drive motor to assist the gasoline engine powered front wheels. As a result of power shortages in Japan caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the 2012 Cube made a delayed appearance in the United States in January 2012. The 2012 model had no mechanical or styling changes, but Nissan did introduce a special-edition version, the S Indigo with a navigation system, rear-view monitor, upgraded audio system, intelligent key and upgraded wheels. New paint colors were available: Pearl White, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Cayenne Red, and Bali Blue. New equipment features were added to certain trim levels. Pricing of the base model went up $240. In early 2011, Nissan announced the Z12 Cube was to be withdrawn from sale in the UK and the rest of Europe, following its disappointing sales performance. Nissan cited a poor exchange rate as one of the reasons why the model failed to be competitive. The Cube was discontinued in the North American market at the end of the 2014 model year, due to poor sales. Production for the Japanese market continued until at least December 2019. EV-02 (2008) It is a test vehicle with 80 kW motor and lithium-ion batteries. Nissan claimed the production version would be introduced in 2010 would have a unique bodystyle and is not based on any existing Nissan model, which became the Nissan Leaf. Marketing Nissan provided visitors at the 2008 LA Auto Show with a brochure featuring the car using augmented reality technology by Total Immersion. The brochure is held up to a webcam of which various 3D models of the vehicle will pop out offering views of the car's exterior and interior in real-time interaction with the brochure. To promote the first Cube model to arrive in Canada, Nissan Canada ran a contest in early and mid-2009 to give away 50 Nissan Cubes to "creative Canadians". The marketing campaign, called 'hypercube', picked 500 Canadians to compete for 50 Cubes by showing their creative talents. The winners received their Cubes at events held in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. 2010 recall A recall was announced in the United States by Nissan on July 21, 2010, that affected 46,000 MY 2009 and 2010 Cube vehicles for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 301, "Fuel System Integrity", due to excessive fuel leakage after a rear-end collision. Awards and recognition Kelley Blue Book named the Nissan Cube