by From Adequate to Exciting
The standard electric Leapmotor C10 crossover could be described as adequate. It wasn’t exciting to drive, but, aside from some technical issues, it drove quite well and had an acceptable price. Now a new version of the C10 has been introduced that could really interest buyers.
Supercar-Level Power
The model, known as the Leapmotor C10 AWD Sports+ Special Edition, has just been introduced in Australia, and its power along with its price look simply incredible. While the standard C10 had a single electric motor with 215 hp (160 kW) and 320 Nm of torque, the all-wheel-drive version received a pair of upgraded motors that together produce 590 hp (440 kW) and 760 Nm of torque.
For comparison: the original Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 had 602 hp and 560 Nm, while the rear-wheel-drive LP 580-2 version had 572 hp and 540 Nm.
The manufacturer claims the new flagship needs just 4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. This is impressive, although perhaps a bit slower than one might expect from such power and torque figures.
Stunning Price
Perhaps no less impressive than the C10’s performance is its price. It starts from just 53,888 Australian dollars (plus on-road costs), which is only 10,000 dollars more expensive than the standard model. This allows it to easily undercut the price of the BYD Sealion 7 Performance, which starts from 63,990 dollars, and even be cheaper than the less powerful, rear-wheel-drive versions of the Tesla Model Y (from 58,900 dollars) and Zeekr 7X (from 57,600 dollars).
Battery and Charging Specifications
The more powerful motors are complemented by a larger 81.9 kWh battery pack, which provides the C10 AWD Sports+ Special Edition with a WLTP range of up to 437 km. It supports DC fast charging speeds of up to 180 kW, meaning the battery can be charged from 30% to 80% in 22 minutes. This figure is below average for this segment, despite the C10 having an 800-volt architecture.
Questions About the Chassis and Brakes
Leapmotor has not disclosed whether any updates were made to the C10’s suspension or braking system to handle the power, which is nearly three times that of the standard model. This leaves some questions about how the car will behave when its capabilities are fully utilized.
The emergence of such an offering in the electric crossover market could pose a serious challenge to established leaders. When performance close to that of a supercar is offered for the price of a budget family car, it forces a re-evaluation of price-to-performance expectations. The success of this model will depend not only on its specifications, but also on reliability, build quality, and how well the engineers have managed to integrate such power into a platform not originally intended for it. The Australian market, known for its love of powerful cars, will be an important first test for the Leapmotor C10 AWD Sports+.
