Leapmotor, the Chinese manufacturer distributed internationally by Stellantis, has unveiled its latest European model at the IAA Mobility in Munich. The Leapmotor B05 is a compact electric hatchback, based on the same platform as the B10 SUV. It’s not only aimed at European customers, but will also be produced in Spain.
The Leapmotor B05 will be called Lafa 5 in China, but in Europe, the manufacturer has chosen to keep its shorter model designation. It’s a compact hatchback in the same class as the VW ID.3, Kia EV4, and MG4, but is likely to be launched at a competitive price point.
Not finished yet
But the market launch still seems quite far away. Indeed, the B05 that is currently on Leapmotor’s booth at the IAA motor show in Munich seems to be a dressed-up clay model. The windows are still opaque, meaning that the interior is not yet finished.
And Leapmotor is still being stingy with the details. The company says that the B05 measures 4,430 mm in length, 1,880 mm in width, and 1,520 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,735 mm. That makes it slightly larger than the VW ID.3, but similarly sized to the Kia EV4. The B05 also rolls on 19-inch wheels.
LEAP 3.5 architecture with 450 km range?
What we do know is that the Leapmotor B05 will be based on the same LEAP 3.5 platform as the B10 SUV, the smaller sibling to the C10, which was recently launched in Europe. The wheelbase is even identical between the B05 and the B10, which likely means that the batteries will also be shared.
In the B10, Leapmotor offers two choices: a standard-range LFP battery pack of 56.2 kWh, good for 361 km of range on the WLTP cycle. The long-range pack has a capacity of 67.1 kWh, providing a range of 434 km.
The more compact and lower B05 should exceed these figures. Power comes from a 160 kW (218 hp) rear-mounted motor, which should provide a dynamic driving experience in a hatchback.
Big screens and semi-autonomous driving
Suppose the Leapmotor B05 adopts the interior technology of the B10. In that case, it should feature a small instrument cluster screen behind the wheel, while all functions and entertainment are grouped on a 14.6-inch 2.5 K touchscreen powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip.
The LEAP 3.5 Platform also supports advanced driver assistance technologies, including LiDAR, mmWave radars, and high-resolution cameras. These components enable smart driving functions, such as Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) and smart parking.
Built in Spain for €25,000?
As for the price, the Leapmotor B10 currently starts at under €30,000 in Belgium (€28,400 including a launch discount). That means that the smaller B05 will likely cost between €25,000 and €30,000.
As for its production, it seems like the Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain, will build the Leapmotor B05 for the European market. But that won’t happen until Q3 2026, so the first models might come from China, along with the B10.
