The Leapmotor B10, a brand-new electric crossover from the Stellantis-backed Chinese NEV brand, made an impressive debut. In just an hour, opening presales totalled at a staggering 15,010 orders.
The Leapmotor B10 is a compact electric crossover designed to blend affordability with cutting-edge tech. Five variants are available with prices starting from RMB109,800 (RM67,000). It has also made headlines as the first vehicle with a LiDAR sensor priced under RMB120,000 (RM73,000).
The B10 measures 4,515 MM long with a 2,735 MM wheelbase, 1,885 MM wide, and 1,655 MM tall. The B10 sits comfortably in the compact C-seg SUV space.
Its modern design includes slim LED running lights connected by a strip, a LiDAR sensor on the roof, flush door handles, and single-piece taillight at the rear.
Inside, it features a 14.6-inch floating infotainment unit, an 8.8-inch LCD instrument cluster, wireless chargers and a unique center console with anchor points for a folding table.
The B10 offers two powertrain options. The base variant comes with a 132 kW (177 HP) single e-motor juiced by a 56.2 kWh LFP battery, providing 510 KM of CLTC-rated range.
The long-range variant meanwhile has a 160 kW (214 HP) motor paired with a larger 67.1 kWh battery, capable of 600 KM CLTC range. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 6.8 seconds in this peppier variant too.
Notably, only the top two trims come equipped with the advanced LiDAR system, enhancing autonomous driving capabilities with 26 ADAS functions, including smart parking and obstacle avoidance.
The Leapmotor B10 enters a highly competitive segment, going up against well-established contenders like the BYD Atto 3. However, the B10 has a key advantage - its LiDAR-equipped variants.
Proof of which stems from the 73% of early customers that opted for the LiDAR variant, suggesting that buyers see strong value in the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance systems - a feature usually reserved for more expensive models.
Leapmotor successfully positioned the B10 as a budget-friendly, tech-packed EV, disrupting the compact crossover market with its affordability and features. When deliveries begin, it will be interesting to see if Leapmotor can sustain this early momentum, and how rivals will respond.
Source: CarNewsChina