Stellantis-Backed Leapmotor Launches New C16 With Electric And Range-Extended Options | Carscoops
The new crossover is affordable and offers two different powertrains
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Stellantis supported Leap introduces new New C16 With Electric & Range-Extended Options
- Thread starter AlexB
- Start date
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patfromigh
Well-known member
Buick has proven that Americans will buy a Chinese made car. Having said this, Americans hate foreign cars. I'm defining Americans as the typical middle class consumer, and I'm defining foreign in the sense of unnatural, strange, or alien in character. An example of this would be the DDCT offered in some FCA products. One of the failings of Fiat USA marketing has been to confuse imported with foreign.
So how does one explain vehicles like Tesla and previous generations of the Toyota Prius? Here is the pattern for the success for both examples. The were purchased by early adapters looking for something outside the mainstream, and providing gratification by virtue signaling. Each product's success is buoyed by government subsidies. The Prius was by far the most purchased vehicle model in the "cash for clunkers" (C4C) program. C4C boosted Prius hybrid sales and the sales grew and peaked in the early Twenty-Teens. When the virtue signaling ran out on the Prius, its sales collapsed. Those early adopters had moved on to the Tesla battery electric vehicles. Tesla vehicles received government subsidies for purchase and had virtue signaling in abundance. I forgot to add that one aspect of this virtue signaling is looking down on all the other unenlightened deplorable drivers. For Tesla owners that also included hybrid drivers.
Toyota has moved on from the sales collapse of the previous generations of Prius models. The brand is crying all the way to the bank as middle and working class consumers buy Toyota Hybrids in record numbers. Such hybrid vehicles are in the form of Camry and Corolla sedans or RAV4 and Highlander SUVs. The Prius has since been transformed into something more exotic rather than bizarre.
Now it's Tesla's turn. The early adopters have moved on and it's too early to know for sure where they're going. Tesla vehicles are no longer exclusive when they became rental queens, even for a day. They also became Taxi hacks. Typical American middle class consumers have not taken to Teslas and other battery electric vehicles, the purchasers still remain either fan boys, fleets, or freeloaders.
The disappearance of physical controls such as buttons, knobs and switches has been met by strong consumer resistance across a variety of vehicles. This is one reason consumers are rejecting Tesla products with that tablet glued to the dash controls.
All this commentary is to lead to my next observation. The Leap C16 would most likely fail if marketed here. The dashboard is just too weird for consumer acceptance. Contrast the interior pictures of the Leap C16 with those of the Jeep Wagoneer S interior. Electric or not, the Wagoneer S interior is simply gorgeous. If it fails in the marketplace, it won't be because of the interior styling. The individual or team that did the Wagonner S interior styling should be given a free rein to redesign the dash and interior of Leap products sold here. The interior of the Eagle Premier had to be be redone from its French quirkiness very early on, but the ultimate solution was to replace that model (and Dodge Monaco twin) with the LH sedans.
Any Leap product or derivative sold here with the optional EREV system should use a domestic built engine for the range extender for the reasons of parts availability, reliability, and ease of maintenance. I could imagine a business case in selling here Mexican produced, domestically styled and branded, Leap products. I would start by totally restyling the Leap C01 sedan into the Chrysler Halcyon. The C16 could be a Dodge or Chrysler product with the proper styling and equipment.
Even after the public relations disasters from this past winter, EVs continue to be sold. While the sales growth of EVs had stalled, the CARB mandates remain in place for half the US population. Americans hate being told what products to buy, but strangely they love it when they are told which products they are to want. Madison Avenue figured this puzzle out decades ago. It has only recently been forgotten by some DEI hires in management positions.
The Chinese are way ahead of the USA in EV use. From what others have told me, Chinese cities have ample charging stations, and electric city cars are popular. The Leap T03 is one example of that type. China also invests in their electric grid. They aren't abandoning their baseline power plants for renewable generation. Solar and wind power are used to compliment other sources. Because the Chinese are further down the road than us, they have encountered some of the problems with mass adoption of EVs we are just now discovering. One of course is range anxiety, which is a known issue, but then there is charging anxiety. Our nation has only recently learned about this. "I have the range, will there be a charging station when I get there?" The Chinese government has given their approval of extended range electric vehicles (EREV), which use an IC engine as a range extender. It's strange how the CCP is more pragmatic than the CARB states and certain DEI hires in the auto industry.
Americans will buy Chinese vehicles, but only disguised as American ones, like electronics and tech goods which are sold here. The Leap T03 probably would not sell very well here. It is too big for a retirement community neighborhood vehicle and too small for other than city use. Rebadge it as a Dodge for sale in Mexico, and it would probably be a hit.
