China should be huge on SUVs, however that doesn’t imply that selection isn’t welcome. We’ll should commend Leapmotor for doing one thing completely different with the B05 (badged in China as a Lafa5), which made an look on the latest Auto Guangzhou present quickly after its native launch, rekindling the sporty C-segment hatchback that was once all over the place.
The 2-box, five-door physique fashion would’ve regarded humdrum not too way back, nevertheless it positive appears contemporary now. Measuring 4,430 mm lengthy, 1,880 mm extensive and 1,520 mm tall, it’s on the bigger aspect within the class, being round 150 mm longer than the Volkswagen Golf however 130 mm shorter than the Honda Civic Hatchback. Its 2,735 mm wheelbase, however, is longer than each, shading the Civic by only a millimetre.
In fact, the primary distinction is that the B05 is totally electrical, with a single motor on the rear doubtlessly offering a sportier driving expertise, akin to the unique BMW 1 Sequence. Three variants are provided, with the bottom mannequin producing 179 PS (132 kW) and 175 Nm, getting the automotive from zero to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds on its strategy to a high pace of 160 km/h. A 56.2 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) offers a spread of 515 km on China’s very lenient CLTC cycle.
All different variants are boosted to 218 PS (160 kW) and 240 Nm, slashing the century dash time to six.4 seconds and growing the highest pace barely to 170 km/h whereas retaining the identical battery and vary. Vary-topping fashions obtain a 67.1 kWh LFP battery that’s mentioned to allow the B05 to journey as much as 605 km on a single cost.
Leapmotor hasn’t offered an influence determine for DC quick charging, however the batteries are the identical as on the B10 crossover, so count on the identical 140 kW for the smaller unit and 168 kW for the lengthy vary one; they cost from 30 to 80% in 18 and 19 minutes respectively. As for AC charging, that seemingly goes as much as 11 kW (once more, as per the B10), with the identical charging course of taking 4.2 hours with the 56.2 kWh battery and 5.6 hours with the 67.1 kWh battery.
In comparison with its insipid-looking crossover siblings, the B05’s design is somewhat modern, helped by the low nostril with its wraparound black masks that comes with the LED headlights, in addition to the aggressive triple air consumption design.
The surprisingly muscular bonnet and fenders lead the attention in direction of the subtly-blown rear haunches and the full-width taillight bar, sitting above a gloss black diffuser-like rear valance that homes the quantity plate recess. Distinctive to the B05 are frameless home windows, giving it a extra premium look in comparison with the B10. All fashions include 19-inch black multi-spoke alloy wheels.
We get our first have a look at the inside of the B05 on the present, and it seems to be nigh-on equivalent to the B10. There’s nonetheless a plain horizontal dashboard design, silvery rectangular air vents and a tall and extensive centre console, though the B10’s lozenge-shaped holes on the passenger aspect look to have been stuffed up. The 2-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel can also be carried over.
Identical to the B10, you get an 8.8-inch instrument show and a 14.6-inch floating infotainment touchscreen operating on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor (a extra highly effective 8295 chip is non-compulsory). There’s additionally DeepSeek generative AI help (at the least in China), as much as 12 audio system and a 50-watt Qi wi-fi charger.
Elsewhere, you’ll discover powered, heated and ventilated seats that may fold flat for occupants to lounge round and bask on the 1.05 m2 panoramic glass roof, together with out there Nappa leather-based and mibrofibre upholstery. As is typical for a Chinese language automotive, the 256-colour ambient lighting system has a “rhythmic” function that pulses to the music being performed.
Security-wise, the B05 comes with six airbags on all however the base mannequin (which makes do with 4 airbags) and a bunch of driver assists that embody Degree 2 semi-autonomous driving performance. Prime-spec automobiles achieve a lidar sensor on the roof, offering highly-automated freeway and metropolis driving – the latter coming later by means of an over-the-air software program replace.
Promotional launch pricing for the B05 in China begins from simply 92,800 yuan (RM52,200) for the bottom Plus mannequin, rising as much as 116,800 yuan (RM68,300) for the lengthy vary Max. Notably Leapmotor is sweetening the cope with a lifetime battery and motor guarantee (solely relevant to the primary proprietor) for a restricted time.
May the B05 make its strategy to Malaysia? It’s doable, provided that the B10 is presently open for reserving and will probably be CKD domestically assembled from launch subsequent yr, offering alternatives for economies of scale. Nevertheless, the B05 will very a lot be a distinct segment product in our SUV-crazed market.
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