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Today — 24 December 2024Main stream

Leapmotor C10 REEV Goes The Distance Thanks To Range Extending 1.5-Liter Engine

  • Leapmotor will use the Brussels Motor Show to introduce the new C10 REEV.
  • The model features a range-extended powertrain with a 1.5-liter engine and a 28.4 kWh battery pack.
  • Customers can expect 212 hp and a combined range in excess of 590 miles.

The Leapmotor C10 lineup is expanding as the company has announced a new range-extended variant, ahead of its debut at the Brussels Motor Show. It promises to combine the “benefits of electric vehicles and traditional gasoline cars, offering extended range and superior fuel efficiency.”

Starting under the hood, there’s a 1.5-liter engine, a 28.4 kWh battery pack, and a 212 hp (158 kW /215 PS) electric motor. The battery provides an electric-only WLTP range of 90 miles (145 km), while the engine increases that distance to over 590 miles (950 km) combined.

More: New Leapmotor B10 Goes After Europe’s EV Market With Stellantis In Its Corner

Leapmotor didn’t go into many specifics, but said the crossover primarily operates as an electric vehicle. When the battery becomes low, the internal combustion engine activates to generate electricity and recharge the battery. The company added that in combined mode, the model has a fuel consumption rating of 0.4 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 10 g/km.

If you’d prefer not to use gas, a DC fast charger can deliver approximately 45 miles of range (72.5 km) in 18 minutes.

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We can expect to learn more next month, but the C10 REEV presumably echoes the fully electric variant. This means we can expect LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, and 18-inch wheels. They’re joined by privacy glass and flush-mounted door handles.

The interior is a tad plain, but C10 buyers will find power front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, a 12-speaker audio system, and a 14.6-inch infotainment system. German customers can also get a higher-end variant that has heated and ventilated front seats, an ambient lighting system, a power liftgate, and larger 20-inch wheels.

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Before yesterdayMain stream

New Leapmotor B10 Goes After Europe’s EV Market With Stellantis In Its Corner

  • Leapmotor’s B10 compact SUV debuted in Paris, targeting the competitive European EV market.
  • It will go on sale in Europe late next year, offering both all-electric and range-extended versions.
  • Expected to come in under €30,000, the B10 takes aim at more established players in the segment.

It feels like every other week there’s a new Chinese automaker rolling into Europe, undeterred by the looming threat of EU tariffs. This time, it’s Leapmotor, with some serious backing from one of Europe’s automotive heavyweights, Stellantis. Debuting at the Paris Motor Show, Leapmotor’s B10 compact SUV is looking to compete against the likes of the Kia EV3, Jeep Avenger, and Hyundai Kona, offering the usual pitch of high-tech features at relatively affordable prices.

This latest world premiere throws a spotlight on Leapmotor’s aggressive expansion in Europe, with over 200 dealers already set up across 13 markets, with ambitions to reach 500 sales points by 2025.

More: All The World Premieres At The 2024 Paris Auto Show

The B10 rides on Leapmotor’s latest LEAP 3.5 platform, packed with the usual tech buzzwords: advanced driver assistance systems, a customizable digital cockpit, and smart connectivity. There’s an all-electric version as well as a range-extended model with a 1.5-liter engine to keep the EV vibes alive without the fear of running out of juice.

However, we’re still waiting on the actual specs, including range, power, or anything that might make the B10 stand out in an already crowded field of electrified sub-compact and compact SUVs.

Familiar Design Cues

 New Leapmotor B10 Goes After Europe’s EV Market With Stellantis In Its Corner

On the design front, it’s all about sleek, simplified lines and details like the flush door handles and thin light bars at both ends, all borrowing heavily from its bigger sibling, the C10. It looks good, but it’s hard to shake the feeling we’ve seen this before—there’s even a hint of Cayenne in the profile and rear. Leapmotor kept the interior hidden behind blacked-out windows, but it’s likely to mirror the C10’s minimalist cabin, with large screens dominating an otherwise simple dashboard.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing is still under wraps, but when the B10 arrives in Europe late next year, it’s expected to come in just under €30,000, positioning it right in the thick of an already crowded segment dominated by well-established rivals. With competition this fierce, Leapmotor will need more than buzzwords to truly stand out.

Stellantis Powers Leapmotor’s European Push

 New Leapmotor B10 Goes After Europe’s EV Market With Stellantis In Its Corner

Leapmotor’s European push is only happening thanks to Stellantis’ distribution and service network, which means the Chinese brand is leaning heavily on its partner’s resources to make this happen. Tianshu Xin, CEO of Leapmotor International, admitted as much, calling Stellantis’ infrastructure their “unmatched advantage.” In other words, this might be less about Leapmotor breaking into new markets and more about Stellantis adding another brand to its crowded lineup.

With plans to release one new model every year for the next three years, Leapmotor clearly has ambitions. But whether the B10 will stand out or simply fade into the mix remains to be seen. There’s no U.S. release in the cards, so for now, Europe is Leapmotor’s proving ground. Let’s see if Stellantis’ backing can turn this partnership into more than just another checkbox on the EV trend sheet.

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