So how does one explain vehicles like Tesla and previous generations of the Toyota Prius? Here is the pattern for the success for both examples. The were purchased by early adapters looking for something outside the mainstream, and providing gratification by virtue signaling. Each product's success is buoyed by government subsidies. The Prius was by far the most purchased vehicle model in the "cash for clunkers" (C4C) program. C4C boosted Prius hybrid sales and the sales grew and peaked in the early Twenty-Teens. When the virtue signaling ran out on the Prius, its sales collapsed. Those early adopters had moved on to the Tesla battery electric vehicles. Tesla vehicles received government subsidies for purchase and had virtue signaling in abundance. I forgot to add that one aspect of this virtue signaling is looking down on all the other unenlightened deplorable drivers. For Tesla owners that also included hybrid drivers.
Toyota has moved on from the sales collapse of the previous generations of Prius models. The brand is crying all the way to the bank as middle and working class consumers buy Toyota Hybrids in record numbers. Such hybrid vehicles are in the form of Camry and Corolla sedans or RAV4 and Highlander SUVs. The Prius has since been transformed into something more exotic rather than bizarre.
Now it's Tesla's turn. The early adopters have moved on and it's too early to know for sure where they're going. Tesla vehicles are no longer exclusive when they became rental queens, even for a day. They also became Taxi hacks. Typical American middle class consumers have not taken to Teslas and other battery electric vehicles, the purchasers still remain either fan boys, fleets, or freeloaders.
The disappearance of physical controls such as buttons, knobs and switches has been met by strong consumer resistance across a variety of vehicles. This is one reason consumers are rejecting Tesla products with that tablet glued to the dash controls.
All this commentary is to lead to my next observation. The Leap C16 would most likely fail if marketed here. The dashboard is just too weird for consumer acceptance. Contrast the interior pictures of the Leap C16 with those of the Jeep Wagoneer S interior. Electric or not, the Wagoneer S interior is simply gorgeous. If it fails in the marketplace, it won't be because of the interior styling. The individual or team that did the Wagonner S interior styling should be given a free rein to redesign the dash and interior of Leap products sold here. The interior of the Eagle Premier had to be be redone from its French quirkiness very early on, but the ultimate solution was to replace that model (and Dodge Monaco twin) with the LH sedans.
Any Leap product or derivative sold here with the optional EREV system should use a domestic built engine for the range extender for the reasons of parts availability, reliability, and ease of maintenance. I could imagine a business case in selling here Mexican produced, domestically styled and branded, Leap products. I would start by totally restyling the Leap C01 sedan into the Chrysler Halcyon. The C16 could be a Dodge or Chrysler product with the proper styling and equipment.
Even after the public relations disasters from this past winter, EVs continue to be sold. While the sales growth of EVs had stalled, the CARB mandates remain in place for half the US population. Americans hate being told what products to buy, but strangely they love it when they are told which products they are to want. Madison Avenue figured this puzzle out decades ago. It has only recently been forgotten by some DEI hires in management positions.
The Chinese are way ahead of the USA in EV use. From what others have told me, Chinese cities have ample charging stations, and electric city cars are popular. The Leap T03 is one example of that type. China also invests in their electric grid. They aren't abandoning their baseline power plants for renewable generation. Solar and wind power are used to compliment other sources. Because the Chinese are further down the road than us, they have encountered some of the problems with mass adoption of EVs we are just now discovering. One of course is range anxiety, which is a known issue, but then there is charging anxiety. Our nation has only recently learned about this. "I have the range, will there be a charging station when I get there?" The Chinese government has given their approval of extended range electric vehicles (EREV), which use an IC engine as a range extender. It's strange how the CCP is more pragmatic than the CARB states and certain DEI hires in the auto industry.
Americans will buy Chinese vehicles, but only disguised as American ones, like electronics and tech goods which are sold here. The Leap T03 probably would not sell very well here. It is too big for a retirement community neighborhood vehicle and too small for other than city use. Rebadge it as a Dodge for sale in Mexico, and it would probably be a hit.
Last edited:
TripleT
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if its cheap Americans will buy it, despite any Xenophobic or Nationalist tendencies. A simple trip to Walmart is all you need to confirm this.
If your in a Carb state, High Tax on Ice, tax on repair parts for old cars, and you can get a brand new car that does 90% of what you need for less than a used car. It will be bought.
If your in a Carb state, High Tax on Ice, tax on repair parts for old cars, and you can get a brand new car that does 90% of what you need for less than a used car. It will be bought.