Stellantis-backed Leapmotor is turning to German tuning house Irmscher Automobilbau to sharpen the driving character of its electric lineup in Europe, starting with work that builds toward the B10 compact SUV. The partnership, which already produced a 585-PS version of the C10, signals that Leapmotor wants more than just competitive pricing as it rolls out affordable EVs across the continent. With the standard B10 now entering European sales at a starting price of 29,900 euros, the question is whether a tuned variant can carve out space among buyers who want performance and value in the same package.
Irmscher and Leapmotor Lock In a Long-Term Deal
Irmscher and Leapmotor have entered a long-term collaboration that ties one of Germany’s best-known aftermarket specialists to a Chinese EV brand distributed through Stellantis. The deal pairs Irmscher CEO Gunther Irmscher with Martin Resch, the chief of Leapmotor Deutschland, and is designed to produce a series of performance-oriented variants rather than a single one-off project.
Their first joint product is the i C10, a tuned version of Leapmotor’s mid-size electric SUV that pushes output to 585 PS and runs on 800V architecture. Those numbers put the i C10 well above the stock C10’s output and place it in territory typically occupied by premium European performance EVs. The 800V system also means faster DC charging, which addresses one of the practical complaints performance-EV buyers raise most often.
What makes this collaboration different from a typical tuner badge-engineering exercise is the institutional backing. Because Leapmotor sits within the Stellantis group, Irmscher is not freelancing on a niche import. It is working with a brand that has access to Stellantis dealer networks, parts logistics, and warranty infrastructure across Europe. That corporate scaffolding gives any future tuned B10 a distribution path that most aftermarket EV projects lack entirely.
The B10’s Technical Foundation
The B10 is the first model in Leapmotor’s B-series and rides on the company’s LEAP 3.5 platform. That architecture includes CTC 2.0 battery integration, which mounts cells directly into the chassis structure rather than housing them in a separate pack. The result is a stiffer floor, a lower center of gravity, and more usable interior space for a vehicle in this size class.
Inside, the B10 runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 system-on-chip paired with Leapmotor OS, giving it processing power and software flexibility that match or exceed several European competitors at higher price points. The 8155 is the same chip found in vehicles from brands like BMW and Volvo, so Leapmotor is not cutting corners on cockpit hardware even at a sub-30,000-euro entry price.
For Irmscher, the LEAP 3.5 platform offers a clean starting point. CTC 2.0 integration means the battery is already a structural element of the chassis, so suspension tuning, ride-height adjustments, and handling calibration can build on a rigid base without fighting a bolt-on battery pack. That structural advantage matters because aftermarket EV tuning is far more constrained than combustion-engine work. There is no simple intake or exhaust swap. Gains come from chassis geometry, damper rates, wheel and tire packages, and software calibration of stability and traction systems.
Leapmotor has also emphasized efficiency and packaging in the B10’s underlying design. The compact SUV format targets families and urban drivers who want the elevated seating position of a crossover without the footprint of a larger D-segment vehicle. Within that brief, chassis engineers have to balance range, comfort, and agility. A tuner like Irmscher can exploit that groundwork by tightening body control and steering response without fundamentally altering the car’s daily usability.
European Sales Launch and Pricing
European orders for the standard B10 opened on July 30 in selected markets, with a starting price of 29,900 euros. Deliveries are set to begin with the European sales launch at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, where Leapmotor is also staging the global premiere of the smaller B05.
That 29,900-euro figure puts the B10 below most comparable electric compact SUVs from established European and Korean brands, many of which start north of 35,000 euros. The pricing strategy is clearly designed to pull in first-time EV buyers and cost-conscious households, but it also creates a ceiling problem for any performance variant. A tuned B10 from Irmscher would need to justify a price premium without pushing the total cost into territory where buyers start cross-shopping the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX or a base-model Tesla Model Y.
The B10 is available across multiple regions, not just Western Europe, which gives Stellantis room to test demand for a sportier trim in different regulatory and incentive environments. Markets with strong EV purchase subsidies could absorb a tuning surcharge more easily than those without. In countries where company-car taxation favors low-emission vehicles, a mildly uprated B10 with only a small impact on efficiency could appeal to fleet managers who want something more distinctive than a standard-spec compact crossover.
