With split headlights and larger batteries, Chinese utility gets extra breath before debuting national assembly line in Goiana
Recently launched in the Brazilian market, the Leapmotor C10 has undergone its first significant upgrade in China. Records from the local regulatory body reveal a facelift in the medium SUV and an increase in the power of the electric (BEV) and range extender (REEV) configurations, signaling the standards that should guide the future national production of the utility by Stellantis.
The utility preserves its mid-size, with a length of 4.73 m and a wheelbase of 2.82 m, but adopts a front end in line with the luxury trends of the Asian market. The new optical set is divided: LED daytime running lights occupy the upper part, while the main headlights are in vertical niches at the ends of the bumper. The change gives a more aggressive look to the model, distancing it from the original, more conservative design.
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In the mechanical field, the C10 REEV, which uses a 1.5-liter combustion engine as a generator, had the electric traction motor raised from 231 hp to 272 hp. The purely electric variant now delivers 312 hp. In addition to the gain in performance, energy efficiency has been optimized: the battery capacity in the REEV version has risen to 34 kWh, raising the range in electric mode from 140 km to 190 km (WLTC cycle). In practice, the adjustment allows most of the daily urban routes to be made without activating the heat engine.
The update comes at a strategic time for Stellantis, which is preparing the Goiana Automotive Complex (PE) to manufacture the model nationwide. The expectation is that the Pernambuco assembly line will already debut with the new visual standard and updated engine calibration, including the flex adaptation for the extended autonomy system. Currently, the C10 is marketed in the country as imported, with prices between R$ 204,990 and R$ 219,990.
