Leapmotor heads Down Under with C10 SUV

ANOTHER Chinese brand is ready to take the plunge Down Under with Leapmotor announcing it will jump into action from November under the umbrella of JV partner Stellantis, some of whose dealers will retail the newcomer in Australia.

Leapmotor’s arrival follows the launch of Zeekr and Smart Chinese brands within the last month to be followed by a veritable flood of new Chinese brands arriving soon or down the track numbered among them: Geely, Xpeng, Jetour, Jaecoo, GAC and Aion.

Leapmotor lobs with its new C10 fully electric SUV saying it “redefines the medium SUV segment”, despite the generic styling and a familiar chassis/powertrain layout.

It is the brand’s first global product from a company that started back in 2015 as a dedicated EV manufacturer which makes up to 67 per cent of the components in its products.

Though an unknown quantity in Australia and unpriced, Leapmotor arrives in select FCA Australia/Stellantis dealerships to be followed soon after by a second model called the T03, a light segment hatch whose price is also unknown.

Leapmotor says the C10 is “a brilliant introduction to the brand encapsulating its DNA and dedication to redefining electric vehicles through cutting-edge technology and innovation”.

The importer is targeting young families with the C10 as it “combines state-of-the-art innovation, natural aesthetics, versatile space and top-class safety in an elegant, robust design”.

The Leapmotor C10 is powered by a single rear-mounted 160kW/320Nm e-motor with a 69.9kWh lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery pack.

With a maximum DC charge rate of up to 84kW, the 30-80 per cent charge rate can be achieved in approximately 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 3 charging cables and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.

With a claimed range of 420km (WLTP), the model is covered by a seven-year/ 160,000-kilometre warranty on the vehicle and eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty on the high-voltage battery.

A “lottery” for a month’s free use of a C10 is being held in conjunction with its launch for people who register their interest at the importer’s pubic website by November 30.

Early C10 buyers will score one-year free charging via the Chargefox network when they take delivery of their vehicle before March 31, 2025.

The model will be available in two generously equipped variants – Style and Design – each with two interior choices and five exterior colours: Pearl White, Terra Grey, Jade Green, Midnight Grey and Metallic Black.

The Style variant features18-inch black double five-spoke wheels, immersive 14.6-inch high-definition central display, 17 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) features including a 360-degree camera and over-the-air update capability.

The Design variant adds another tier of luxury with larger 20-inch trident sporty wheels, multi-colour interior ambient lighting and heated steering wheel and front seating.

Leapmotor describes its styling as having “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”.

It is on Leapmotor’s Leap3.0 platform which is the culmination of eight years’ in-house development, encompassing several industry-leading and pioneering technologies. These include cell-to-chassis (CTC) battery system that enhances safety, handling, driving range and space efficiency.

The model uses four-domain-in-one centrally integrated electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture which is a self-developed system that unifies the cockpit, pilot, power, and body domains, bringing users a constantly updated and higher-level intelligent electric vehicle experience.

Following current trends, the C10 features advanced over-the-air (OTA) capabilities to ensuring the vehicle’s software is up to date with the latest features and improvements.

The C10 is said to have a spacious cabin including a 581-litre of cargo volume when all seats are upright, expanding to 1410 litres when the second-row seats are folded. The cargo area has a maximum depth of up to 1820mm and a maximum width of 1100mm. 

The interior offers 26 storage spaces and 180-degree flat-fold seating, making it “an ideal choice for growing families”. The hollow front armrest box allows for the storage of smaller items, as well as concealed USB ports and a wireless charging pad.

The upholstery is Oeko-Tex silicone leather that has been tested for harmful substances and sets the benchmark for textile safety, while the C10’s flagship Smart Digital Cockpit offers a “user-friendly experience, creating a clean and uncluttered aesthetic with the infotainment system including a fully customisable operating system” on the 14.6-inch high-definition display, as well as a 10.25-inch driver instrument display.

Five-way scroll buttons on the steering wheel and dual-zone voice recognition for verbal commands are standard fitment.

The C10 also runs “rhythmic” ambient lighting that works in harmony with the surround audio system when using Bluetooth audio and embedded apps through a twelve speaker 840W audio system.

Safety features include a high-strength, cage-like frame capable of withstanding up to nine tonnes of crushing force and features pre-tensioning seat belts and seven airbags.

An extensive array of ADAS tech is provided though the Leap Pilot Intelligent Driver Assistance System.

The C10 has four drive modes featuring three levels of regenerative braking and three separate steering modes.

Leapmotor Australia will have dealerships nationwide, with locations announced in October 2024.