Chinese startup Leapmotor has confirmed the arrival of its C10 midsize electric SUV in Australia from November, and although pricing is yet to be confirmed it appears yet another cut-price Tesla Model Y competitor is entering the fray.
The Leapmotor C10 is powered by a single rear-mounted 160kW/320Nm e-motor with a 69.9kWh battery pack, good for a range of up to 420km on the WLTP cycle. With a maximum DC charging rate of 84kW, the C10 will take around half an hour to go from 30 to 80 percent charge.
Visually, the C10 offers an upmarket appeal and apparently won the 2023 International CMF Design Award for its technological and natural aesthetic, as well as the prestigious 2024 Gold Award from the French Design Awards (FDA).
The C10 will launch two trim grades; the Style and Design. The Style features 18-inch alloy wheels, a 14.6-inch central display, LED auto headlights and a fixed panoramic sunroof plus loads of other tech. The Design scores larger 20-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, a power tailgate and heated and ventilated front seats among other features.
According to Leapmotor the C10 can withstand up to nine tonnes of crushing force and features pre-tensioning seat belts and seven airbags. It also features a full suite of ADAS technology.
The C10 will come with a seven-year/160,000km warranty on the vehicle and an eight-year/160,000km warranty on the high-voltage battery.
While pricing is yet to be confirmed, Leapmotor is enticing would-be buyers to register their interest online for a chance to win a C10 for a month. All C10 orders placed and delivered before 31 March next year will score a free year of charging via the Chargefox network.
The company said it would unveil its Australian dealer network in October, but at the time of writing the locations have not yet been outlined.
