Hot-hatch version of Leapmotor BO5 for 2026.
Dual-motor 436kW C10 SUV launched in Europe.
‘Desert ready’ 4×4 also in the product plan.
Leapmotor made its global debut just a year ago, as a maker of comfort-oriented family cars. The Chinese startup, which operates in partnership with Stellantis (varied brands from Peugeot to Jeep to Maserati) for its export efforts, arrived in multiple markets in 2024 with the C10 large EV-SUV, and has just launched the smaller B10.
New BO5 hatch (right) is based on the platform of the B10 SUV (left).
But already, Leapmotor has its eye on expansion into seriously high-performance models, from super-fast SUVs to an electric hot-hatch.
The first leap forward has come already with the C10 AWD, which is making its official debut at the Zurich Motor Show this month, but has quietly been on sale in Germany already.
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Or not so quietly, says Leapmotor International head of brand strategy Francesco Giacalone, who spoke to media at the B10 launch event in France this month: “Germany went crazy as soon as it saw a car with 0-100km/h acceleration of 4 seconds and AWD, in such a family space.”
Strap in the kids: C10 AWD boasts 436kW and 0-100km/h in 4sec.
The C10 AWD boasts 436kW and uses Leapmotor’s 800-volt charging technology, with a specially designed LFP battery that can be boosted from 20-80% in a claimed 22 minutes. It will be more widely available across the world including right-hand drive markets, although nothing’s confirmed.
But Leapmotor’s most authentic and significant entry into performance motoring will come with an Ultra version of the BO5 hatchback.
Mum’s still the word on BO5 Ultra spec, but it looks promising. And looks cool.
Based on the platform of the B10 SUV, the standard BO5 was revealed in August, and is expected to be available globally from mid-2026.
Leapmotor has teased the BO5 Ultra already, with a Chinese-market show car called the Lafa 5 Ultra. It’s claimed to be a thoroughly performance-focused redevelopent of the BO5, wearing a special aerodynamic exterior package.
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Francesco Giacalone: Germans ‘went crazy’ for fast C10.
Powertrain and chassis specifications are still under wraps, but if it doubles the B10’s electric motor count it could easily produce 320kW-plus. It’s a no-brainer that the chassis will benefit from work by the Stellantis team in Europe.
“[The BO5] has the same platform as B10, but you will have different tuning and a more sporty feeling,” says Giacalone. “The Ultra version will be BO5 on steroids: more vitamin, more muscles, more power, more braking, stiffer suspension.”
No plans to make B10 faster, even though it would be so easy.
The BO5 Ultra is expected to go on sale in China before the end of this year, but there will likely be a wait in export markets until the standard BO5 is established. Think late-2026, or even early-2027.
Despite the shared platform, don’t get too excited about a super-fast B10 AWD though: “So far, we consider that the way the car has been engineered, weight distribution of 50/50, well-balanced… maybe that’s not a great solution for the target customer.”
So this is your full-size: Leapmotor D19.
But the idea of “performance” will also potentially expand into the hard-core 4×4 sphere. Leapmotor has just unveiled the D19, a massive SUV that Giacalone says is fully intended to rival the top versions of the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol.
“It’s on the 3.5 [platform] with very advanced hybrid technology – the range extender further evolved. Little information has been revealed, but I think you will be surprised. The intention is to have a full-size SUV, 4WD, desert-ready.”
Due respect is given to the established players, says Giacalone, and the company knows it will have to prove its worth against such 4×4 icons: “There are a lot of Chinese players that have already entered that market. Before trying to attack the historically present brands, we need to demonstrate that we are ready to compete with the key Chinese players.Â
“Then, the consumers will judge whether we are ready to be an alternative to those crazy champions.”