The electric hot hatch brings aggressive styling, a power bump and uprated suspension to take on the likes of MG4 XPower.
Electric Cars
A hot hatch version of the Leapmotor B05 electric hatchback has been confirmed for Australia.
The Chinese brand’s global head of marketing and sales, Francesco Giacolone, told assembled media, including Drive, at the launch of the B10 EV that the B05 Ultra would join its tamer B05 sibling in Australian dealerships in late 2026 or early 2027.
“We have already announced the Ultra version of B05 which will be B05 on steroids,” he said. “[It] will be more vitamin, more muscle, more horsepower, more braking capability, stiffer suspension. And that will be even more pleasure to drive.”
The B05 Ultra, known in China as the Lafa 5 Ultra, will be a rival to electric hot hatches like the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX and MG4 XPower, although final technical specifications are still to be revealed.
An aggressive styling package brings a pronounced front splitter, enhanced side skirts, and a large spoiler on the tailgate.
The regular Leapmotor B05, a Toyota Corolla-sized hatchback, has already been confirmed for Australia, due in local dealerships in mid-2026 with Giacolone confirming the performance-focused B05 Ultra would follow six to eight months later.
Final specifications are still to be confirmed. However, the B05 utilises the same LEAP 3.5 chassis and underpinnings as the B10 small SUV.
That makes it likely the sleek hatchback will be offered with the same powertrain options as its SUV stablemate, which is fitted with a 160kW electric motor driving the rear wheels and a choice of either a 56.2kWh or 67.1kWh battery with estimated WLTP driving ranges of 361km or 434km respectively.
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Rob Margeit is an award-winning Australian motoring journalist and editor who has been writing about cars and motorsport for over 25 years. A former editor of Australian Auto Action, Rob’s work has also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Wheels, Motor Magazine, Street Machine and Top Gear Australia. Rob’s current rides include a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a 2000 Honda HR-V Sport.
