Leapmotor South Africa has confirmed the arrival of a third model via a series of teaser images on its website, following the local market launch of the B10.

Expected to debut in 2026 or 2027, The Citizen reports the B05 could become the Stellantis-backed brand’s first electric vehicle (EV) locally, as both its other models, the C10 and B10, feature range-extending electric powertrains.

First electric vehicle from brand

Revealed in 2025 in China as the most sporting Leapmotor model under the Lafa 5 moniker, the B05 shares the Leap 3.5 platform with its siblings. However, it features a sportier hatchback body style, despite being referred to in China as a sport sedan.

Dimensions

Built at Leapmotor’s Jinhua plant, and soon at the Zaragosa factory in Spain for Europe, the teaser image on the Leapmotor South Africa website states only that the B05 features rear-wheel drive, a 50/50 weight distribution, and the promise of delivering ‘thrilling control and confidence at every curve’.

Dimensionally, the B05 measures:

• Length: 4 490mm
• Wheelbase: 2 735mm
• Height: 1 510mm
• Width: 1 880mm

With its dynamics tuned at Alfa Romeo’s Balocco proving grounds, according to Stellantis, the B05 offers 345 litres of luggage space, which expands to 1 000 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Power and performance

Using MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link suspension setup at the rear, which incorporates the electric motor, power for the B05 comes from two battery pack options with different sized cells.

In its most basic 515 Plus form, the B05 has a 56.2kWh battery that powers a 132kW/175Nm electric motor.

The result is a top speed of 160km/h, zero to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and a range, as its name points out, of 515km based on China’s CLTC cycle.

Equipped with the same battery, the step-up 515 Pro and Max versions output 160kW/240Nm, which results in a top speed of 170km/h and zero to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds. The claimed CLTC range is unchanged at 515km.

Upping the ante are the 605 Pro and Max derivatives, which use a 67.1kWh battery pack.

While outputs are identical to those of the 515 Pro and Max, the 605 will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds, before hitting the same 170km/h top speed. As per its name, it has a claimed range of 605km based on the CLTC cycle.

In both instances, the battery pack supports DC charging up to 174kW, requiring a waiting time of between 18 and 19 minutes from 30% to 80%.

Using the on-board 11kW AC charger increases the wait to four hours two minutes and five hours six minutes respectively.

Performance flagship variants

Introduced in April at the Beijing Motor Show, the B05 range is completed by the performance Ultra variants, claimed to be China’s first fully electric hot hatch.

Offered in two variants, both develop 180kW/255Nm, but with the 56.2kWh battery for the 500 Ultra and the 67.1kWh unit for the Ultra 600.

While both reach 170km/h, the 500 will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and the 600 in 6.2 seconds. As per their names, the former has a range of 500km and the latter 600km based on the CLTC format.

Slightly lower to the ground than the standard B05 variants, the Ultra pair requires an 18-minute and 19-minute wait respectively using a DC charger, and between nine hours seven minutes and 10 hours three minutes in combination with the on-board 11kW AC charger.

Local pricing positioning

Priced in China from 90 800 yuan for the 515 Plus to 124 800 yuan for the 600 Ultra, which amounts to R215 136 and R295 694 when directly converted without taxes, the B05 could fill the position between the flagship B10 priced at R549 900 and the entry-level C10 stickered at R774 900.

Official specifications and pricing will only be announced once a local launch date is confirmed.

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