New Citroën e-C4-rivalling electric saloon has not been ruled out for a European launch
Leapmotor, the Chinese EV start-up partnered with Stellantis, has revealed a compact electric saloon aimed at younger buyers – and it has not ruled out a European launch.
Twinned with the Kia Sportage-sized Leapmotor B10 crossover that is due in UK showrooms later this year, the Leapmotor B01 is a five-door fastback of a similar size to the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 Sportback.
It has only been revealed in Chinese guise so far – complete with roof-mounted Lidar sensor – but Leapmotor has pledged to have a six-model line-up in the UK by 2027, so could bring the B01 here to join the T03 supermini, B10 crossover and C10 SUV.
A Leapmotor official told Autocar the company is assessing the viability of small saloon sales in Europe, but noted that demand for such cars has fallen in recent years.
Technical details are yet to be fully revealed, but Leapmotor touts a ‘segment-leading’ range of 404 miles (650km) – though that is according to China’s CLTC test cycle which tends to be more generous than Europe’s WLTP system, so expect that to translate to a figure in the mid-350s.
The battery chemistry and capacity have not yet been confirmed, but the B01 owes its long range, in part, to its sleek fastback silhouette; with a drag coefficient of just 0.197, it is slipperier than even the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.
Speaking at the car’s Shanghai motor show debut, Leapmotor senior vice president said the B01 was designed to respond to “what young consumers really want from a car”.
He said that “for young people who perceive taste”, the current offering of similarly sized and priced alternatives in China – predominantly aimed at ride-hailing services – is currently “not enough”.
“They want good features and quality – they want it all!”
The B01 is set to be priced from the equivalent of roughly £15,000 in China, but if exported to Europe would cost considerably more – likely in the mid-£20,000s, where it would serve as a rival to the likes of the Citroën e-C4, Renault 5 and MG 4.
As standard, it comes with contrasting black trim, sporting-inspired alloy wheel designs, a choice of two interior colours, a 14.6in touchscreen with over-the-air updates, and chrome elements which Leapmotor says are “from suppliers of the same level as Mercedes-Benz”.
Other notable features include a 256-colour ambient lighting system, a hidden 70-litre ‘magic expansion space’ beneath the 460-litre boot, and a tissue box in the back of the centre console – a nod to the importance of rear seat refinement in China.
Confirmation of the B01’s powertrain specifications will be revealed closer to launch, but it has been confirmed to have a single motor on the back axle for rear-wheel drive.
