Introducere
Known for its affordable pricing, Leapmotor, a popular automotive manufacturer, introduced the mid-sized new energy vehicle, the Leapmotor C01, last year. However, the initial launch featured purely electric models, which posed practicality challenges for users with long-distance travel needs or inconvenient charging options. To enhance the competitiveness of this model further, on September 20th, Leapmotor unveiled the extended-range version of the C01, offering three different configurations.
Exterior Elegance
Continuing Sleek Design
In terms of exterior design, the C01 extended-range version maintains the sleek and minimalist styling of the purely electric model. The front grille, now featuring a mesh-like heat dissipation structure for the range extender, still maintains a clean and straightforward appearance.
Streamlined Profile
Moving to the side profile, the C01 extended-range version retains the same design as the purely electric model, with its clean lines and streamlined look. While the overall dimensions remain similar, the extended-range version’s body height has been slightly increased.
Premium Rear Aesthetics
At the rear, the extended-range version incorporates a hidden exhaust design, providing a distinct appearance, along with continuous taillights and a glossy black rear diffuser, adding to its premium look.
Interior Sophistication
Triple-Screen Dominance
Stepping inside, the C01 extended-range version follows Leapmotor’s signature interior design with a prominent triple-screen setup dominating the dashboard. Notable details include a 10.25-inch instrument cluster for the driver, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen for the passenger, and a central 12.8-inch touchscreen.
Smart Functionality
In terms of functionality, the vehicle runs on the Leapmotor OS system, powered by the Qualcomm 8155 chip. It is supporting features like dual-zone voice interaction, online music streaming, 4G connectivity. Additionally, remote control via a mobile app, and over-the-air updates are also supported.
Enhanced Safety Features
Regarding active safety and driver assistance features, the extended-range version comes standard with lane departure warning, active braking, and an L2-level advanced driver assistance system. It’s worth mentioning that the C01 extended-range version offers a 12-speaker audio system as standard. But the purely electric version includes a 6-speaker setup.
Comfortable Seating
Plush Leather Seats
As for seating, all variants of the new car come with leather seats. The driver’s seat features 6-way power adjustment, while the passenger seat offers 4-way power adjustment. Additionally, the extended-range version has improved the foam material in the seat cushions to provide better support for passengers’ bodies while ensuring comfort.
Spacious Interior
In terms of passenger space, the extended-range version’s body and interior layout remain unchanged. Based on the performance of the purely electric model, a passenger with a height of 183cm seated in the front row has ample headroom, with a gap of three fingers to the sunshade.
Practical Storage
Versatile Trunk Space
Regarding storage space, due to the arrangement of the range extender in the front, the extended-range version omits the front trunk. In its default state, the trunk volume for the base model is 480 liters, while the top trim offers 449 liters. With the rear seats supporting a 4/6 split-fold, longer items can also be accommodated in the trunk.
Impressive Performance
Efficient Powertrain
The C01 extended-range version adopts a single-motor rear-wheel-drive layout. It is equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated range extender located at the front axle, delivering a maximum power of 95 horsepower. The rear axle drive motor provides a maximum power of 272 horsepower and a peak torque of 360 N·m.
Excellent Fuel Efficiency
In terms of combined fuel consumption (CLTC), the vehicle consumes 4.8 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Extended Range
The base model is equipped with a 30.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, offering an electric range of 216 kilometers on the CLTC test cycle. Additionally, with a standard 47-liter fuel tank, the fully fueled and charged C01 can achieve a comprehensive range of up to 1176 kilometers on the CLTC test cycle.
Charging Options
When using DC fast charging, charging from 30% to 80% takes just 0.5 hours. In a standard AC home charging environment, the base model takes 2.6 hours to charge from 30% to 80%, while the mid-to-high-end model requires 3.8 hours. The popular feature of external power output is available as an optional extra.
Impressive Chassis
The C01 extended-range version is equipped with a front double-wishbone and rear five-link suspension, making it stand out in terms of chassis hardware.
Conclusion
In summary, the Leapmotor C01 extended-range version continues to uphold the brand’s tradition of offering high value for money. With a starting price of 145800 CNY for the base model, it boasts a significant advantage in terms of body size and electric range within the $20,000 price range for extended-range vehicles. The mid-to-high-end models of the C01 extended-range version, while slightly smaller in size. And with similar electric range performance, come at a more affordable price, making them highly attractive. Overall, the C01 extended-range version is likely one of the few models currently available that you can confidently consider for your purchase.