LEAPMOTOR

C01: the first model that can boast advanced CTC technology

CTC technology is one of the keys to the future of electric cars. Manufacturers and specialist suppliers in the automotive industry remain in search of smart solutions not only to improve battery life, but also to make electric cars lighter, lowering their weight considerably.

Toyota and Tesla are two of the manufacturers that are working on this technology, but it was the Chinese who advanced. This was done by a until now little-known manufacturer in China with the presentation of a high-performance electric sedan. This is the Leapmotor C01, the first model that can boast advanced CTC technology, acronyms for 'Cell to Chassis', and is now on sale. This technique makes it possible to integrate the battery cells directly into the platform floor, which ensures a significant weight reduction, as the battery box is eliminated.

In addition, it allows to house more cells, even reaching the axles, in addition to increasing the safety of the same when it is protected by the structure itself. The Leapmotor C01 is an avant-garde sedan also in design, with a roofline as smooth as it is aerodynamic, which provides a sporty profile with typical coupe style. The door handles are integrated into the bodywork, it has a large panoramic roof that extends in one piece from the windshield to the rear porthole window, and ample interior space, the result of generous measures.

The Leapmotor C01 measures 5,050 mm long, 1,902 mm wide, 1,509 mm high, has a wheelbase of 2,930 mm and a trunk that accommodates a volume of 496 liters.

The interior has a panel presided over by three sophisticated touchscreens in the center console and in the passenger area, equipped with artificial intelligence and access via facial identification. The equipment does not lack any details, as well as advanced voice control, advanced 'Leapmotor Pilot' driving safety assistants and seats upholstered in Nappa leather with heating and ventilation, in addition to an advanced navigator with HD maps capable of advancing the adjustments. of the vehicle before approaching hills and curves.

As if that were not enough, the C01 aspires to be commercialized in the west in the second half of 2022, also debuting the first oil-cooled electric motor on demand. A unit that develops a maximum power of 200 kW, equivalent to 272 hp, although the brand offers a top-of-the-line version with two units and 400 kW, no less than 544 hp. The two will be equipped with a battery with a capacity of 90 kWh, which means that their maximum range is up to 717 kilometers, according to the NEDC cycle.

In addition, the Chinese brand has included sensors to permanently and individually control the temperature, detecting sudden changes in cells in particular. The Leapmotor C01 is already on sale in the local domestic market in China. In principle, units can be reserved without the need for a prior deposit, but customers already know the prices, which are really amazing: 180,000 yuan for the basics and 270,000 yuan for the most powerful.

Autonews