It seems like just a couple of weeks ago that we were announcing the arrival of another Chinese brand, Zeekr.
And here we are, back again with another one newcomer — Leapmotor with its C10 EV.
Arriving in November, we’re told the C10 will bring a new level of innovation and excellence to the electric vehicle segment.
It’s been more than 15 years since the launch of the first Chinese-branded car in Australia.
That vehicle was of course the first Great Wall ute way back in 2009, pitched at the bang-for-your-buck tradie fraternity.
Since then, a number of Chinese brands have come and gone, but three manufacturers stand out as the stickarounds.
They are the aforementioned Great Wall, as well as LDV which launched here in 2014 and MG which joined the fray quite late in proceedings in 2017.
Then there’s BYD which has made major in-roads since arriving here in 2022.
In fact, it’s now the the top-selling battery-electric vehicle manufacturer in the world — ahead of Tesla (our cars are also manufactured in China).
The growing pressure exerted by the Chinese brands must be putting the squeeze on established brands, with Citroen recently announcing that it was going to stop selling cars here.
The latest entry to join the fray, Leapmotor, is a Chinese startup based in Hangzhou, China that specialises in electric vehicles.
The company was founded in 2015 and sold its first vehicles in 2019.
In 2023, Stellantis acquired a 20 percent stake in the company with plans to roll out Leap product internationally.
Stellantis is of course the mothership for the Fiat, Alfa, Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Maserati, Opel and Vauxhall brands as well as the French PSA Group which includes Peugeot and Citroen.
The five-seat C10 SUV boasts a driving range of 420km from a single charge under the WLTP standard.
It is Leapmotor’s first global product based on the powerful LEAP 3.0 platform.
It’s powered by a single rear-mounted 160kW/320Nm e-motor with a 69.9kWh lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
The vehicle is developed with Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology which sees battery cells are integrated into the structure of the car, boosting driving range.
Four drive modes include Eco, Sport, Chill and Custom.
With a maximum DC charge rate of up to 84kW, recharging from 30-80 per cent can be achieved in about 30 minutes, while equivalent AC charging will take just over six hours with an onboard charger capable of 6.6kW.
Included as standard are both mode 2 and mode 3 charging cables and Vehicle-to-Load capability.
C10 will be offered in two generously-equipped grades, Style and Design.
The Style variant features striking 18-inch black double five-spoke wheels, a large 14.6 inch high-definition central display, 17 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) features including a 360-degree camera and over-the-air updates.
It will be covered by a 7-year, 160,000km warranty with an 8-year, 160,000km warranty on the high-voltage battery.
The more expensive Design variant adds larger 20-inch trident sporty wheels, multi-colour interior ambient lighting, and heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel.
The vehicle combines advanced technology with natural beauty and elegance with its balanced front face and side body featuring flush door handles and the three parallel lines of the waistline, centreline, and skirting of the car, creating a strong impression.
Inside, the C10’s flagship Smart Digital Cockpit offers a user-friendly experience, creating a clean and uncluttered aesthetic.
The infotainment system includes a fully-customisable operating system on the 14.6-inch high-definition display, as well as a 10.25-inch driver instrument display.
It is further complemented by five-way scroll buttons on the steering wheel and dual-zone voice recognition for verbal commands.
Intelligent rhythmic ambient lighting works in harmony with the surround audio system when using Bluetooth audio and embedded apps.
DAB+ and FM radio are highlighted by a self-developed amplifier system.
Twelve speakers create an acoustic sensory experience with 7.1-channel surround sound, 840W power output, and four audio modes to cover all preferences: Enjoy, Surround, Theatre, and Dynamic.
The Leapmotor app allows the driver to stay connected at all times, even when away from the car.
In addition, drivers can log into embedded apps like Spotify, TikTok, and Zoom via the central vehicle display.
These apps run independently of any smartphone connection thanks to an inbuilt 4G connection.
Users can also operate their Leapmotor keycard provided, which employs Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to unlock the vehicle via the reader, located on the driver’s side exterior rearview mirror.
No word on pricing for the C10 at this stage.
But customers who register their interest by November 30 will have the chance to score a Leapmotor C10 for a month, while all C10s ordered and delivered before March 31, 2025, will receive one year of free charging via the Chargefox network.
Model range
Style
- LEAP3.0 vehicle platform with Cell-to-Chassis technology
- “Four-leaf Clover centrally integrated E/E architecture
- LeapOS infotainment
- 69.9 kWh RWD 160kW/320Nm
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED auto headlights
- Heated exterior mirrors
- 2.1m fixed panoramic glass roof with electric sunshade
- Concealed door handles
- Dual-zone automatic climate control with energy-efficient heat pump
- Over-the-air updates
- 6-way adjustable electric driver seat
- 4-way adjustable electric passenger seat
- LEAP Pilot (L2 ADAS)
- 10.25-inch driver instrument display
- 14.6-inch HD central display with live navigation
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8195 chip
- Wireless charging pad
- 12-speaker surround audio system
- NFC & Bluetooth key
- Leapmotor connected services
- 360 degree camera with dynamic guidelines
- Rear parking sensors
- Tyre repair kit
- 8-year / 160,000km HV battery warranty
Design (adds)
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Power tailgate
- Rear privacy glass
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated front seats
- Ventilated front seats
- LED rear light bar (with lighting animation)
- Air quality monitor
- Silicone leather seats with Oeko-Tex
- Multi-colour interior ambient lighting
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