New hybrid with near-1000km driving range! 2025 Leapmotor C10 gains range-extender plug-in hybrid, but will it come to Australia to out-range rivals like the Tesla Model Y?

The first global product from Leapmotor — the C10 — has scored a new ‘range-extrender’ hybrid option that could see it become more viable for markets where long driving distances are important.

The 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) will make its debut at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show from January 10, joining the fully electric C10, which debuted in 2023 and is already available to order in Australia.

The good news is that Stellantis Australia has confirmed to CarsGuide that the REEV will arrive locally in the first half of 2025, with more details to come later in Q1. Pricing for the EV currently starts from $47,500 drive-away as an introductory offer, for reference.

The C10 REEV functions somewhat like a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), utilising a smaller 28.4kWh battery compared to the EV’s 69.9kWh unit and is able to be charged via plug as with EVs and PHEVs.

Where it differs from many PHEVs is the petrol-powered 1.5-litre internal combustion engine (ICE) doesn’t drive the wheels at all, acting as a range-extender to charge the battery unit and allow the C10 to travel much further under electric power — albeit no longer tailpipe emission-free.

The statement from Stellantis on the REEV’s reveal said the new variant allows for the “smooth, quiet, and responsive driving experience of an electric vehicle, while also providing the flexibility of a traditional gasoline engine for longer trips”.

The battery alone can allow up to 145km of electric driving range, but the addition of the range extender brings a total range of more than 950km under WLTP testing according to Stellantis.

Compared to the Leapmotor C10 EV, with its electric-only range of up to 420km, the C10 REEV could be far more suited to those in regional areas who find the idea of a relatively short-range EV untenable.

The electric motor in the REEV appears to be the same as in the EV, with Stellantis’ media release noting it as a 158kW unit in the REEV, while the Leapmotor Australia website said the EV is a 160kW motor, rear-mounted.