Nissan's pain could well turn out to be Tesla's gain now that the Leaf group buying efforts have been shunned by the Nissan head of Canada. Many of the disgruntled customers vented their ire against Nissan saying they would rather wait for the Tesla Model 3 instead.

While it could be a topic of debate if Nissan Canada is justified in its move, there is a new twist to the story in that the Japanese automaker is also reported to be working on the next generation Leaf which is slated for release around September 2017. As revealed by AutoSpies, the new 2017 Leaf will have a longer range along with better features than the current version.

That is not all as the timing of the release too is bound to raise a few eyebrows considering that Tesla's schedule to launch its much anticipated Model 3 is around end-2017. That is not all as the Tesla timeframe is also being considered a bit too optimistic, which means time overruns can't be ruled out entirely. If that be that case than the 2017 Nissan Leaf does stand a good chance to poach on those who might grow impatient waiting for the Model 3.

That said, a direct comparison between the two stands little chance given that the Model 3 will be more luxurious and flamboyant of the two. According to Cardissection, 2017 Nissan Leaf will come in three trim versions - S, SV and SL. Of these, the S will feature a 24kWh battery with a projected range of 133km. The SV and SL version will feature a slightly bigger 30kWh battery and is expected to have a range of 173 kms. The 0 - 60 mph will come up in 11.3 secs on the 2017 Leaf.

In contrast, the Model 3 is a full-fledged sedan with a base range of 215 miles. Higher-end versions with bigger batteries will likely have 250+ miles of range. The 0 - 60 mph on the Model 3 is pegged at less than 6 secs, which also makes the Tesla offering quicker off the block.

Price wise, rumor has it that the 2017 Leaf will start at $30,500, going all the way up to $40,000 for the top-end versions. Tesla also announced the Model 3 will start at $35,000 for the base versions, which makes it in the same category as the Leaf.

It though remains to be seen if buyers are prepared to wait longer for the more capable Model 3 or hop on the 2017 Leaf in between.

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