Electric vehicles are the talk of the town nowadays. Rightly so; with the rise in global warming, it is the responsibility of both buyers and manufacturers to protect the environment at all costs. Many automobile manufacturers worldwide have now come into fierce competition with one another to create the perfect electric vehicle. A car that not only looks futuristic but it also has an impressive battery range along with an affordable price.
Leapmotor, an electric vehicle marque from China, has taken up the challenge and introduced the C11 electric SUV to the world. A few weeks ago, the new SUV was confirmed, with production expected to begin in the first week of January 2021. By the time this article is published, there will already be a few units under production.
Several manufacturers are making electric SUVs, so what makes the C11 EV a viable option? Is it the price or the features? Maybe the C11 has superior build quality?
These are some questions that need to be answered, and we will try our best to answer them for you.
The Design
When it comes to a vehicle, the first thing that people notice is its exterior, how it is designed, and how good it looks. Leapmotor’s C11 is not flashy or attractive, neither is it a head-turner, so if you are looking to be pleased, don't expect much.
The SUV looks futuristic with slit-like headlights and a panoramic sunroof. The rims also have an interesting pattern. However, nothing stands out too much—the C11 looks like any other electric SUV in the market. You can try to make a difference by choosing one of the 8 available exterior colors.
Interior Dynamics
It is inside the cabin where the C11 picks up a few positive points. The white interior looks highly impressive and goes well with the exterior paint. If you don't get the white color, you can still choose from two other themes. Besides, the interior color won’t matter much since the C11 has ambient lighting, a Hi-Fi DSP (digital signal processing) loudspeaker, a PM2.5 filter, a negative ion generator, and an AQS (air quality system) to keep things interesting.
The dash gives the all-electric SUV a cockpit-like feel, especially with the huge infotainment screen and driver's information screen gracing the dashboard center. The screen is touch-enabled and controls everything from the air conditioning to the audio system. You won't find unnecessary buttons anywhere inside the C11. The infotainment system acts as a computer with its Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Cockpit Platform. The system can multitask at a lightning-fast pace and even help you with driving.
Battery Performance And Range
The C11 impresses in the performance department. The mid-size SUV has both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive functionality. The two-wheel version churns out 200kW of power and 360 Nm of torque whole the range-topping all-wheel version produces 400 kW of power and 720 Nm of torque. The 400 KW variant accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds, while its 200kW sibling takes 7.9 seconds to go from a standstill to 60 mph. Both figures are pretty impressive, considering that Leapmotor is a start-up with limited development and production funds.
The smallest battery has a rating of 76.6 kWh, allowing the C11 a 298-mile range. If you go one step up in battery capacity, the range increases to 341 miles, while the range-topping model gets a 90 kWh battery that's good for 373 miles.
Safety And Tech
Electric vehicles are bound to be technologically savvy, and it shows in the case of the C11. The SUV has iFlytek’s voice interactive system that allows you to toggle between the three prime displays. You will hardly need to use your hands to control anything inside or outside the vehicle.
Other than that, Leapmotor has added a flush of sensors, radars, and cameras to keep you and your C11 safe from harm. In total, the SUV has 28 precision sensors, 11 cameras, including a facial recognition camera, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars. These gadgets control the lane departure warning system, autonomous emergency braking, and assisted parking system. There are bound to be over-the-air updates once the vehicle is released on the roads, adding automated lane change and adaptive cruise control to the mix.
Final Thoughts
The C11 is a step toward the future with such advanced features that other EVs can only dream about. It does not look the part, but developers have paid attention to tech, safety, and performance. For some, a vehicle's design does not matter a lot. They are more concerned about performance. The Leapmotor C11 all-electric SUV is the perfect vehicle for them. Come to think of it, buying the C11 would future proof you at least for the next decade until physical upgrades are required to keep the vehicle relevant.