Desira Nissan is responding to unprecedented demand for the new Nissan Leaf, 2011 European Car of the Year, by holding a special test drive event this weekend.

The dealership in Vulcan Road North, Norwich, has been inundated with requests for test-drives of the innovative and environmentally-friendly vehicle following a preview event earlier this year.

And so, responding to the overwhelming demand and for today and tomorrow only, three Nissan Leafs will be available for customers to put through their paces.

And as well as the chance to take the future for a test-drive by experiencing the UK's first mass-produced, 100pc electric family car, every customer who takes a test-drive will also have the opportunity to win a fabulous once-in-a-lifetime VIP week long trip for two to California for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California – America's version of the Tour de France.

The prize includes exclusive access to the riders and behind-the-scenes areas, as well as a pace car day that includes the chance to ride in the high-powered pace cars with professional drivers, plus handing water and spares to riders on a live stage and the opportunity to spend time with riders and teams in the VIP paddock.

The award-winning compact 100pc electric five-seater family car, comes fully equipped with features such as climate control air-conditioning, integrated satellite navigation system which indicates the reachable range and also details public charging points, a parking camera, a rapid charge socket and internet connectivity, and is a smooth, near-silent drive.

Available in five colours – sky blue, silver, white, black and red – the Nissan Leaf has a compact lithium-ion battery pack that, when charged to full capacity, gives a range of up to 110 miles.

Desira Nissan in Norwich is one of only 26 dealerships in the country that will be fully equipped to sell and service the Nissan Leaf. A specialist electric vehicle (EV) relationship manager is available to all Leaf customers and is on hand to provide expert knowledge and advice on owning and driving an electric car.

Each EV dealership will have a rapid battery charger fitted where customers are able to charge their Leaf up to 80pc capacity in 30 minutes. This network of fast-charger points means that more than 90pc of the UK population are no more than 50 miles from a rapid charger.

Chris Atkins, dealer principal, says: 'The response to the Nissan Leaf has been amazing. The no petrol, no exhaust pipe and no gearbox car has really captured the imagination of the general public. Such has been the interest that we decided to host a special one-off test-drive weekend with extra cars to cater for the demand.

'We're confident that once customers have experienced the car first-hand, they won't be disappointed, as the Leaf truly cements Nissan's place as an innovative, futuristic, thoughtful car manufacturer.'

For more information about the Nissan Leaf or to arrange a test-drive, telephone Desira Nissan in Vulcan Road North, Norwich, on 01603 481800 or visit the Nissan website at www.nissan.co.uk/leaf