Leapmotor aims for compact EV class with new B03

Leapmotor will look to take on the likes of the Renault 5 and Cupra Raval with a new compact electric car – the B03.

Unveiled in Leapmotor’s native China – and badged as A05 for that market – the new B03 follows on from the recently introduced B05, which rivals cars like the Volkswagen Golf in the standard hatchback segment.

The new B03, however, is an altogether more compact vehicle, measuring in at just over 4.1m long and 1.7m wide, making it ever-so-slightly larger than Renault’s 5. However, Leapmotor has said that despite the car’s compact dimensions, it’ll still deliver a spacious cabin.

No photos of the interior have been released, though it’s likely to feature a large central infotainment screen and an uncluttered button-free design like other Leapmotor vehicles. The brand has also said that the B03 will offer a ‘next-generation AI-powered digital experience’, suggesting that artificial intelligence could be used to control certain elements of the car.

The brand also says that the B03 will return a range of up to 316 miles, which would make it one of the longest in the segment. That puts it ahead of the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Polo, too, which rivals the B03 but has a lower claimed range of 281 miles.

On the outside, the B03 gets the same rounded design as the rest of Leapmotor’s line-up, with a rounded front and rear section to help boost aerodynamic efficiency. The B03 also gets a ‘floating’ roof design similar to that of the larger B05.

There’s no confirmation on when the B03 will arrive in the UK, though it’s likely to be towards the back end of this year.