LEAPMOTOR is finally open for business in Malaysia, and with it comes the company's first global product.

Malaysia has the honour as the first market to launch the Leapmotor brand in the India and Asia Pacific region as part of the company's expansion strategy for the region. This will be followed by Thailand and Australia.

Stellantis ASEAN chief operating officer Daniel Gonzalez said their partnership with Leapmotor is quite unique as it offers customers access to advanced, high-value battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology, bolstered by the organisational and retail support of Stellantis. 

"This will ensure a customer-focused ownership experience that sets the Leapmotor brand apart from other Chinese competitors. We are actively contributing to a cleaner and greener future, and are aligned with the nation’s goal towards empowering sustainable mobility by introducing the all-new electric Leapmotor C10 sports utility vehicle (SUV) locally,” said Gonzalez.

 

We previously covered the model prior to its launch and now more details have surfaced. 

Built on the advanced Leap 3.0 platform, the D-segment C10 SUV's profile measures in at 4,739 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, 1,680 mm tall, and a wheelbase length of 2,825 mm. Ground clearance is rated at 180 mm.

Adopting the Cell-To-Chassis (CTC) 2.0 technology, which emphasizes on smart assembly during manufacturing by integrating the battery pack into the structure, gives the C10 some advantages such as 17.5% improvement in battery space layout, enable flexible charging inputs, 800V/400V and 4C/2C supercharging technology, 42,500Nm/deg torsional rigidity for enhanced refinement and safety, and improved thermal management preventing heat spread for up to 720 minutes.

It boasts an in-house assembled 69.9kWh Lithium-Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery with Ai Battery Management Systems (BMS) to reduce battery capacity loss, preserve battery lifespan and ensure stability and safety during long-term use. Utilising "Pressure free" technology that means it requires less assembly components for better weight reduction.

The Permanent Magnetic Synchronic electric motor delivers 214 hp (160kW) and 320 Nm that translates to a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds, and a driving range of 424 KM (WLTP) / 477 KM (NEDC.

Its maximum on-board charge is 6.6 kW with the same for max AC charging capacity, max DC charging capacity of 84 kW and 30%-80% in 30 Minutes, and a V2L discharge output of 3.3 kW.

The battery is liquid-cooled and the electric motor gets an oil-cooling system, said to offer a 10-fold improvement in powertrain protection, safety, and to deliver consistent performance plus extend battery life under demanding conditions.

Expanding on the C10's CTC architecture is its integration with Leapmotor's trademark 'Four-Leaf Clover' Central Electronic and Electrical Architecture (E/E) - the latter is a first of its kind designed to centralise all control of the cockpit, driving, power, and body domains via a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip.

This setup aims at eradicating low latency and delivers instantaneous communication between critical components within the C10’s intelligent ecosystem. 

Cabin comes with high-quality fittings and supportive seats finished in OEKO-Tex Standard 100 baby-friendly silicone textile. Air conditioning flow is channeled through piano-style electric air vents with customisable air sweep functions, and a built-in PM2.5 filtration system.

The 14.6-inch central infotainment screen is powered by Leap OS 4.0 integrated with Over-the-Air (OTA) feature, a 10.2-inch instrument screen display, a  360° panoramic camera and transparent chassis bird-eye view.

Primary drive controls are located on the electric column-mounted gear shifter, with vehicle access and power done via a NFC card or the Leapmotor Mobile App. There are four customisable driving modes: ECO, Comfort, Sport, and Custom.

Use of its voice command feature is highly favoured in its minimalist designed interior given its lack of physical buttons.

At the front, the driver’s seat boasts a 6-way power adjustment, while the front passenger has a 4-way power adjustable seat. Both seats feature 3D-ergonomic design with cooling ventilation and a Driver Seat Departure reminder.

It has a class-leading cabin space of 1.8m long and 1.2m wide with the seats folded flat into a double bed - folding all or individual seats with the availability of Camp Mode and Nap Mode.

Additionally, the front centre console incorporates a 15-watt wireless charging pad, a storage compartment, a 12-volt socket, and 60-watt USB-C and 12-watt USB-A power outlets. 

Rear passengers have access to a myriad of comforts in addition to the 951 mm legroom and 1,050 mm headroom.

This includes two USB-C or USB-A ports, a 1-step rear seat recline, 2.1 m2 panoramic glass roof with a retractable electric sunshade, Rhythmic Ambient Lighting with customisable colours, 12-Speakers with Surround Sound and AI sound effect, Four Concert Hall audio modes (Enjoyment, Surround, Theater, Dynamic), and an 840-watt output Amplifier.

The C10 also boasts a 435-litre boot and 1,410-litre load capacity with the rear 60/40 split seats folded flat. For added convenience, the rear hatch features a power-operated tailgate with customisable opening height options.

Safety and advanced driving assist features primarily come in the form of 7 airbags and ADAS Level 2 Leap Pilot system.

The latter includes functions such as: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Centering Control (LCC), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert And Braking (RCTA + RCTB), Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), Driver Drowsiness Alert Warning (DDAW), and Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW).

"The launch of the all-new electric Leapmotor C10 marks a truly exciting milestone for Stellantis Malaysia, and enables us to be a disrupting force within the local EV segment by offering an outstanding BEV SUV," said Stellantis Malaysia managing director Jamie Francis Morais.

"Packed with many world’s first features and technologies in its segment, the C10 is the hallmark product that will showcase its finest innovations first-time to all Malaysians. It's also an accessible and innovative EV option in the competitive market that we are confident will meet and align with the needs of discerning Malaysian consumers,” he added.

Available at a limited time introductory price of RM149,000 on the road without insurance, the C10 comes in either Glazed Green, Pearly White, Canopy Grey, or Tundra Grey. Its two interior colours are Criollo Brown (available only for Glazed Green) and Midnight Aurora. 

This introductory price is valid for bookings until Nov 30, 2024, after which it will retail at RM159,000 once the promo period is over.

It comes with a 6-year or 150,000km warranty, and a 8-year or 160,000km Battery warranty, whichever comes first.  Service intervals are fixed at 1-year or 20,000km, whichever comes first.

Stellantis Malaysia will spearhead the sales, distribution, and after-sales services for the model locally starting with 18 point-of-sales locations this year with plans to add on 9 more in 2025. 

There will also be 16 authorised service centres by 2025, with six of these locations already scheduled to be operational by Q4 2024.