There seems to be no end to the Chinese EV onslaught in Europe. After Nio, Xpeng, Wey, and Voyah, Leap Motor will enter the Old Continent, according to German motoring journalist Greg Kable (via Twitter).
About Leap Motor
The Hangzhou-based start-up states on its website that it has an in-house R&D set-up. The chips and core technologies for Leap Motor EVs are also designed in-house.
Bloomberg reported in October 2021 that the start-up could raise USD 1 billion at an IPO listing in Hong Kong. Leap Motor also has the backing of surveillance company Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. and Sequoia China Capital, says Bloomberg. In September 2021, Leap Motor received 8,754 pre-orders and delivered 4,095 EVs, the startup said on its WeChat account.
Leap Motor is expected to make its foray into the European market with the C01 electric sedan and the C11 electric SUV. However, these are not the only models it manufactures. Its first car was the S01, touted to be the most affordable electric sports car globally. It is powered by a 125 kW (165) electric motor with a 380 km range. It also sells the T03 hatchback in China.
Leap C11 EV SUV
Leap C11 SUV was launched in China in September 2021. It’s an attractive vehicle with an understated design. The roofline flows in a Skoda Kodiaq-like fashion, and upfront, it has LED headlamps united by a gloss black strip. There’s no visual drama on the front bumper, only functional elements like a lower air dam to cool the battery and side air intakes to cool the brakes.
On the sides, the C11 SUV features flush door handles, 20-inch wheels, and frameless doors. At the rear, it has a simple roof-integrated spoiler, full-width LED light bar, and LED taillamps. The rear windscreen is sharply raked in a coupe-like fashion. Overall, it appears as the C11 could very well blend into the European EV market, given its elegant and conservative styling.
The Leap C11 looks elegant from the rear. Image Source: Leap Motor
Battery & Motor
In China, the C11 is available in RWD and AWD variants. The former comes with a single electric motor that makes 272 hp and 360 Nm. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and attain a top speed of 170 km/h. Battery options for the RWD model are 76.6 kWh and 90 kWh packs with 510 km and 610 km range on the NEDC.
The C11 AWD is a high-performance offering sporting two motors that deliver 544 hp of combined power and 720 Nm of total torque. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4 seconds. The AWD variant only comes with the larger 90 kWh battery and has an NEDC range of 550 km.
Three screens in the cabin
Three screens dominate the dashboard in the C11: a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch central display, and a 10.25-inch passenger display. The electric SUV has 28 sensors for its various ADAS functions, an onboard air purifier, a panoramic sunroof, and electrically adjustable front seats.
A highly technology-driven cabin of the Leap Motor C11. Image Source: Leap Motor
Leap C01 electric sedan
The second offering in Europe will be the Leap C01 sedan, which is currently under development. Leap Motor released design sketches of the EV in January 2022, and the design language appears similar to its SUV sibling. It has a distinctive coupe-like body style with a low-slung sporty stance and full-width light bars at the front and the rear. The interior also appears identical to that of the SUV.
The Leap Motor electric sedan will also launch in Europe. Image Source: Leap Motor
On 21 January 2022, CarNewsChina reported that the C01 will borrow the electric motors from the C11 SUV but will get a larger battery pack with a range of around 700 km. Word out there in the media now is that it will be a 5,000 mm-long car built on a cell-to-chassis platform (CTC platform) with a 90 kWh energy storage capacity. The rumoured range is still 700 km. A 0-100 km/h sprint in the upcoming electric sedan will reportedly take around 3.0 seconds.
The C01 is expected to debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2022.
The Leap C01 will reportedly sit on a cell-to-chassis platform. Image Source: Leap Motor
Price & release date
The C11 electric SUV is priced between CNY 159,800 (EUR 22,625) and CNY 199,800 (EUR 28,288) after government subsidy. The European launch timeline isn’t available yet, but we will keep updating this article whenever relevant information emerges.
What is the Leap C11 SUV price?
The Leap C11 costs CNY 159,800 (EUR 22,625) onwards in China.
What is the Leap C11 European launch date?
The launch date of the Leap C11 for Europe isn’t available yet.
Which models will be the Leap C11 rivals in Europe?
The Leap C11 could compete with the MG Marvel R in Europe.
Featured Image Source: Leap Motor
Keyword: Leap Motor to launch Leap C11 and Leap C01 in Europe