Leopaard CS 10 SUV
The company bringing in the Chinese
C-segment SUV, Joylong Auto Sdn Bhd (the official assembler and distributor of
Joylong commercial vehicles) is conducting durability testing on the car
before introducing it here sometime within the first quarter of next year.
The car destined for the Malaysian
market will be right-hand drive, locally-assembled (CKD) in Gurun, Kedah. In
fact, the company plans to make Malaysia the RHD production hub for the car,
exporting the CS10 to other right-hook markets, it’s even footing the bill for
the conversion.
Launched at the Shanghai Motor Show last
year, the Changfeng sub-brand’s SUV possesses handsome, if unadventurous and
derivative styling, with headlights that look to have been nicked from the Volkswagen
Touareg and a rear end from a Porsche Macan. Still, in the metal, it at least
has a presence of its own, and doesn’t look like a straight copy-paste exercise
as with many Chinese cars.
Measuring 4,663 mm long, 1,875 mm wide
and 1,700 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm, the CS10 is smack in the
middle of the C-segment SUV class dominated by the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and
Nissan X-Trail, although it is quite a bit wider than those cars.
Inside, there’s a dashboard and
switchgear that’s reminiscent of a facelifted W204 Mercedes C-Class, a
four-spoke multifunction steering wheel with a Range Rover-esque “Leopaard”
badge, an Android-based navigation system with eight-inch touchscreen, six
speakers and five seats.
Surprisingly for this Chinese entry,
there are soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and door tops, replete with faux
stitching. The driving position takes a little getting used to, however despite the steering wheel being adjustable for reach and rake, it still sits a
touch too low.
Under the bonnet sits a turbocharged
Mitsubishi-derived 2.0 litre 4G63T four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 174
hp at 5,250 rpm and 250 Nm of torque between 2,400 and 4,800 rpm. Changfeng is
so proud of the Japanese connection that the engine cover says “Mitsubishi
Power” and even sports the three-diamond logo. Power is sent to the front
wheels via a six-speed dual wet clutch transmission.
As for pricing, the company is gunning
for the CS10 to retail at under RM 120k, or even RM 110k. That’s still quite a
bit for a Chinese car, but the company promises that it will be offered pretty
much as specced here.
This car, by the way, is the
highest-spec variant offered in China, coming with LED daytime running lights,
LED tail lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start,
power-adjustable leather seats, six airbags and stability control. The company
could omit certain items like the sunroof to get pricing to the desired level.
