The domestic sales of the all-electric Leapmotor A05 have already begun, with prices starting as low as 63,900 Yuan ($9,476). Europe is slated to get the same car later and under a different name: Leapmotor B03.
From the technical perspective, the A05 shares most of its underlying tech with its larger cousin, the A10 SUV. It rides on a platform known as the Leap 3.5, designed specifically for cheap electric vehicles, and features McPherson struts at the front end. The rear end makes use of semi-dependent torsion beam suspension. The whole thing is sized 4,200 x 1,800 x 1,560 millimeters (165.4 x 70.9 x 61.4 inches) large with 2,605 mm (102.6 inches) of wheelbase and either 16-inch or 17-inch wheels.
The interior comes draped in soft textile and offers Leapmotor’s usual amenities, including the company’s signature “33 storage pockets and niches”. If that’s not enough, it offers up to 474 liters (16.74 cubic feet) of trunk space with the rear seats raised and 1,308 liters (46.19 cubic feet) with the seat backs folded down.
An 8.8-inch digital dashboard and a 14.6-inch infotainment system display are included in the base trim. The audio system comes with only six speakers by default, but you can pay extra for a 12-speaker setup. The top trim unlocks access to all kinds of ADAS features, including a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system.
The cheaper of the two available electric motors sends 95 PS (94 hp / 70 kW) and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels. It needs full 10 seconds to go from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) and cannot exceed 160 km/h (99 mph). Once fully charged, its CLTC driving range amounts to 405 kilometers (251 miles).
The pricier option bumps up the output to 122 PS (120 hp / 90 kW) while keeping the torque unchanged. This one is even slower off the line with a 10.6-second sprint, but does 510 kilometers (317 miles) per charge thanks to a larger battery pack.