You may have already heard of Leapmotor by now, but the company has had quite a colourful history. One steeped in technology and global conquest. Unlike regular, traditional car companies, Leapmotor first began as a tech company rather than a car company. The company relied on itself rather than external suppliers. Choosing to develop its
You may have already heard of Leapmotor by now, but the company has had quite a colourful history. One steeped in technology and global conquest.
Unlike regular, traditional car companies, Leapmotor first began as a tech company rather than a car company.
The company relied on itself rather than external suppliers. Choosing to develop its own software, chips, and other components in house. This gave the company control over how it wanted its cars to drive like as well as laid the tech foundation that differentiated it from the rest. Especially car companies from its homeland of China.
There were many pivotal moments for Leapmotor from the day it was founded in 2015 to the day it was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2022 where it raised over US$800 million.
But everything changed for Leapmotor in 2023. That year, global automotive giant Stellantis invested 1.5 billion Euros to acquire a 21% stake in Leapmotor.
Then came Leapmotor International through a 51/49 joint venture led by Stellantis to manage all sales outside of China. This gave Stellantis access to much needed electric technology and in return Leapmotor received instant access to thousands of dealerships worldwide.
In 2024, Leapmotor reached Malaysia to much fanfare.
You might want to read this too: Updated Leapmotor C10 Plus Launched in Malaysia
After the dust settled, Leapmotor settled as an outlier in the Malaysian EV landscape. It was the car people bought when they wanted something high-tech, spacious, comfortable and drove well.
The C10 was tasked to spearhead Leapmotor’s salvo at the Malaysian market, and one of its key selling points was that its handling was “tuned by Maserati”.
Yes, that same Maserati that runs on Ferrari engines.
Was it all hearsay though? The internet is a weird place these days where fiction becomes fact.
We had to find out for ourselves, so we reached out to Maserati S.p.A., the mothership of the Italian marque based in Modena, Italy.
In an email sent out to their press department, we asked, “Is it true that Leapmotor cars are tuned by the good folks at Maserti?”
A day later we received a reply from Maserati’s global communication manager who said, “Some months ago – official statements from Stellantis (Maserati’s parent company) confirmed that Stellantis/Maserati engineers collaborated with Leapmotor to tune the chassis of models like the C10. This collaboration is separate from the joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor, named Leapmotor International, which handles the international sales of Leapmotor vehicles through the Stellantis network.”
“I confirm that what above-mentioned is still accurate,” wrote Andrea Pallard.
Lo and behold. How many EV’s out there can boast that the chassis of their cars have been sprinkled with Italian brilliance?
And that is what sets Leapmotor apart from the rest of the field in Malaysia.
You might want to read this too: Take a look at the interior of the upcoming Leapmotor A10
And now the company has a new car for us, it is called the B10.
The Leapmotor B10 is a c-segment SUV that calls the likes of the Proton e.MAS 7 as direct competitors.
In terms of dimensions, it is just slightly smaller than the Proton and in terms of design, it offers the same, clean and sleek design that we first saw with its bigger, d-segment sized sibling, the Leapmotor C10.
What does it offer?
Around the exterior, the B10 comes with full-LED headlights that includes a lightbar and this is the same for the rear as well.
It rolls on 18-inch multispoke wheels shod in Ling Long Sport Master tyres. That is probably the first thing you might want to update about the car as you are probably better off with a set of Michelin EV tyres, both in terms of performance and durability.
Tyres are too important to mess around with, it’s always better to go with tried and tested brands rather than find out the hard way.
The B10 generally looks good with a modern silhouette that is typical of EV’s of this segment and price range.
Perhaps bigger wheels would have filled up the wheel wells a little better but that would also have sacrificed range and performance.
What about the interior?
If you expect the B10 to offer space and comfort, you will not be left disappointed. However, the interior is wrapped in silicone leather. This may sound somewhat disappointing, but there is a purpose for it.
You see, it is not just synthetic leather that you sometimes get in cheaper cars. The silicone material used around the B10 is something called Oeko-Tex Standard 100. It is a baby-friendly material that is made from bamboo charcoal fabric with low-odour, water-based adhesives.
So, this non-toxic material in the B10 makes it a perfect place for young ones who like to nibble on everything they can get their hands on. This simple thought has turned the B10 into the ideal everyday partner particularly for those with a young family. And if you don’t have to worry about toddlers munching down on everything, you will still appreciate the supple, comfort of the seats.
You might want to read this too: Leapmotor to share range extender technology with Peugeot
Overall quality is decent as well, though I reckon some of the plastic bits and design elements around the dash will split opinions. I don’t mind them, but I am sure there are some who might find them to be a little, hollow.
Beyond that, the interior of the B10 is typically EV, with a large 14.6-inch infotainment system dominating the interior. Tech lovers will appreciate this screen as it comes with a 2.5k high-resolution display, providing crystal clear read outs in all conditions.
The software for the operating system is straight forward to use as well, with the menu clearly laid out in easy-to-understand format. The system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip which gives you a lag-free and responsive user experience.
