$10,000 Leapmotor A10 is the new-age Neon Stellantis needs

Stellantis’ US operations are in desperate need of new, modern, affordable products that aren’t tainted by the toxic meatheads shredding tires with their Hemi V8s. A new-age Neon, tucked in at just under $20,000 with zippy performance and a simple, unpretentious interior could be just what dealers need to bring in new buyers.

I’ve argued the need for a new-age Neon before, but I no longer think that the Lancia Ypsilon I had originally proposed for the basis of its rebirth is the one. Slotting into that top spot now is the new A10 EV from Stellantis’ Chinese partner, Leapmotor.

First shown at the Guangzhou Auto Show last year and officially launched this week in China with a starting price of 965,800 yuan (~$9,500) is the right price, has the right tech, and with its chunky, crossover body style, is even the right shape to appeal to the same type of young car buyer the original Neon did thirty-odd years ago.

Leapmotor even packs the original Neon’s happy, smiling face – although that little Easter egg is somewhat hidden in the A10’s whimsically named “Haha” taillight.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Leapmotor Haha taillight

The new Leapmotor A10 is powered by a single electric motor driving the front wheels offered with either 70 kW (~95 hp) or 90 kW (~125 hp) of output and 150 Nm (~110 lb-ft) of instant, 0 rpm torque that should nicely mirror the original Neon’s zippy performance, while the available 53 kWh battery pack is good for over 500 km (~310 miles) of more than adequate range.

The A10 also supports up to 100 kW of DC fast charging – which might seem slow in the era of headline-grabbing MCS records, but it’s more than enough for the relatively small battery to charge from from 30% to 80% in about 15 minutes. And, in keeping with the original “all 90s, all the time” Neon theme, that’s about the time it takes to get gas, some pizza-flavored Combos, and a bottle of SoBe Lizard Fuel.

Hi, and high tech

Inside, the Leapmotor A10 crossover already looks like what you might expect a modern Neon would look like. Simple, chunky, and ever so slightly cheap-looking, the switch to making it fit for a genuine Neon revival could be limited to some Thermos-grade plastic for the dash cap and some snazzier colors for the interior mood lighting.

On the technology front, CarNewsChina reports that the A10 is equipped with lidar and an ultra fast Qualcomm SA8650 chip, enabling a “parking space to parking space full-scenario assisted driving” similar to how Tesla’s Summon feature is supposed to work.

This Leapmotor’s ADAS tech suite also includes City NAP (Navigation Assisted Pilot), Highway Navigation, and Memory Parking functionalities.

Assuming it costs twice as much to import, assemble, and paint the Leapmotor knock-downs in the US, it feels reasonable to assume a $19,990 MSRP, plus destination, taxes, and fees, could be doable – but whether or not it would be a hit remains to be seen. Take a look at the original Neon launch commercial from 1994, below, then let us know how you’d feel if Stellantis took a leap(motor) of faith and brought back a car with genuine mass appeal in the comments.

Plymouth Neon launch commercial from 1994

SOURCE | IMAGES: Leapmotor, via CarNewsChina.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.