Leica News: Introducing LEICAR

 

By Heinz Richter

Wetzlar April 1, 2024

Leica is often criticized by the more traditional owners of their cameras for having added items other than cameras and lenses to their line-up. Yet their approach is obviously paying off. It was just reported that they, once again, showed a healthy increase in business over the previous fiscal year.

The cooperation with Huawei to enter the mobile phone market was met with substantial criticism. Since then they have changed to the world’s third largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Xiaomi. The recently introduced Xiaomi 14 Ultra is without question the most sophisticated mobile phone with its setup of four Leica lenses.

Today Leica announced what must be the furthest departure from traditional Leica products. A whole new division was established to market the LEICAR.

A few years ago Xiaomi decided that they wanted to enter the electric car market. Development has been mostly under wraps, But the Xiaomi SU7 EV was recently announced. It is designed to compete head-on with the likes of Porsche and Tesla. The specs are indeed quite impressive. The Leicar is mostly based on the Xiaomi SU7 EV.

So far, one the most important issues with electric cars has been the driving range. Leicar claims a range of up to 800 km. By comparison, Tesla's Model S has a range of up to 650 km. The car is also positioned to appeal to consumers worried about winter. It has fast-charging capabilities in low temperatures and is equipped with advanced tech allowing it to recognize obstacles under challenging conditions such as falling snow. One tech feature, so far not found in other cars, is CTB (Cell-to-Body) technology which integrates the batteries as part of the vehicle body to enhance structural rigidity and to maximize cabin space.

The Leicar will incorporate all of the highly advanced tech features of the Xiaomi. But there are also some changes which will set it apart, including the dashboard. While Xiaomi went the route of a huge display screen, the Leicar will feature a display integrated into the dashboard with the ability to select which display is closest to the driver. But unlike so many other electric cars, the Leicar will maintain a surprisingly large number of physical buttons and switches. Another nice touch is an analog clock on the dashboard, styled after the recently introduced Leica watch. The change closest to Leica, known for their expertise in making lenses, are the headlights of the car. Of course they are of the latest adaptive headlight technology, but unlike conventional adaptive headlights, which feature a multiple light array via LEDs with reflectors, Leica developed a system of special lenses which cast a substantially more precise pattern of lights.

Performance-wise, the Leicar promises to rival some of the fastest EVs globally, with peak torque output reaching up to 635 Nm and top speeds of 265 kmph.

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