The Leapmotor Lafa 5 Ultra is the spicy version of the brand’s sleek electric hatchback — and it’s aimed squarely at the hot-hatch establishment. Where the standard Lafa 5 is a value-focused family EV, the Ultra adds a 180 kW (241 hp) rear-mounted motor, a 0–100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds, a 50:50 weight distribution, stiffer anti-roll bars and upgraded dampers — making it Leapmotor’s first proper performance car. It debuted at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show from around ¥123,800 ($18,135), and it’s headed to Europe under its export name, the B05 Ultra, where Leapmotor is openly chasing the Volkswagen Golf GTI. As the walkaround reviewer puts it, comparing it to the BYD Seal 06 GT: “this is way better looking — I like this whole setup.”
What Makes The Ultra Different
The regular Lafa 5 uses rear motors of 132 kW or 160 kW; the Ultra steps up to a 180 kW (241 hp) rear-mounted motor with 255 Nm of torque, dropping the 0–100 km/h sprint to 5.9 seconds. But Leapmotor insists the Ultra is about more than straight-line speed: it gets a 50:50 front-to-rear weight balance, reinforced front and rear anti-roll bars and upgraded dampers over the standard car, plus sportier exterior addenda — the fixed roof spoiler and front splitter visible in the walkaround. Riding on 19-inch wheels with 235/45 R19 tires, it’s pitched as “pure rear-drive fun” — a genuinely rare thing in an affordable EV.
| Architecture | BEV (single rear motor) |
|---|---|
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Motor power | 180 kW (241 hp) |
| Torque | 255 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.9 s |
| Weight balance | 50:50 |
| Platform | LEAP 3.5 |
| BODY TYPE | 5-door compact hatchback, 5-seat |
|---|---|
| DRIVETRAIN | Single rear motor, RWD |
| MOTOR POWER | 180 kW (241 hp) |
| TORQUE | 255 Nm |
| 0–100 KM/H | 5.9 s |
| BATTERY | 56.2 kWh / 67.1 kWh LFP |
| RANGE (CLTC) | ~500 km / up to 600 km |
| PLATFORM | LEAP 3.5 |
| PRICE (CHINA) | ¥123,800–129,800 ($18,135–19,015) |
Dimensions & Space
| Length | 4,430 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,880 mm |
| Height | 1,520 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,735 mm |
| Cargo | 435 L / ~1,400 L folded |
| Wheels | 19-inch, 235/45 R19 |
At 4,430 mm long on a 2,735 mm wheelbase, the Lafa 5 Ultra is a compact five-door hatch in the Golf/Civic mould, but with a sleek, low 1,520 mm roofline. The reviewer found “enough leg space and head space” in the rear with cup holders and air vents, and praised the interior quality — noting Alcantara-style trim in the cabin. Cargo is a practical 435 litres, growing to roughly 1,400 litres with the rear seats folded, accessed through a powered tailgate. It rolls on 19-inch wheels with about 170 mm of ground clearance.
| LENGTH | 4,430 mm (174.4 in) |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,880 mm (74.0 in) |
| HEIGHT | 1,520 mm (59.8 in) |
| WHEELBASE | 2,735 mm (107.7 in) |
| CARGO | 435 L / ~1,400 L folded |
| SEATING | 5 |
How It Compares
Verdict
- Genuine performance hardware: 241 hp RWD, 5.9 s, 50:50 balance
- Sport chassis — stiffer anti-roll bars + upgraded dampers, not just a badge
- Up to 600 km CLTC range despite the performance focus
- Sharp looks; reviewer rates it above the Seal 06 GT
- Snapdragon 8295 cockpit, frameless doors, panoramic roof
- From ~$18,135 — a fraction of a Golf GTI
- 241 hp trails the BYD Seal 06 GT’s 321 hp on paper
- Single rear motor only — no dual-motor AWD range-topper
- CLTC range optimistic vs real-world / WLTP
- 435 L boot is smaller than the standard family-EV rivals
- Reviewer’s walkaround car blurred trim details — confirm exact Ultra kit at order
- Hot-hatch tuning unproven on road vs the established GTI benchmark
The Lafa 5 Ultra is the most interesting thing Leapmotor has built yet, because it isn’t chasing range or price records — it’s chasing fun. A 241 hp rear-drive motor, a 5.9-second 0–100, a 50:50 weight balance and properly upgraded chassis hardware make this a real attempt at an affordable electric hot hatch, not a cosmetic “sport” trim. At roughly $18,135 in China — and headed to Europe as the B05 Ultra to take on the Golf GTI — it massively undercuts the petrol benchmark while offering up to 600 km of range and a modern Snapdragon cockpit. It gives away power to the 321 hp BYD Seal 06 GT, and the hot-hatch handling promise still needs proving on a real road. But as a statement of intent, the Lafa 5 Ultra signals that China’s EV makers are now coming for the enthusiast segment too — and doing it at a price that should make Wolfsburg nervous.
