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?"

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.

Also Read: Malaysia Autoshow 2024: Leapmotor C10 EV makes ASEAN debut