Previewed: Leapmotor C10 EV – Launching in Q4 2024

Stellantis welcomes the new Leapmotor EV brand in Malaysia by previewing the C10 at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024.

Stellantis Malaysia has welcomed yet another brand under its expansive wings into our market, this time the burgeoning Chinese marque Leapmotor. This Chinese EV brand makes its inaugural Malaysia debut at the ongoing Malaysia Autoshow 2024 (MAS 2024) by showcasing the new C10 EV SUV, one of the marque’s products for the international market.

Positioned as Leapmotor’s midsize SUV contender, the C10 measures 4,739 MM long, 1,900 MM wide, and 1,680 MM tall, with a wheelbase of 2,285 MM, making it about the same size as other local EV SUV contenders like the Tesla Model Y, or the Chery-owned Exeed Exlantix ET in its native Chinese market.

The Model Y similarities go beyond the C10’s size, as this EV SUV also features a similar minimalist exterior design, with key highlights including its sleek LED headlights and taillights, each with full-width light bars, sleek elongated body style, and the 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels it rides on.

On board, the C10 unit displayed at the motor show appears to come from the Chinese market, as indicated by its left-hand drive (LHD) driver’s position. As expected, the C10’s innards are brimmed with space and tech bits, including a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a larger 14.6-inch central infotainment screen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip, a full panoramic glass roof, and many more.

On top of that, the C10’s front seats can be flattened down at up to a 180-degree angle. Once both the front and rear seats are folded down, the C10’s cabin can be transformed into a queen-sized bed for two, measuring up to 2.7 metres in length.

While the C10 is available in both battery EV (BEV) and range-extender EV (REEV) forms, we can expect the Malaysian-spec one to boast the former powertrain setup. It features two different battery setups, with the largest one using a 69.9-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit that grants the C10 up to 530 KM of EV range (CLTC).

Regardless of the battery sizes, all variants of the C10 BEV harness the same single, rear-mounted (RWD) electric motor setup rated at 228 HP (170 kW) and 320 NM, allowing this EV SUV to blast from 0-100 KM/H in 7.29 seconds, en route to its V-Max of 170 KM/H.

In line with Leapmotor International’s plan for the Asia Pacific region, we can expect the Leapmotor C10 EV SUV to make its local debut some time later in Q4 this year, where it will be the first model to be launched by Stellantis Malaysia for its new Chinese sub-brand. In its native China, the BEV Leapmotor C10 starts at CNY 128,800 (RM83,560) for the baseline 410 model, while the top-sec 530 variant is priced higher at CNY 168,800 (RM109,510).

So folks, what do you think of the Leapmotor C10 EV? Could this Stellantis-owned EV SUV fare well against the likes of the Tesla Model Y in our burgeoning EV market space? You can check out the new C10 at the ongoing Malaysia Autoshow 2024, happening from May 22 to 26 at MAEPS Serdang, Selangor.