China's Leapmotor will unveil the B05, a compact electric rival to the VW Golf/ID.3, at the Munich IAA. It promises a smart platform, Excellence within reach, and a price that could make the competition's pulse drop.
Leapmotor B05 is confirmed for its premiere at the Munich Motor Show and aims straight into the hottest EV class – electric hatchbacks, where today’s Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born and MG4It is a “compact relative” of this year’s Chinese sedan B01, with which it shares the technological foundation and philosophy of accessible excellence.
New architecture, ambitious reach
B05 together with SUVs C10 uses the latest modular platform LEAP 3.5On this basis, Leapmotor expecting declared range 650 km (404 miles) – a number that would put the B05 at the top of its class. If that sounds bold to you, know that similar models on this architecture also claim the same range. That’s working hypothesis to premiere, but is supported by the B series reveal so far.
Design and cabin: light strips and large screen
According to initial announcements, B05 will take on the family features: perimeter light strips, sports wheels and an aerodynamically “clean” body. In the cabin, you can expect 14.6-inch (37.1 cm) infotainment screen and emphasis on quality materials – this is a constant with the C10 and Leapmotor is expanding it across the range. Translated: few buttons, lots of glass.
“Excellence within reach.”
This is not just a slogan; it is a whole pricing and product strategy brands.
On the official website, Leapmotor reiterates its promise of “excellence within reach” as its core DNA. The B05 is said to offer “a lot of car for the money” and technology that is often an extra cost in Europe.
Price: under the threshold of 25,000 euros?
There is no official number for the B05 yet, but the same sources confirming the premiere and platform, they expect to start under £30,000 / 25,000 eurosIf Leapmotor hits this target, it will be a very direct attack on ID.3 and MG4 – cars that have become popular precisely because of their pricing logic. Of course, this is still a prediction, but it is consistent with the brand's philosophy and current price lists.
Family: B01, B10, A10, A05
The B05 doesn't come alone. Sedan B01 has already been revealed and is shooting for volume in the domestic market with sharp prices and a range of up to 650 km. B10 – the global crossover – made its global debut in Paris, and this year it is sinking even deeper into European waters. It will soon sit under the B10 A10 (entry crossover), from which they derived a low A05 hatchback – this one should be even under £20,000 / 17,000 eurosA nice tool for blitzkrieg and conquering the EU market.
Where is Leapmotor in Europe today?
The brand is already selling in Europe T03 (city egg) and C10 (mid-size SUV), and distribution is supported by Stellantis – which means network, logistics and less “start-up” hassles at the service. The B05 will therefore be integrated into the already established sales chain.
Technique: what we know and what else are we guessing?
- Platform: LEAP 3.5 (modular, common with B10 and C10). Known.
- Range: 650 km (404 mi) – Leapmotor is targeting this on several B-series models. Expected for B05, confirmed for relatives.
- Infotainment: 14,6″ screen – expected for B05, confirmed for C10 (and very likely an identical solution).
One (very useful) question: will it also REx?
Leapmotor just launched in Europe C10 REEV (range‑extender), which combines 28.4 kWh battery and 1.5-liter gasoline generator. Total range: >970 km (≈603 mi) according to WLTP. The pimples of EV life (so-called “range anxiety”) are therefore much less itchy. In the B-series, management officially says that the market response to the technology will determine whether it is expanded – so it is B05 REx possible, but not confirmed.
UX: big screen = big responsibility
If the B05 captures the C10's entire multimedia package, expect 14,6″ central display and 10.25″ instruments, OTA updates and a comprehensive package of assistance systems. In practice, European tests of the C10 praised responsiveness and resolution, but criticized the absence Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the amount of features behind the screen. If Leapmotor is listening (and in Europe they say that they listen), B05 will benefit from this lesson.
What else can we expect from Munich (and what will we be allergic to)?
Hard numbers. Battery capacity (kWh), charging power (kW DC/AC), power and torque (kW/hp & Nm/lb‑ft), 0–100 km/h, final speed (mph), weight and prices across EU/UK markets. If the numbers are as aggressive as the strategy, VW in Wolfsburg will be whispering for a week. If not, the B05 will be “just” another well-packaged EV. Both are interesting.
Conclusion: Leapmotor B05
B05 smells like a car that could hit sweet spot: class size, 650 km (404 mi) targeted reach, a large dose of technology and expected entry below 25,000 euros. Over everything hangs the Stellantis network – this is important because young A brand without service and inventory becomes just another PowerPoint fail. On the other hand, Leapmotor still teaches European taste: CarPlay/Android Auto, menu logic, fine-tuning of assistants – these are the details that make the difference in real life. If the right lessons are brought to Munich from Paris (B10), Shanghai (B01) and the European tests (C10), it may well happen that B05 the car that will force the ID.3 to homework, or even a make-up exam. Until then: numbers (and real WLTP/consumption) will be the judge.
Excellence within reach is a nice motto, but in Europe reach measured in kilometers, kilowatts and final digits on the bill.
