Essay – Leap Motor T03, the little Chinese city car to conquer European cities

But it is the small city car T03 that Leap Motors chose to push priority on the European market. And she has all her chances on paper, because despite the continuous arrival of new models on many segments, the electric city car is a very small market with few competitors.

Leap Motor T03

Leapmotor made an original entry on the electric market in China with its small coupe. Serious things now come with the launch of the city car T03.

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Less than a year after the start of production of its S01 coupe, Leapmotor launches the production of its second model. It is now a small city car 3m62 long and 1m65 Large (height: 1m58, 2m40 wheelbase). A segment that attracts more and more players in electric vehicles. Fact, The entire segment has in China has changed in this propulsion mode.

The Leapmotor T03 has a engine of 55 kW / 75 hp / 155 nm. It will be offered with two batteries: 31 or 38kWh, with an autonomy of 300 or 400km (NEDC).

Like other models of the segment, being a small car does not mean that it is devoid of the latest technologies. We find a screen 8 inches for instrumentation, and 10 inches for the central screen. All orders go through the latter. Remain the control of distress lights, parking brake and electric windows. The transmission control takes the form of a commodo behind the steering wheel.

There is also a duo of cameras located on the foot A. It is used for driver’s facial attention monitoring system. Equipment that unfolds very quickly on Chinese models. In terms of driving aids, the Leapmotor T03 also announces a semi-autonomous level 2 driving capacity. With therefore an adaptive stop & go cruise control associated with a centering function in the circulation queue. Equipment still rare, even new, in the segment even in China.

Our opinion, by Leblogauto.com

The niche of small electric city cars in China is completely electric, and also almost occupied only by Chinese manufacturers. And as this T03 shows, these models are as well endowed in terms of connectivity as the largest.

Essay – Leap Motor T03, the little Chinese city car to conquer European cities

The rise of Chinese automotive brands continues on the European market, mainly through electricity. Last manufacturer to try his luck, Leapmotors, with his amazing T03. A real alternative in electric city car?

Aiways, Lynk & Co, Seres, MG … Chinese car brands are starting to become more and more visible on our roads. Even with a market share still very tenuous in France (just over 1%) and a range of products that are still not very extensive, these new brands tend to type where it hurts, especially in the field of electric vehicles, hybrid , PHEV and electricity … Precisely where their competitive advantage in terms of production cost guarantees them to hit the public with the public. Jean-Dominique Senard, the president of Renault, feared a real surge of Chinese cars a few years ago soon in Europe in Europe. She may be starting to start.

Because the progress of these manufacturers – in terms of quality, security and even design- have been spectacular in a few years. Of course thanks to a lot of R&D, but also to the experience acquired with foreign manufacturers who came to settle there, such as Stellantis, Renault or Volvo. Consequently, the Chinese giants byd, Geely and others quickly identified the precise segments where they could score decisive points in Europe. The electric is clearly the priority, segment where European manufacturers at the moment have trouble lowering prices significantly and where technological barriers seem less important than on thermal engine models.

City car, land of conquest par excellence

Latest to try his luck, Leap Motor. Small Chinese manufacturer a little on the sidelines of very large groups, Leap Motor has so far worked rather than the development of prototypes and electrification and autonomy technologies. But for almost 5 years, the group has developed at a lightning speed and has become a real generalist manufacturer with a range of 4 models, SUV, sedan and even cut.

But it is the small city car T03 that Leap Motors chose to push priority on the European market. And she has all her chances on paper, because despite the continuous arrival of new models on many segments, the electric city car is a very small market with few competitors.

European manufacturers have indeed preferred to reserve total electrification for larger models or SUVs, higher margins, to also justify higher production costs in Europe, and final prices not necessarily very democratic. On the ground of small electric city cars, few solutions now since the renault zoe and the Peugeot Ion-Citroen C-Zero-Mitsubishi I-Miev trio which “did” the market, are only a Twingo electric which goes towards its end, electric smarts (now under the growing influence of Chinese Geely), and a Dacia Spring … made in China. Without forgetting the Fiat 500 and mini electricity, but of a clearly higher range.

The strong point: a nice design and a sober interior

The Leap Motor T03 therefore appears at the right time, with a fairly intriguing physique (and an amazing but pretty pale pink color on the model tried) reminiscent of both the smart Fourfour and the Fiat 500L. A curious mixture which gives it a plump appearance, a rather high stature on legs (1.56 meters in height), but a style ultimately quite unusual and friendly, which turns many heads in the street.

Inside, make way for sobriety. With simple materials and hard plastics (some of which are still lacquered), the cabin is without chichi but ultimately very faithful to the philosophy of the machine.

And despite the simplicity displayed, the equipment of this T03 impresses, with a large glass roof (non-opening), well-seen comfort and safety equipment for urban driving (parking assistance, anti-collision warnings, camera of camera decline), a functional multimedia screen, as well as a frankly very acceptable habitability for 4 people despite a slightly hard seat.

Flexibility, dynamism and sobriety

At the wheel, this T03 is also very pleasant to drive. A light direction but which does not forget to be precise, with an astonishing robbery, very practical for maneuvers, just what it takes to dynamism (the battery of 41.3kWh guarantees it a power equivalent to 109 horsepower ) and largely enough to sneak with flexibility in urban traffic, especially since its mass is contained for an electric at only 1.2 tonnes. A very good surprise, which a little recalls the driving sensations of the late Peugeot Ion/Citroën C-Zero/Mitsubishi I-Miev.

Concerning electrical capacities and autonomy, here too we are dealing with a serious proposal. 280 kilometers of autonomy in the mixed WLTP cycle, and even 420 kilometers in strictly urban use. In addition, the battery, which can accept up to 45 kW in direct current, comes from LFP technology, which allows maximum repetitive loads without theoretically risking premature wear and tear.

Recharge times (to go from 30 to 80% autonomy) are rather in the standard, at 3:30 am with a 7kW charger or even 36 minutes in fast load with maximum power, verified values ​​point by point during the test. In addition, consumption turns out to be quite low, oscillating between 11-12 and 18 kWh per 100 kilometers, with an average of 14/15 noted.

The black point: an unpleasant damping and a small chest

This T03 is not free from defects far from it, already a very small chest (210 liters) “toblerone format”, triangular and impractical with rear seats that arrive right against the trunk, a rather unpleasant damping especially when the speed Increases, very soft and rebounding sometimes, not very suitable tires which harm traction from time to time, not to mention extremely light insulation/soundproofing.

Certainly the weight of the car is thus contained, but it turns out to be a little noisy and you even feel air at high speed in the passenger compartment. Some details will also anger, like a curious convex central interior mirror, which disturbs a little.

Excellent value for money

Beyond very correct autonomy or defects in the passenger compartment, which will really make all the difference with this T03 is its price. 25.990 euros net, or 20.990 euros if we take off the government bonus. And frankly, at this level of motor power, autonomy, equipment and quality, electric Twingo and Dacia Spring can legitimately worry.

The Leap Motor T03 is certainly more expensive to buy, but will give you much more, with the bonus of originality. It remains to convince a clientele still a little cautious in the face of the Chinese automobile, and in particular the problems of network and maintenance still underdeveloped. This T03, however, has all the arguments to build the image of Leap Motor in France, because its electric city car is a frank success.