Leapmotor Updates C10 and C16 With Split Headlights and Higher Output, as 2026 Volume Target Looms
Leapmotor Automobile has filed updated versions of its C10 and C16 SUVs in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Technology catalogue, revealing styling and powertrain changes designed to keep its core C-series competitive as the company pursues an ambitious 2026 sales goal.
The refreshed C10 and C16 share most of their revisions, with the front end showing the most visible changes. Leapmotor has moved the main light units down and outward to the edges of the front bumper, creating a split-headlight design. The upper light bar has been reshaped with longer ends, and the lamp housings incorporate the brand’s horizontal daytime running light signature.
The light bar itself has been repositioned higher, visually aligning it with the hood shut line to reduce segmentation across the nose. The company also reworked the front bumper as the relocation of the main lamps reduced the size of the side air-curtain openings, leaving smaller apertures whose airflow function is unclear based on the filing. A trapezoidal lower intake remains, while a change from gloss black to body-colour trim makes the intake more pronounced.
The redesign adds 10 millimetres to overall length for both models, while width, height, track and the 2,825-millimetre wheelbase are unchanged from current versions—suggesting Leapmotor is prioritising manufacturability and continuity over a full platform shift.
Side profiles remain largely intact, retaining flush door handles, protective side cladding, black mirrors and a front fender camera. On the C16, the roof-rail element has been updated to silver, and Leapmotor listed new wheel designs including petal-style low-drag rims and five-spoke hollow wheels.
Rear changes are subtler. The filing indicates the full-width tail light continues but switches from granular LED points to a more diffused lighting effect. The rear bumper lighting modules—fog lamp, reverse lamp and reflectors—add an alternative colour arrangement beyond the prior red-white-red layout.
Both models keep hardware options aimed at higher-end driver assistance, including dual front cameras, dual mirror cameras, a rear high-mounted camera and a lidar unit, indicating Leapmotor is still leaving room for feature differentiation even as it refreshes high-volume nameplates.
The powertrain updates are more material for performance-sensitive buyers. Range-extended variants retain a 70kW 1.5-litre range extender, but motor output rises by 30kW to 200kW. For the C10 range-extended model, WLTC-rated pure-electric range increases to 190 kilometres, up 50 kilometres versus the current version, while the C16 range-extended model is listed at 185 kilometres. Both use a 38.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and maintain a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour.
Battery-electric versions of the updated C10 and C16 are filed with a 230kW motor. Unlike the current line-up, the filing does not show multiple motor power options, pointing to a possible consolidation of configurations—an approach that could simplify production planning and reduce buyer decision friction, particularly in the price-driven mainstream SUV segment.
The updates arrive as Leapmotor seeks to sustain momentum from its existing C-series while preparing five upcoming new models across its A and D series. With the C10 and C16 positioned as key contributors to volume, incremental gains in electric-only range for the range-extended models and higher output across the line could help the company defend value credentials without a disruptive redesign that risks cost creep.
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