Leapmotor B05: A real hot hatch!
With the B05, Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor is once again expanding its portfolio as part of its joint venture with Stellantis. The all-electric B05 is positioned below the B10.
The design of the compact, five-door B05 as a traditional hatchback—often described as being in the “Golf class”—is refreshing and a highly sensible addition to the Chinese brand’s portfolio. The Leapmotor B05 is aimed at a young, lifestyle-conscious customer base that appreciates design and sportiness at an attractive price.
Impressive Technology
The Leapmotor B05 features a 160 kW/218 PS electric motor on the rear axle. Equipped with a 67.1-kWh battery, it is expected to have a range of up to 482 kilometers based on a standard consumption rate of 15.9 kWh per 100 kilometers. This is also aided by its efficient aerodynamics, with a cW-value of 0.26. Charging is fast: up to 174 kW of charging power is reportedly possible at a fast-charging station. This allows the battery to be charged from 30 to 80 percent in just over 17 minutes. At home using a wallbox, the charging power is 11 kW, so charging takes correspondingly longer. But plugging it in at night means it’ll be fully charged by morning. In Launch Mode, the B05 sprints to 100 in 6.7 seconds, and its top speed is 170 km/h. With 240 Nm of torque, it promises a dynamic driving experience on winding roads.
Refreshing Colors
The Leapmotor B05 has an elegant, sporty look. Especially in its launch color, Lightning Yellow, the B05 adds a touch of flair to the streetscape. Four additional colors are available: Windy Gray, Starry Night Blue, Galaxy Silver, and Metallic Black. At 4.43 meters, the B05 is longer than it appears. Thanks to its 2.74-meter wheelbase, the interior has been designed to be spacious, especially for rear-seat passengers. Even taller passengers will find ample legroom and headroom here. The width is 1.88 meters, and the vehicle height is 1.52 meters. With a curb weight of 1,837 kilograms, the B05 is no lightweight, though this is due to the size of the battery. It also performs well in terms of trunk volume: 345 liters, or 1,400 liters with the seats folded down, are impressive figures for this class.
As is typical for Leapmotor, the cockpit has a simple and elegant design. The materials used feel good and high-quality. The command center is the centrally located 14.6-inch touchscreen. There are no buttons or rotary switches, so you have to navigate through the menus to disable the mostly unwanted ADAS features and their sounds. Behind the steering wheel is an 8.8-inch display running Leapmotor’s latest operating system. The large panoramic glass roof floods the interior with plenty of light.
Exemplary handling
The driver’s seat offers good lateral support, and we race off onto the test track, which is dotted with attractive curves. It soon reveals itself to be an agile EV with responsive power delivery. The suspension was fine-tuned for Europe by Stellantis engineers on the test track in Balocco (I). With a 50:50 weight distribution and firmly tuned McPherson struts, the handling and traction are exemplary, and it’s a joy to drive the B05 into and through the curves. It rides on attractively designed 19-inch wheels. We’d describe the steering as somewhat spongy—it could be more direct. But with a starting price of 25,900 Swiss francs, Leapmotor has a great chance of tapping into a new customer base: buyers with an eye for design and a passion for sports.
