2025 Leapmotor C16 family SUV revealed
Electrified three-row C16 large SUV could sit upstream of C10 mid-sizer in Australia as part of Leapmotor line-upChina’s Leapmotor has launched its new flagship 2025 Leapmotor C16 family SUV that offers three-row seating, hybrid and battery-electric powertrain options and attractive pricing that starts from the equivalent of just $31,000 in its home market.
The new C16 large SUV is a strong candidate to join the electric C10 mid-size SUV in Australia, as well as the T03 EV city car, as the Chinese brand – which is backed by Stellantis, parent company of brands such as Fiat and Jeep – prepares to launch Down Under by the end of this year.
Thought to have much in common with the smaller C10, the C16 measures in at 4915mm long, 1905mm wide and stands 1770mm tall, with a 2825mm wheelbase.
Like the C10, the C16 features a minimalist interior that combines a large 14.6-inch floating-effect infotainment screen and a smaller digital instrument cluster.
The most expensive (six-seater) versions come with tri-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seating for the first and second row, and a powerful 21-speaker stereo system that combines with a 15.6-inch rear entertainment screen.
In China there’s also sophisticated Lidar-backed semi-autonomous driving systems that have eyes-off-the-road Level 3 capability.
The hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a rear-mounted electric motor and 28.4kWh battery.
Combined output is 170kW and 320Nm of torque, which is enough to launch the big SUV from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds and travel up to 200km on pure-electric power alone.
At the top of the tree, the C16 gets an all-electric powertrain with a single rear e-motor producing 215kW and 360Nm.
It draws energy from a 67.7kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack and has a 520km driving range, based on the more lenient Chinese test cycle.
The EV version, which would line up against the Kia EV9 in Australia, is also capable of hitting 100km/h from rest in a claimed 6.4sec.
While the entry-level hybrid is priced from just 155,800 Chinese yuan ($A31,300), the electric version starts at 161,800 yuan ($A32,500).
The success of affordable EVs from the likes of BYD triggered Stellantis to snap up a $A2.5 billion stake in the eight-year-old Leapmotor last year.
Related: Leapmotor T03 budget EV production underway in Europe
Related: Leapmotor to launch in Australia this year
Related: Stellantis buys $2.5b stake in Chinese EV start-up Leapmotor
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