this is a pricey hatcback – especially with those looks. That said, the LEAF buyers care very little about the looks and a lot about the substance. The best-selling electric car boasts a 30 kWh battery now offering 155 miles in driving range which, in the world of EVs, is pretty decent.

As for what makes the Nissan LEAF Black Edition more special than regular models, you have the 16” black alloy wheels, LED headlamps, black door mirror caps and black rear roof spoiler. In addition, the Black Edition is completed with blue-stitched mats to give the interior a premium finish. What’s more, NissanConnect EV telematics system and Intelligent Around View Monitor are standard and the first 200 units also get a free Wi-Fi hotspot capable of pairing with up to eight devices.

Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles at Nissan Europe, said: “The new LEAF Black Edition perfectly showcases Nissan’s commitment to making smart, premium quality products accessible for all. This stylish black number combines dynamic styling, with Nissan’s innovative zero-emission technology to offer customers a city-savvy intelligent mobility solution. Its sleek design compliments an exciting drive, delivered through high-class engineering, demonstrating that you don’t have to compromise on style or performance when purchasing an electric car.”