The Leapmotor Lafa5 Ultra made its debut at the Beijing Auto Show as the Chinese brand’s first performance-focused variant. The model would be sold as the Leapmotor B05 Ultra in international markets, should it be exported.
That said, while the standard B05 is on sale in the UK, the Ultra variant has so far only been confirmed for China.
We recently spent some time with a global-spec B05 Ultra, and struggled to find a reason why it should not come to Britain.
Design
The B05 Ultra retains the overall shape of the standard B05 hatchback but introduces several exterior changes. The Ultra receives an aggressive body kit, a larger rear spoiler and unique 19-inch alloy wheels. It also features matte gunmetal exterior badging and model-specific Ultra emblems.
The B05 Ultra comes in several colours that are exclusive to the variant, including shades of yellow, green and silver.
Interior
The cabin features sports seats, with front occupants receiving heating, ventilation and massage functions. The dashboard incorporates a 14.6-inch 2.5K central touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster.
Compared with the standard B05, the Ultra also includes additional infotainment and driver assistance hardware. The infotainment system gets a more powerful chipset, and the driver assistance functions are supported by a Lidar sensor.
In China, the vehicle is also equipped with Leapmotor Pilot advanced driver assistance technology, including the company’s City Navigation Assisted Pilot system.
Experience in the Leapmotor B05 Ultra
I spent time in the B05 Ultra, and it came across as a pretty well-rounded hatchback for the segment.
Getting into the car was straightforward, and once seated, the front seat offered good back support and decent shoulder support, with thick side bolstering. Headroom felt alright for my six-foot frame, and outward visibility was also good. For a C-segment hatchback, I would say visibility is very good.
The cabin made a positive impression for the expected price point. The materials do not feel cheap, and Leapmotor appears to have made a serious effort to give the B05 Ultra a value-for-money feel. Differentiating the sporty version is the Alcantara finish on the seats, yellow seat belts and upgraded ambient lighting.
With the front seat adjusted for a six-foot driver, I moved to the rear seat. Leapmotor has kept normal door handles, which I appreciate, and getting into the back was not an issue. I was pleasantly surprised by the knee room, and my UK size 11.5 shoes slid under the front seat, which helped foot room. Rear headroom was also decent.
There are some limitations. The rear seat does not recline, and while the floor is flat, three-abreast seating is only really suitable for occasional use.
That said, rear passengers are well served with USB ports, AC vents and a fold-down armrest with a couple of adjustable cupholders. The expansive glass roof brings in a lot of light, and the small rear quarter glass panels help prevent the cabin from feeling confined.
Specifications
Power comes from a rear-mounted electric motor producing 242 bhp (180 kW) and 255 Nm of torque. Leapmotor claims a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 106 mph (170 km/h).
The B05 Ultra also receives model-specific chassis upgrades, including revised dampers, shorter springs and anti-roll bars. Performance-oriented Hankook tyres are fitted as standard. The B05 Ultra is offered with two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery options.
The entry-level version uses a 56.2 kWh battery pack, while higher-spec variants receive a 67.1 kWh unit. Leapmotor quotes a driving range of up to 500 km (311 miles) for the former, and 600 km (373 miles) for the latter, under the CLTC test cycle. WLTP figures have not yet been announced.
The smaller battery goes from 30-80% SoC in about 18 minutes using DC fast charging, while the larger battery takes about 19 minutes for the same.
Pricing
Leapmotor has not announced pricing for the B05 Ultra outside China. If the variant is ever approved for Britain, it should land at £35,000–£40,000, positioning it against models such as the MG4 XPower, Alpine A290 and Abarth 600e.
Trained as an automobile engineer, I’ve been following the global car market since 2005. Over the past 17 years, I’ve been involved in online automotive analysis and publishing, traveling the world to drive, evaluate, and experience new cars and technologies.