There is another 8.8-inch display as well for the instrument cluster. This is mounted to the telescopic steering column and moves with the steering every time you adjust the wheel.
As for entertainment and navigation, the Leapmotor B10 now offers Carplay and Android Auto – a much welcomed addition and this is the first time a Leapmotor car comes with both systems ever since the marque first launched in Malaysia.
Audiophiles will appreciate the 12-speaker sound system that the flagship Design variant gets (the cheaper Life model gets 6-speakers and a smaller battery which naturally means lower overall range). Overall sound quality is rich while bass beats deep, but perhaps not as crisp as the sound quality in the flagship e.MAS 7.
Up next is spaciousness, which Leapmotor cars seem to excel at. We were first stunned at the interior space of the C10 many moons ago, and the B10 has once again blown us away.
You get ample head and legroom at every seat. In fact, the unusually large panoramic roof also amplifies the sense of spaciousness, making it feel larger than it already is.
At the front, you get a floating centre console with a multi-purpose island. This includes multiple cubby holes for all the smaller items as well.
If you are the outdoorsy type, you will also like that the front seats fold flat backwards, and with the headrests removed, you get your own personal bed. With vehicle to load (V2L) capability, this lets you spend time outdoors with power for all your usual comforts such as a stand fan. But it only has a 3.3kW output so it won’t power all the conveniences you expect.
But if you’re heading outdoors or even for a holiday, you will also appreciate the amount of storage the B10 has for all your equipment. The boot measures in at an impressive 430-litres which extends to 1700 litres with the rear seats folded. And there is also a 25-litre frunk, which is not exactly very big but good enough for some small durians or even wet clothes after a day out at the beach.
How does it drive?
Don’t expect explosive power with the B10. The single, rear-mounted electric motor puts out 218PS and 240Nm of torque and this helps it accelerate to 100km/h in eight seconds flat, onto a top speed of 170km/h.
Curiously, both variants of the B10 have identical performance figures even though the flagship Design variant has a bigger battery at 67.1kWh as compared to the 56.2kWh of the Life variant. That means that the bigger battery only focuses on giving the car better range, all 434km on the WLTP cycle. That is significantly more than the 361km that the Life variant offers.
There isn’t much different with the charging rates though. The Life offers 11kW of AC charging, as does the Design. But because the latter has a bigger battery, it takes 5.6 hours to recharge from zero to 100 where else the Life variant takes just 4.2 hours.
Both variants also have different DC charging abilities, with the Life capable of 140kW and the Design with 67.1kWh.
In terms of driving dynamics, the suspension stands out as one that balances comfort and control. With macpherson struts at the front and the rear kept in check by multi-links, you get a car that rolls over the bad stuff with minimal body roll in corners.
It’s not like you will throw the car around in corners like you would a A45S, but it is nice knowing that the car has such well sorted suspension. That Maserati touch gives you a lively front end with a steering system that feels precise and responsive. Not many will appreciate this, but it is nice to know that it is there.
Couple this with impressive refinement, you get a car that isolates you from the bustle of everyday life. Considering how stressful urban life can be with daily chores and horrific traffic, sometimes all you want is to sit in relative silence. And you get that with the B10.
Is there anything you should know about?
The entry system of the car is still a sore point. Leapmotors have had two such points in its cars, one is the lack of Carplay and Android Auto and that has been fixed. And the other is an entry system that can only be described as ill thought.
You get two choices for vehicle entry. One is a key card that looks like one of those cards you use to get into an office or a condo. The other is a mobile application which the car detects and unlocks automatically.
Stellantis Malaysia did not prepare any application for us to try out so this review will focus on the card itself.
To access and drive the car with the card, you must first tap it on the driver’s side mirror, get in and place the card on a dedicated slot on the centre console. Only then can you drive the car.
To lock the car after you leave, you must tap the card on the driver’s side mirror again. It only works on the driver’s side mirror, which is very irritating to say the least.
I am sure the mobile application will offer a more fluid experience, but the card just seems archaic at best.
Should Leapmotor decide to fix its access system as it did by introducing Carplay, it would perfect an already impressive package.
Should you buy one?
Let’s be frank here. The Proton e.MAS 7 is a very impressive package at a very attractive price. Beating it is difficult to say the least.
The Leapmotor B10 is a great package as well. It drives well, offers a brilliant interior and a handsome design.
In a sea of Proton’s and BYD’s, the Leapmotor turns heads and makes people wonder what it drives like. People are curious about its Maserati tuned handling as well as its interior, and on the handling front the Leapmotor is arguably the best in class.
If you can look past its entry system, the Leapmotor B10 is a great daily EV.
You might want to read this too: Leapmotor launched B05 EV in China.
Specifications:
Motor: Single, Rear-mounted
Battery: CATL / 67.1kWh LFP
Power: 218PS / 240Nm
Charging rate: 11kW AC / 168kW DC
Range: 434km WLTP
0-100km/h: 8 seconds
Top speed: 170km/h
Price (as tested): RM118,800
We like: Ride and comfort
We don’t like: Entry system