CHINA’S LEAPMOTOR ISN’T yet
a well-known brand in Europe, but given that that it has the powerhouse of Stellantis behind it, there’s plenty to suggest that it can succeed here.
We’ve already driven its 703 olectric city car and C10 electric SUV, and by year’s end the latter will gain a range-extender option in the UK.
In this new powertrain, badged REKV, a 1.5 litre petrol engine is used as a generator for a 28.4kWh hattery that powers a 212bhp permanent magnet synchronous motor at the rear axle (and can also be plugged in to charge)
The benefits of such a system over a plug-in hybrid one, says Leapmotor, is better efficiency, better environmental credentials and an impressively long range-90 miles using the electric up to 90 motor only or 603 miles in total
The starkest, most enjoyable difference compared with a PHEV is the continual smooth delivery of power purely through the moter and the related refinement, because the engine never drives the car’s wheels. There is engine noise at times, but it’s more mine than typical engine usage
Them’s just one significant behavioural change required of the driver, and that’s the need to adjust the powertrain modes. EV ahways prioritises the motor and the engine won’t mtervene until battery charge is below 9%. EV also prioritises the motor but brings in the crgine below 75% charge. In Powers, the engine will always be on, delivering the motor, maximum power to the motor.. Fuel provides fully electric driving when charge in over 30% and wacks Intelligently the rest of the time,
