Leapmotor Eyes All-Wheel Drive C10 for Australian Market
The Australian electric vehicle landscape is poised for another shake-up with the potential arrival of an all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant of the Leapmotor C10. Following the recent Australian debut of the Leapmotor B10, a sibling model to the C10, hints from Stellantis Australia, the brand’s local partner, suggest a keen interest in expanding the C10’s offering Down Under.
Leapmotor, a Chinese EV manufacturer that officially launched in Australia in late 2024, has been actively teasing the possibility of an AWD version of its C10 SUV. Currently, the C10 available in Australia is exclusively a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model. However, recent developments in the New Zealand market offer a compelling glimpse into what an AWD C10 could entail for Australian consumers.
The New Zealand C10 has already received a significant upgrade, boasting a larger 81.9kWh battery pack, increased power output, and the addition of an electric motor driving the front wheels. While it’s not uncommon for different markets to receive variations of the same model, Stellantis Australia’s senior product manager, Rick Crichton, has confirmed that the Australian subsidiary is actively evaluating the AWD C10 for local release.
Key Upgrades for a Potential AWD C10
The New Zealand C10 serves as a strong indicator for the specifications of a potential Australian AWD model. Key enhancements observed in the export market include:
- Battery Capacity: An upgrade from the current 69.9kWh battery to a more substantial 81.9kWh unit. This increase is expected to boost the WLTP driving range from the current RWD model’s 420km to approximately 437km with the AWD configuration. While not a dramatic leap in range, it represents a notable improvement.
- Powertrain: The most significant change is the addition of a second electric motor to power the front wheels, creating a dual-motor AWD setup. This dual-motor configuration dramatically enhances performance, elevating the power output from the RWD model’s 160kW to a claimed 446kW. This surge in power is anticipated to slash the 0-100km/h acceleration time to a brisk 4.0 seconds.
- Charging Capabilities: Leapmotor appears to have also addressed charging speeds. The DC fast-charge rate is reportedly increased from 84kW to 180kW. This improvement is expected to significantly reduce charging times, with the 30-80 per cent charge duration dropping from around 30 minutes to a much quicker 22 minutes.
Pricing and Market Position
The introduction of these upgrades in the New Zealand market has come with a price adjustment. The AWD C10 in New Zealand is priced approximately $NZD10,000 (around $AU8500) higher than a comparable RWD model. If Leapmotor Australia adopts a similar pricing strategy, the C10 AWD could land in Australia with a price tag of approximately $58,388, excluding on-road costs.
This projected pricing would place the Leapmotor C10 AWD squarely in competition with several well-established electric SUVs in the Australian market. Potential rivals include:
- Tesla Model Y Premium RWD: Currently priced at $58,900.
- Kia EV5 Air: With a starting price of $56,770.
- Zeekr 7X RWD: Expected to be around $57,600.
Crucially, if the C10 AWD arrives at this price point, it would likely become the most affordable twin-motor EV SUV of its size available in Australia. The next closest competitor in the AWD SUV segment, the BYD Sealion 7 Performance, is priced at $63,990 plus on-road costs, making the Leapmotor offering approximately $5000 more accessible.
The potential introduction of the all-wheel-drive Leapmotor C10 represents an exciting development for Australian EV buyers seeking enhanced performance and capability without a prohibitive price tag. The brand’s commitment to expanding its local lineup, coupled with Stellantis’s backing, suggests a determined effort to carve out a significant niche in the competitive Australian electric vehicle market. Further details regarding the C10 AWD’s local specifications and launch timeline are eagerly awaited.
