• The A10s is expected to retain the A10's battery and range specifications, with key changes centered on red-and-black styling and driver-assistance features.
• A10 deliveries fell 24.08% month-on-month to 24,457 units in September.

Leapmotor (HKEX: 9863) said on Thursday that it will launch the A10s small electric SUV on October 18, adding a sporty variant to its A10 lineup, a key sales driver.

The announcement came a day after the company first teased the model, though pricing remains undisclosed.

The A10s largely shares the A10's core powertrain specifications, according to local automotive outlet Yiche. It measures 4,270 mm in length, 1,810 mm in width and 1,635 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,605 mm.

The model offers single-motor options rated at 70 kW and 90 kW, alongside battery capacities of 39.8 kWh and 53 kWh, delivering CLTC ranges of 403 km and 505 km, respectively.

Built on an 800-volt platform, the A10s can charge from 30% to 80% in as little as 16 minutes, Yiche noted.

The exterior features a black paint finish called "Mirror Night Black," gunmetal gray brand badging, a distinctive red "S" badge at the rear and 18-inch black sport wheels.

The cabin features 2 displays: an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch floating central touchscreen with 2.5K resolution. The infotainment system runs on a Qualcomm SA8295 chip.

For driver assistance, the A10s is equipped with LiDAR and a Qualcomm SA8650 chip. It supports urban navigation on autopilot (NOA), automated highway cruising and memory parking, enabling parking-space-to-parking-space assisted driving, according to Yiche.

The A10s launch comes after the A10 recorded its first month-on-month decline in deliveries since its debut.

A10 deliveries totaled 24,457 units in September, down 24.08% from August's record 32,214, but still accounted for 23.15% of Leapmotor's monthly deliveries. Cumulative deliveries reached 153,423 units by the end of September, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

The A10 went on sale in China on March 26 in 4 variants, priced from 65,800 yuan ($9,780) to 86,800 yuan. Only the top-spec version comes with LiDAR.

Leapmotor delivered a record 105,656 vehicles globally in September, exceeding 100,000 units for the third consecutive month. Deliveries in the first 9 months of the year totaled 666,539 units, about 66.7% of its full-year target of 1 million.

That means Leapmotor needs to average about 111,154 deliveries a month in the fourth quarter, above September's level. The A10s could provide additional volume for the A10 lineup as the company pushes toward its year-end goal.

($1 = 6.7253 yuan)