The Leapmotor C10, a family-sized SUV, marks the brand’s inaugural entry into New Zealand in December 2024, while the company claims the C10 will bring a new level of innovation and excellence to the EV segment.
Auto Distributors NZ says 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, they say.
The car comes with a 4-year, 100,000km warranty on the vehicle and an 8-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.
Leapmotor is an international joint venture between Leapmotor and Stellantis. Michael Filazzola, Managing Director for Stellantis Australia and New Zealand says, “It is exciting to announce the appointment of Rick Armstrong and Auto Distributors to represent Leapmotor in New Zealand, we look forward to the strong launch of Leapmotor’s first Global product, the C10 fully electric SUV”.
Leapmotor C10: Design
The Leapmotor C10 won the 2023 International CMF Design Award for its technological and natural aesthetic design, as well as the 2024 Gold Award from the French Design Awards (FDA).
The C10 is Leapmotor’s first global product based on the powerful LEAP 3.0 platform. This platform is the culmination of Leapmotor’s eight years of in-house development, encompassing several industry-leading and pioneering technologies.
Launching with one variant, the C10 Design features 20-inch trident wheels, a 14.6″ high-definition central display and 17 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) features including a 360- degree camera and over-the-air update capability.
Added comfort from the heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, multicolour ambient lighting and panoramic glass roof complete the extensive specification list.
This includes a Maserati-tuned suspension package that encompasses MacPherson-style struts up front and a rear multi-link suspension, comfort is important, and this family electric SUV will not disappoint, the company claims.
Leapmotor C10: Interior Design
The cargo area is generous at 581L when all seats are upright, expanding to 1,410L when the second-row seats are folded.
The infotainment system includes a fully customisable operating system on the 14.6” high-definition display, as well as a 10.25” driver instrument display.
Users can operate their Leapmotor using the keycard provided, which employs Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to unlock the vehicle via the reader, located on the driver-side exterior rearview mirror.
Leapmotor C10: Features & Construction
Leapmotor says 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, says the company.
The All-New Leapmotor C10 features the LEAP Pilot Intelligent Driver Assistance System with 12 ADAS sensors and 17 ADAS functions.
Leapmotor C10: 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, (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 30-80%, 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 | Stable 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.
Leapmotor C10: Dealerships & Pricing
Leapmotor will have dealerships in the main centres, with locations announced in October 2024.
For more information about Leapmotor C10, please visit leapmotor.com/nz.
Pricing will be revealed closer to the launch of the C10.
