Leapmotor’s rival for the Volkswagen ID 3 has surfaced ahead of its official unveiling later this year.
Named the A05, the electric hatchback will form a key part in the Chinese brand’s ambitious plans to cement itself as a mainstream player in Europe.
It measures 4.2m long, 1.8m wide and 1.6m tall, thrusting it into competition with cars such as the Cupra Born, Renault Megane and MG 4 EV.
Images published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show it bears a strong resemblance to the B03X crossover that Leapmotor revealed last year, with squinting headlights up front and a blocky rear end.
The MIIT filing also reveals the A05 will be powered by a single front-mounted motor with either 94bhp or 121bhp. There will be a choice of two lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, although their capacities have yet to be disclosed.
Given Leapmotor’s models have thus far undercut their European competitors, pricing for the A05 is expected to start at around £25,000 when it arrives in the UK later this year.
Speaking to Autocar in January, Leapmotor UK MD Damien Dally suggested that the rapid expansion of the brand’s line-up will be key in securing its position against long-established rivals.
“Versus 2025, we will go from about a third of the market covered to almost 90% of the market covered,” he said – although he admitted that “when you get bigger, life gets more complicated”.
Dally said that maintaining Leapmotor's approach of offering one trim level for each of its cars would be “key” in helping customers to understand its range and offering “no compromise” in kit.
“We’re almost positioning Leapmotor as the ultimate non-materialistic brand," he explained. "I’m saying to you 'spend less on your car, spend more on life, spend more time with your family'.
"We give a product that is specified to the nines at a [great] price. There’s no compromise. The only compromise is you’re gonna have to get your head around a new badge on the front – which is backed by [Stellantis], the world’s fourth-largest vehicle maker.”
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ID.3 is a very good car in drab clothing and is worth paying a premium for over an MG4. This car looks to be a lower cost car trying to take market from the lower end of segment but it will be competing with EV2, Epiq and ID.Polo/Cross which are all more desirable.
Actually ID3 is the definition of EV mediocrity and WAAAAAY off the EV pace. It's competing with the cheap Chinese like this and MG.
Your comments are 5 years out of date. The latest ID.3 is an excellent car and the new new ID.3 Neo develops further on this.
Do you work for VAG IN A gaslighting online capacity or something? It's really below average, mediocre at best, didn't even make our shortlist for our first EV family car. You have no idea how good the Neo will be and, even if they somehow manage to drag it up to 2026 class average, the Chinese will already be the 2027 EV standard by then and working on 2028. It's a sad little pod.
I can honestly say that is the saddest dullest car I've ever seen, if ever there was a better reason to choose public transport this is it.
Also Autocar please update your comments section or get whover Auto Ecpress use for theres. It is so much easier to use and you can even edit if you make a mistake. None of this stupid rich text shit that does not allow you to post. I mean WTF is that even about.
Between this and the ad videos that constantly block your view and can't be closed ( at least on mobile ) it's almost as if they don't want people to use their website. It really is user-unfriendly and unpleasant.