Leapmotor gets serious! Huge upgrades for 2026 Leapmotor C10 electric SUV make it a serious rival for Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7
Less than five months since its launch in Australia a heavily updated 2026 Leapmotor C10 has been unveiled.
Boasting more power, fresh electrics and enhanced technology, the updated C10 has already been confirmed as under consideration by Stellantis Australia.
From what we know so far, the refreshed mid-size SUV appears to address all the failings of the current version, including the adoption of more powerful 800-volt electrical system for ultra-fast charging.
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More good news is the weedy 170kW e-motor offered in China has been swapped out for a punchier 220kW unit.
It’s not been confirmed if the global-spec C10s, like the ones imported to Australia, will also get the more muscular 220kW e-motor, or if our cars will continue to use the 160kW/320Nm rear-mounted motor.
With the bigger unit the C10 is now capable of a 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds – 1.6 seconds quicker than the current C10.
Powering the e-motor is a fractionally larger 74.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that replaces the existing 69.9kWh power pack.
The more energy dense battery should also see a healthy boost in the current car’s 420km range (WLTP).
In China, Leapmotor has confirmed the C10 REEV range-extender plug-in hybrid will carry over unchanged, unsurprising since it’s only recently been introduced.
It keeps its 158kW e-motor that is combined with both a 28.4kWh battery and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that acts as generator.
Other improvements continue under the basically unchanged skin, with both C10s adopting a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P processor for a faster, more responsive infotainment.
Purple ambient lighting, electric pop-out door handles and a faster-charging 50-watt wireless phone charger are the other welcome additions.
Separately, Leapmotor has confirmed an over the air update to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to export C10s around August.
With just 194 C10s finding homes in Australia in 2025, the improved performance, faster charging, increased range and enhanced in-car tech should help Leapmotor – which is exporting beyond China in a financial partnership with Stellantis – prove more competitive in the electric mid-size SUV segment.
There’s currently no word if the local outfit might increase pricing for the facelifted model.
Currently in Australia the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV is priced from $43,888 plus on-road costs (ORCs) for the range-extender hybrid and from $45,888 plus ORCs for the EV version.
