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Chinese EV brand Leapmotor has arrived in the UK, claiming its C10 family SUV and T03 city car are the best-value propositions in their respective segments.

Priced at £15,995, the T03 is the UK’s second-cheapest electric car, just £1000 above the rival Dacia Spring. Both cars are four-seaters similar in size to the Kia Picanto but higher-riding, due to their underbody batteries.

The T03 offers more standard kit, however. Whereas the entry-level Spring goes without an infotainment display, the T03 gets a 10.1in touchscreen. This is responsible for almost all secondary functions, such as the climate and media controls.

The T03’s battery is larger, too, at 37.3kWh compared with the equivalent Spring’s 26.8kWh. That allows it to eke out an extra 26 miles of range per charge, according to the WLTP test cycle, rating it at 165 miles in total.

It also has the edge over the Spring in outright performance, with its 94bhp motor dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in 12.7sec. The 44bhp Spring takes 19.7sec, while the 64bhp version (priced in line with the T03, at £15,995) takes 13.7sec.

It can be charged at a rate of 48kW on a DC power supply – going from 30-80% in 36 minutes – or at 6.6kW on AC.

The T03 is also fitted with a range of driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and blindspot detection.

Like the Spring, its software can be updated over the air, meaning it’s possible for Leapmotor to add extra features and functionality to existing cars as time goes on.

Meanwhile, the C10 is positioned as an alternative to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y. It will be offered in one specification, priced at £36,500.

It gets a 69.9kWh battery pack and a 215bhp motor, yielding a range of 261 miles and a 0-62mph time of 7.5sec. It can be charged at up to 84kW, meaning a 30-80% recharge takes half an hour.

Inside, it features a 10.25in digital instrument display and a large 14.6in infotainment touchscreen that, like in the T03, hosts the controls for the majority of the car’s main functions. 

Both cars will be sold by Leapmotor International, a new joint venture between Leapmotor and multinational car-making giant Stellantis, with ownership split 49:51. 

Although production of the T03 has already started at the former Fiat 500 plant in Tychy, Poland, all UK-bound Leapmotors will be imported from China.

Order books will open next month, with the first deliveries slated to begin in December.

Leapmotor will reveal a third model, the B10 SUV, at the upcoming Paris motor show.

Peugeot has confirmed that the electric version of its 408 crossover will be unveiled at the Paris motor show next month.

It will complete the firm's line-up in the medium term and means that every Peugeot sold in the UK will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains.

The E-408 is expected to adopt the same powertrain as the closely related E-308, which packs a front-mounted 154bhp motor and a 54kWh battery. The set-up yields a 0-62mph time of 9.8sec and a range of up to 267 miles, and it can be recharged at up to 100kW.

Given the E-308 is priced at £7930 more than the equivalent petrol-powered 308, the E-408 is likely to start at around £40,000. For reference, the UK’s best-selling electric SUV, the Tesla Model Y, is priced from £44,990.

The 408 will soon be the most saloon-like car offered by Peugeot in the UK because the 508 is due to be axed in December.

The company officially attributed this to the introduction of the zero-emission vehicle mandate, which requires car makers to sell an increasing proportion of electric cars annually, starting from this year.

“Every one of Peugeot’s passenger cars is now available in both battery-electric and hybrid powertrains,” it said.

The 508 was almost certainly also discontinued because of its poor sales: last year, fewer than 700 left showrooms. On the other hand, almost 3000 408s have been sold in the UK so far this year.

The new Skoda Elroq will be unveiled on 1 October, the brand has announced.

It will be the first model to embody the its new Modern Solid design language, with design sketches revealing it bears the 'Tech-Deck' Face and fresh logo (with 'Skoda' lettering replacing the old emblem).

Based on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform, the Elroq will be Skoda’s third EV to reach showrooms, following the Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe, following the Skoda Enyaq crossover.

It will sit below the Enyaq and the upcoming budget-friendly Epiq city car in the Skoda line-up, facing rivals such as the Volvo EX30 and MG 4 EV.

It's expected to be priced between £30,000 and £35,000.

The Elroq will use similar batteries to many of its Volkswagen Group siblings. A 82kWh pack (which gives the Enyaq a range of 348 miles) is the most likely to power it at launch and a more budget-friendly 58kWh pack should come next year.

Inside, the Elroq gets a 13in infotainment touchscreen combined with an array of physical buttons that operate climate functions. Materials will be sustainably sourced and made from recycled plastic bottles and clothes.