The Paris Motor Show 2024 is in full swing this week, and upstart Chinese EV brand Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis, brought out its very latest metal here. Christened as the Leapmotor B10, this is the marque’s newest global all-electric C-segment crossover SUV model.
Clearly, the B10 is poised to rival against the likes of the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona, and that’s despite looming threat of tariffs imposed on Chinese EV makers as such by the European Union (EU). Nonetheless, things look very enticing indeed in the B10.
Underneath its sleek, minimalist exterior design that mirrors the larger C10 model, the B10 underpins Leapmotor’s latest LEAP 3.5 platform architecture. Through which, it packs all the usual tech and novelties expected of any new EV churned out of China.
Key highlights include a slew of advanced driving assistance (ADAS) features, a customisable digital cockpit, smart connectivity, and more. Critically, Leapmotor also readied the B10 in both all-electric (EV) and range-extended (REEV) forms, the latter packing a 1.5-litre combustion (ICE) range-extender mill.
Actual specifications, as well as range, power and performance figures, remain undisclosed for now. Moreover, Stellantis and Leapmotor also didn’t show off the B10’s interior, all of which suggesting that the model is hasn’t been finalised apart from its exterior design. The model’s display in Paris was kept locked shut with blacked-out windows even.
Nevertheless, like its outer skin, expect the Leapmotor B10 to feature a cabin that strongly mirrors its larger C10 sibling – which, incidentally, launches here in Malaysia this week – and sport the very same minimalist yet spacious and tech-driven design ethos.
Instead, both Leapmotor and Stellantis were keen to note that the new B10 will arrive in the EU market starting next year. Prices also remain undisclosed, though sources online indicate that the model is expected to come in at just under €30,000 (approx. RM141,114).
How the new Leapmotor B10 will fare against its rivals mentioned in a rather crowded market space will be interesting to see. As this is being pitched as a global offering, we won’t discount the possibility of Stellantis marketing it in key markets such as ours in the coming years too…
