IT ALMOST SEEMS THAT A NEW CHINESE brand lands in Australia every week. Latest is the oddly named Leapmotor, announcing the launch of its pioneering electric vehicle, the all-new C10. The Leapmotor C10, a mid-size SUV, marks the brand’s inaugural entry into Australia.
Arriving in November, the C10 will bring a new level of innovation and excellence to the electric vehicle segment. Customers who register their interest by 30 November 2024 will have the chance to win a Leapmotor C10 for a month. Plus, all Leapmotor C10s ordered and delivered before 31 March 2025, receive one year of free charging via the Chargefox network.
The Leapmotor C10 combines cutting-edge technology with natural aesthetics, to deliver a driving experience that is both dynamic and refined. The C10 offers versatile space, top-tier safety features, and advanced technology, in an elegant, robust design.
C10 will launch with two generously-equipped levels, the Style variant featuring striking 18-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 C10 has a seven-year, 160,000km warranty on the vehicle and an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.
The Design variant adds to the luxury with larger 20-inch trident sporty wheels, multi-colour interior ambient lighting, and heated steering wheel and front seating.
Innovative Features and Award-Winning Design
The Leapmotor C10, with a range of up to 420km, based on the WLTP cycle, has attracted media attention and recognition, winning the 2023 International CMF Design Award for its technological and natural aesthetic design as well as the prestigious 2024 Gold Award from the French Design Awards (FDA).
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.
The C10 is Leapmotor’s first global product based on the powerful LEAP3.0 platform. This platform is the culmination of Leapmotor’s eight years of in-house development, encompassing several industry-leading and pioneering technologies:
- Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) Battery System: Enhancing safety, handling, driving range and space efficiency.
- Four-leaf Clover four-domain-in-one centrally integrated Electrical/Electronic (E/E) architecture: 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.
- Advanced Over-the-Air (OTA) Capabilities: Ensuring the vehicle’s software is up-to-date with the latest features and improvements.
A Smart and Spacious Interior
There is plenty of space in the C10 with a 581 litres of cargo volume when all seats are upright, expanding to 1410L 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 first row boasts an impressive 937mm legroom and 951mm for the second row, while headroom for the first row is 1009mm and 1015mm for the second row. The OEKO-TEX silicone leather seating has been tested for harmful substances and sets the benchmark for textile safety.
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 C10 functions alongside the Leapmotor app, allowing the driver to stay connected at all times, even when away from the car. Features include smartphone Bluetooth key support, real-time car location, and remote air-conditioning control, aiming to make the driving experience as pleasant as possible. 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.
Safety Features
Safety is paramount in the C10; it is constructed with a high-strength, cage-like frame capable of withstanding up to 9 tonnes of crushing force and features pre-tensioning seat belts and seven airbags.
The All-New Leapmotor C10 features the LEAP Pilot Intelligent Driver Assistance System with 12 high-precision ADAS sensors and 17 ADAS functions:
- ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)
- LCC (Lane Centring Control)
- ELK (Emergency Lane Keep)
- FCW (Front Collision Warning)
- RCW (Rear Collision Warning)
- RCTB (Rear Cross Traffic Brake)
- ISA (Intelligent Speed Assist)
- DDAW (Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning)
- DOW (Door Open Warning)
- LDW (Lane Departure Warning)
- LKA (Lane Keep Assist)
- TJA (Traffic Jam Assist)
- AEB (Autonomous Emergency Brake)
- RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert)
- BSD (Blind Sport Detection)
- HOD (Hands Off Detection)
- AADW (Advanced Driver Distraction Warning)
Smart Electric Powertrain
The Leapmotor C10 is 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 meaning the battery cells are integrated into the structure of the car, leading to a greater driving range of up to 420km, based on the WLTP cycle. The C10 comes with an eight-year high-voltage battery warranty.
With a maximum DC charge rate of up to 84kW recharging on the go, from 30 to 80 percent, 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 mode 3 charging cables and Vehicle-to-Load capability.
The C10 includes four separate drive modes, featuring three levels of regenerative braking and three separate steering modes:
| Drive Mode | Description |
| ECO | Smooth acceleration, strong regenerative braking, comfortable steering |
| Chill | Stable acceleration, low regenerative braking, comfortable steering |
| Sport | Powerful acceleration, strong regenerative braking, sporty steering |
| Custom | Customise acceleration, regenerative braking and steering mode to driver’s preference |
The driver can also select, through the central touchscreen, the ability for one-pedal driving as desired.
Dealerships
Leapmotor Australia will have dealerships nationwide, with locations announced in October 2024.