Leapmotor begins the European launch of the B05 compact hatchback

The Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor, a partner of Stellantis, has just announced the launch on the European market of the long-awaited B05, a compact five-door with an electric propulsion system that is presented as the sportiest model in the brand’s range. Orders for this new model are already open in those European countries where Leapmotor has a presence, including Spain, where it is available with an official starting price of 26,264 euros. There is, however, a launch offer that substantially reduces this price.

Leapmotor officially presented the B05 for the European market nine months ago during the IAA Mobility in Munich. On that occasion, however, the Chinese manufacturer did not reveal the interior of the vehicle. After its launch in China at the end of last year, where it is sold as the Lafa 5, the B05 now arrives in the Old Continent with a coupé-style design and dimensions of 4.43 metres in length and 1.88 metres in width.

Classified in the C segment, this new model from Leapmotor combines a dynamic, aerodynamic silhouette, with a drag coefficient (Cx) of just 0.26, and a spacious cabin that offers great practicality for everyday use. The B05 is not a pure sports car, but a vehicle that combines attractive styling and comfort, sitting truly between compacts and mid-size models.

Until now, Leapmotor’s European range has centred on SUVs such as the B10 and the C10, alongside the small city car T03. With the arrival of the B05 and the future B03X, an urban SUV, the Chinese brand is clearly accelerating its expansion on the continent.

Some points to consider

Turning now to its technical specifications, the B05 integrates the battery pack into the chassis itself using cell-to-chassis technology, and it can be specified with two capacities when configuring the vehicle, 56.2 or 67.1 kWh. In this way, the Chinese manufacturer promises a WLTP range of between 401 and 482 km, depending on the version. Both battery packs support DC fast charging, with a maximum power of 174 kW for the larger-capacity pack. This makes it possible to increase the state of charge from 30 to 80 per cent in just 17 minutes.

The B05 has a single electric motor on the rear axle delivering 160 kW of power, allowing it to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 6.7 seconds. Leapmotor has decided to offer only this more powerful version in Europe, leaving out the less powerful one available in China.

The exterior design of the vehicle stands out for its leaf-shaped LED headlights, a full-width rear light bar, frameless doors and 19-inch wheels. It is available in five eye-catching colours, including Lightning Yellow, Windy Grey, Metallic Black, Starry Night Blue and Galaxy Silver.

Fully equipped

The interior is dominated by a minimalist design featuring a large 14.6-inch central screen and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. It includes a panoramic roof, up to 25 storage compartments, eco-friendly materials with a premium feel, and a boot that offers up to 1,400 litres with the rear seats folded down.

The B05’s infotainment system runs the Leap OS 4.0 Plus operating system, which provides a high level of connectivity from the owner’s mobile device through the Leapmotor app. This makes it possible to remotely lock the doors, control the climate, schedule charging sessions, precondition the battery or check the vehicle’s location in real time.

The B05 is offered in two trims, Life – available with both battery packs – and Design – only with the larger-capacity battery pack. The latter, as one would expect, offers higher-quality materials, a greater level of comfort and an improved audio system.