Leapmotor C10 v Tesla Model Y! Power boost coming for Chinese electric SUV newcomer
Little more than a year after it was first introduced, Stellantis-backed Leapmotor is about to carry out a heart transplant on its mid-size C10 that will boost power to 220kW.
Leaked via a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) government filing, the revised Leapmotor C10 will produce 50kW more than the C10 sold in China and a healthy 60kW more than the vehicles currently sold in Australia and Europe.
According to media reports out of China that figure matches the power output of the global best-selling Tesla Model Y that has been recently facelifted.
However, ADR documents also report the output of the new Model Y Rear Wheel Drive at 255kW.
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The enhanced performance combined with its budget pricing could tempt more buyers away from the US brand.
According to Car News China, the rest of the Leapmotor C10 carries over unchanged.
Even though the C10 – which only launched in 2024 – will produce more power, the new motor is also expected to be more efficient than before.
That could see the 69.9kWh lithium iron phosphate battery provide extra range compared to the current car’s 420km range.
Introduced earlier this year, the Leapmotor is priced from a tempting $47,500 drive-away and with the revised punchier motor it could prove irresistible.
However, one bugbear is the continued lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because of the origin of the C10’s in-car chips.
Originally, Leapmotor said the C10 would get smartphone mirroring shortly after launch but now the car-maker says the tech won’t arrive until a much later mid-life update, possibly in two years’ time.
Within weeks the C10 line-up will grow to include a new range-extender hybrid version.
It’s not yet known if the C10 REEV will also receive a more powerful rear motor.
Currently the long-range hybrid blends a 158kW electric motor with a 28.4kWh battery that can be charged by its onboard 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that’s located under the bonnet.
On a full charged the C10 offers an EV-only range of up to 145km. But factor in a full tank of fuel and that figure rises to an impressive 1150km of range.
Not sure your facts are correct ? The facelifted Model Y got a new rear drive motor producing 250kW shaving 1 sec off o to 100km time to 5.9sec. Please verify if this is true. Seen multiple media outlets report this around the world !
Hi Mediacritic, the 220kW number is as reported when specs for the China-built version were first obtained. ADR docs actually say 255kW. Thanks for your query and we’ll amend.