Chinese EV startup Leapmotor has launched its second product, after the S01 coupe. Dubbed the Leapmotor T03, the all-electric hatchback is priced from 65,800-75,800 yuan or roughly Rs 7.01-8.08 lakh on the Chinese market. It is available in three variants: 400 Standard Edition, 400 Comfort Edition and 400 Deluxe Edition.
Over the past few months, there has been a steady increase in electric-car launches in China. Some of them are limited to the home market while certain examples (such as the BYD Han EV) are focused on potential markets in Europe and North America. In India, EV sales occupy only a minor portion of the overall automotive sales but there is a noticeable increase in demand.
At present, there are only three worthy EVs in the four-wheeler category: Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona. In the two-wheeler segment, electric products (especially e-scooters) occupy a larger space in comparison as they generally make more sense than an equivalent petrol CVT scooter — see the full picture.
Coming back to the new Leapmotor T03, the Heracles powertrain packs a 55kW motor (good for ~74bhp and 155Nm) coupled to a 36.5kWh ‘high performance’ lithium-ion battery with an energy density of 171Wh/kg. Based on NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), the T03 promises a range more than 400km on a full charge which is easily the highest in its class. The battery has also got a three-level energy recovery system.
Using a fast-charger, the Leapmotor T03 can attain 80% charge from empty in about 36 minutes. The company is offering a standard warranty of 8 years or 150,000km while the first 1000 customers are eligible for lifetime-free roadside assistance and battery maintenance as well as a zero-cost upgrade to 15-inch wheels. However, the highlight of the EV is its long list of advanced equipment.
The Leapmotor T03 is the only product in its segment that features Level 2 autonomous driving capability. To make this happen, the T03 is equipped with three cameras and 12 radars (one millimetre-wave and 11 ultrasonic units). There are around 10 self-driving assists such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, smart parking, etc. Other features include an 8.0-inch TFT instrument console, 10.1-inch touchscreen and some upmarket connectivity options.
There are three driving modes: Standard, Sports and Economy. It is quite compact in size, measuring just 3620x1652x1577mm in overall dimensions and 2,400mm in wheelbase. Priced attractively, and feature rich like a Tesla – this new electric car is expected to be a huge sales success in China. It will be interesting to see how an electric car with similar features list and price tag, does in Indian market.
Source: Electric - rushlane.com
