I tested it on track at SIC and it did impress me with its cornering ability and composure. Was just a short drive though but the multi-link rear and Maserati tuned suspension did work well.

Lol the end words ... "Once upon a time China was asked to open up their market. Now it is the other way round"

How ironic 😏

RHD Leapmotor C10 previewed in Malaysia - Meet the interesting SUV EV with up to 420km range, 218PS and 350Nm

KUALA LUMPUR:  With the flood of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) entering the market, it's getting increasingly difficult to identify something that truly stands out. Many Chinese EVs are well-built, but sometimes they all feel similar—battery, motors, software, and a body all coming together to form yet another electric vehicle. So when Stellantis Malaysia announced earlier this year that they would be introducing the Leapmotor brand, our initial reaction was: "Just another EV?"

KEY TAKEAWAYS
* When will the Leapmotor C10 be launched in Malaysia? Q4, 2024
* How big is it? They call it C-Segment Plus, borderline D-Segment
* What are the key specs? 69.9 kWh battery, up to 420km of range NEDC, 218PS/350Nm
*How much will it cost? There's no indication of price, but they have hinted that it'll be priced around a certain popular Chinese SUV EV with blade battery


However, our close-up experience with the Leapmotor C10 today has certainly made us reconsider. Leapmotor, a Chinese EV automaker with impressive sales growth of 400,000 units as of July 2024, has quickly positioned itself as one of China’s top three EV startups. With its first foray into the Malaysia market, the Leapmotor C10 aims to shake things up in the C-segment SUV EV space.

What Makes the Leapmotor C10 Stand Out?

Built From the Ground Up
Unlike many traditional automakers who still rely on legacy components, Leapmotor has forged its own path. The C10 is built on the Leap 3.0 modular platform, featuring an advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate battery pack developed in-house. This battery is integrated into a unique Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) architecture, offering greater safety, efficiency, and driving refinement—making the C10 an intriguing prospect from the start.

Thermal Management and Performance
Leapmotor has taken steps to enhance thermal efficiency in the C10, something many EVs struggle with. First, the rear-mounted electric motor is oil-cooled, a feature touted as the next leap in EV technology. With 228 hp and 320 Nm of torque, the C10 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, making it nimble for its size. Secondly, a traditional liquid-cooling system is in place to manage the 69.9 kWh battery, enabling the C10 to achieve a claimed range of 420 km. The charging specs, while not fully revealed yet, promise DC fast charging from 30-80% in 30 minutes and AC charging in 5-6 hours.




Ride and Handling with Maserati’s Touch
Although we only got a brief chance to drive the C10 around a small preview compound, its ride felt balanced—thanks in part to Maserati’s involvement in its suspension tuning. Many Chinese EVs are either too soft or harsh, but the C10 seemed to strike a nice middle ground, at least in this initial setting.

Design – Sophisticated Yet Sporty
The Leapmotor C10 is a handsome SUV, especially in the eye-catching green shown at the preview. The design, with its sporty grey wheels, gives off a confident vibe. If the front end feels familiar, that's because it looks resembles of that the smart#1. Meanwhile, the rear seems to borrow inspiration from the Porsche Cayenne, particularly the taillights. Overall, the C10 offers a blend of sportiness and sophistication, avoiding the "cute bubble" aesthetic common in some EVs. Size wise, the C10 is not a small vehicle, think BMW iX presence.


Interior – Comfort Meets Tech
Step inside, and you'll be welcomed by a minimalist, clean interior with an unexpected touch of luxury. The seats, wrapped in OEKO-Tex Standard 100, a Austrian-originated material, are remarkably soft—like sitting on the comfiest leather sofa. The C10's spaciousness, thanks to its C-segment Plus sizing (borderline D-segment), adds to the overall comfort, making it ideal for both young professionals and families.


The infotainment system feels intuitive and snappy, which isn’t surprising given Leapmotor founder Zhu Jiangming’s background in IT and AI. While everything is controlled via the system—potentially a downside for those who prefer physical buttons—it does offer voice recognition, and in our brief test, it responded well to commands like opening the boot and sunshade.


For those curious about the infotainment and instrument display, the Leapmotor C10 will come equipped with a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring sat nav, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth,and  alongside sits a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The C10 also includes a dual-zone automatic climate control system as standard. While the preview model lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Leapmotor representatives assured us that these features will be added post-launch.

Interior kit wise, the Leapmotor C10 also comes loaded with a range of premium features as standard. These include a fixed panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade, a 12-speaker surround sound system, ventilated front seats, wireless charging for your smartphone, and ambient lighting to enhance the cabin atmosphere. Instead of a traditional key, the vehicle is equipped with an NFC card key.

In terms of safety and driver assistance features, the Leapmotor C10 includes seven airbags and a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with 16 key functions.



Final Thoughts

The Leapmotor C10 is shaping up to be an interesting addition to Malaysia’s growing EV market. With its advanced technology, thoughtful design, and good performance specs, it offers a premium feel that should appeal to a wide range of buyers. Of course, the final piece of the puzzle will be the price—if it can come in under RM150k as expected, it could have a real chance of standing out in this crowded space. We’ll know more once it officially launches, but for now, consider us intrigued.

So many new SUVs from 130 to 180k range lately until I have lost count, and more to come... end up each having 5~10 units move a month? Dealers how to survive?

Leapmotor aims to conquer the world using a similar strategy to BYD
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Mark Andrews
November 6, 2024


Leapmotor founder and CEO Zhu Jiangming has recently been busy outlining the company’s future strategy and answering the public’s questions. Not only has he given more details about new cars for Europe, but he has also addressed how Leapmotor can produce cars so cheaply.

As part of Leapmotor’s globalization strategy, the company will launch the A series of cars. These will be positioned as A-class, A0-class, and even smaller models, which account for 60-70% of sales in Europe. Furthermore, Leapmotor International will launch at least one new model every year.

Leapmotor unveiled a new world model, the B10, at last month’s Paris Motor Show. Currently, the Stellantis-backed company has two models on sale in Europe: the C10 SUV and the T03 small hatchback. The models are available in 13 European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.


Currently, Leapmotor has 200 outlets in Europe, covering displays, sales, and after-sales services. The aim is to increase this to 500 outlets across Europe by the end of 2025.

Maserati, a subsidiary of Stellantis Group, and Leapmotor’s chassis R&D team will jointly tune Leapmotor products. They have successively conducted multiple rounds of verifications at the Balocco test site in Italy and the Yancheng test site of the China Automotive Center in China.


According to Zhu Jiangming, the main reason Leapmotor models can be so affordable is that they conduct their own research and technological innovation. This extends to the independent R&D and manufacturing of parts. Thereby, the company passes less money on to suppliers and can reduce costs through program optimizations. Ultimately, this means better prices for consumers. It should be noted that this is a very similar strategy to BYD, which is probably the most vertically integrated company in the industry.


“Whether it is a high-end or low-end model, the gross profit is the same, aiming to allow users to buy a better equipped and better quality product at a reasonable price,” said Zhu.

Leapmotor aims to become a major global player in the EV market. Last year, Stellantis bought a 20% stake in the Zhejiang-based company. Since then, Stellantis has set up Leapmotor International, in which it has the controlling 51% stake. Earlier this year, Leapmotor started producing cars at a Stellantis plant in Poland.

Sources: Autohome, Fast Technology