Positioning will be critical. If Irmscher focuses on chassis and design rather than headline power increases, the price walk from the base B10 could remain modest. That would allow Stellantis dealers to present the tuned model as an aspirational but attainable step up, similar to how traditional brands sell sport packages on mainstream hatchbacks and wagons.
Why a Tuned B10 Matters for Stellantis
Most coverage of Chinese EVs entering Europe focuses on price. That framing misses a second front: driving appeal. European buyers, especially in Germany, still place high value on how a car handles, steers, and rides. A sub-30,000-euro EV that also drives well is a harder product to dismiss than one that simply undercuts on sticker price.
Stellantis has a strategic interest in making sure Leapmotor does not get pigeonholed as a budget brand. The i C10 with its 585 PS and 800V system is an attention-grabbing halo car, but the B10 is where volume lives. If Irmscher can deliver a credible sport package for the B10, even one limited to suspension, wheels, and cosmetic upgrades, it would give Stellantis sales teams a story to tell beyond “cheaper than the competition.”
There is also a brand-perception play. Working with a respected German tuner sends a signal to skeptical buyers who may be wary of a new Chinese marque. Irmscher has decades of experience tweaking Opels and other European models; its logo on a Leapmotor tailgate effectively vouches for the underlying engineering. For Stellantis, that kind of soft endorsement is difficult to buy through advertising alone.
A tuned B10 would further help Stellantis fill gaps in its own EV portfolio. Many of the group’s European brands are still ramping up dedicated electric platforms and performance derivatives. Until those arrive in volume, Leapmotor can function as a fast-moving complement, providing relatively affordable, tech-forward models that Stellantis can sell through existing showrooms. An Irmscher-flavored B10 would make that proposition more compelling to enthusiasts and early adopters who might otherwise overlook a value-focused crossover.
How Irmscher Could Shape the B10
Irmscher has not detailed a specific B10 package, but its track record and the constraints of EV tuning suggest a familiar toolkit. Expect revised springs and dampers to reduce roll and sharpen responses, potentially paired with slightly lower ride height. Wheel and tire upgrades are almost certain, both for visual impact and to increase mechanical grip.
Inside, Irmscher could add sport seats, unique upholstery, and subtle trim changes to differentiate the cabin without driving up costs. Exterior tweaks are likely to focus on aerodynamically neutral elements such as spoilers, splitters, and side skirts that emphasize stance without compromising efficiency. Given the importance of range in buyer decision-making, any drag-inducing add-ons would be a harder sell.
Software is another lever. While wholesale powertrain changes are unlikely, Irmscher and Leapmotor could collaborate on alternative drive modes that alter throttle mapping, steering weight, and stability-control thresholds. A more aggressive “Sport” setting, calibrated for European secondary roads, would be a relatively low-cost way to make the B10 feel more engaging without touching the battery or motors.
Crucially, all of this development would happen with factory support. That means any B10 sport variant should retain full safety-system integration and warranty coverage, addressing a common concern with independent tuning. For buyers new to EVs, knowing that the car is still backed by Stellantis and Leapmotor networks could make the difference between choosing a tuned model and sticking with a standard version.
Testing the Limits of Value Performance
Whether a tuned B10 succeeds will depend on how convincingly it blends value and verve. If the package feels like a cosmetic exercise, European buyers are unlikely to pay much extra. But if Irmscher can deliver tangible improvements in steering precision, body control, and braking feel while keeping the price delta reasonable, the B10 could become a case study in how Chinese EVs evolve beyond the “cheap alternative” narrative.
The broader stakes are significant. As more Chinese brands enter Europe, pressure will grow on incumbents to respond not just on price but on product character. Stellantis, by pairing Leapmotor with Irmscher, is effectively testing whether an alliance between a new EV player and an old-guard tuner can accelerate that shift. The standard B10 lays the groundwork with its modern platform, integrated battery, and aggressive pricing. A sharpened version would show how far that foundation can be stretched toward enthusiast territory without breaking the value proposition that brought Leapmotor to Europe in the first place.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
