Leapmotor is going old school with a future-proofed edge with its B05, which aims to sell as a hot hatch for battery fans.

ABSENCE of the super-sizzling Ultra edition shouldn’t inhibit a performance-themed electric hatch out of China from striking it hot.

This view is expressed by the distributor for the Leapmotor B05, a star of the Armstrong Group’s stand at Fieldays, where a number of products from its Auto Distribution Holdings cluster represented.

Rear-wheel drive and fully electric, and only slightly bigger than larger than popular small hatchbacks like the VW Golf and Toyota Corolla, this five-door will avail in entry-level Life with a 56.2kWh battery, for $43,990, and in a Design specification shown here, with a 67.1kWh pack and a $47,990 sticker.

The latter’s technical specification has been shared now, Life has still to be fully described. There’s time for that because this was a sneak preview. The car doesn’t go on sale until August. Orders are being accepted now.

The Design comes with a rear-mounted motor producing 160kW and 240Nm, driving through a single-speed transmission, with 480 kilometres’ WLTP range.

It is pitching as a mains-fed hot hatch, the first in the market since the now discontinued Cupra Born.

ADH boss Simon Rutherford (below) says the 50:50 weight distribution, the rear-mounted motor and multi-link rear suspension are the basis for engaging handling and responsive steering.

Measuring 4430mm long and 1880mm wide, and sitting on a 2735mm wheelbase, it also has something of a sporty stance and ambience, with frameless doors and 19-inch alloy wheels. The demonstration car’s yellow is the hero hue.

Expectation is that the Design will especially court interest from performance hatch addicts seeking an electric buzz, but Rutherford admitted in his presentation it was a pity the ultimate Ultra edition wasn’t yet available for sale outside of China, where it represents as the Lafa 5 Ultra.

There’s chance the Ultra might yet come, perhaps in 2027, as export to Europe and the United Kingdom are being discussed and Australia is also down to take B05.

The Ultra gets an upgraded motor that sends 180kW and 320Nm to its rear wheels. Still not huge, but enough for a respectable 0-100kmh time of 5.9 seconds, which makes it just as quick off the line as a Volkswagen Golf GTi.

Said Rutherford: “We'd all like it, would love it but it’s not currently in the plan for the overseas markets. But given time, hopefully we'll get there.”

Even without Ultra, B05 deserves being noticed, Rutherford contends.

“I'm really excited about being able to bring a product here that is different in today's market.

“It's a hot hatch. It's a performance car. It's something that we haven't had for a while that a lot of us would have grown up with and are now thinking, ‘where's today's version of that’?

“It's really exciting because it's built around driving dynamics. It's built around youth and fun and driving enjoyment.”

The B05’s drivetrains also share with the B10, a sister model on Leapmotor's new 'LEAP 3.5' platform, but in sports utility format. It is also being shown at the nation’s largest agricultural event.

B10 (below) is provisioning in $44,990 Life and $49,990 Design fully electric trims and will also deliver as a range extender, from $39,990.

On both B05 and B10 Design DC fast charging at up to 168kW allows a 30 to 80 percent top-up in 20 minutes. An 11kW on-board charger handles AC charging.

Standard equipment for a B05 Design spans a fixed panoramic glass roof with electric sunshade, synthetic leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustment for both driver and passenger. It takes a 14.6-inch central display with satellite navigation, can achieve over-the-air updates and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The driver faces a 8.8-inch driver instrument display, with a 12-speaker surround audio system. Keyless entry is via NFC key or the Leapmotor app, while wireless phone charging and a 360-degree camera with rear parking sensors round out the convenience kit.

Driver assistance includes adaptive cruise control with intelligent speed assist, lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring, plus LED auto headlights with high beam assist.

Leapmotor represents through nine dealerships - Hamilton, Tauranga, Taupo, Wellington and Christchurch plus four Auckland outlets - but Rutherford hopes to add three more soon, noting that not having enough national presence has been an inhibitor to growth.

In addition to Leapmotor, ADH also has Smart, BAIC, Dongfeng and Peugeot here, and will soon add JMC; all but the French make are relatively recent acquisitions - Dongfeng sorted late last year, BAIC landed just three months back. It has also just relinquished sale of Opel cars, but will remain a service and parts agent.

Rutherford says the operation is only at the beginning of growth, but “we've seen very positive signs and … what I can assure you is that we're going to flesh out the portfolios in all cases and we're just really at the beginning of that process.”

ADH was not a big player in the overall scheme right now, “but we do have some very encouraging signs.”

Yet to date May sales reaching 1276 units, represented 201 percent growth year-on-year and “we're very confident that we're going to be able to grow that with new brands, new sub-brands and new models within the brands.

“The trick for us will be to only pick the things that we believe really resonate. Don't go for the whole smorgasbord. There's no point. Pick what we believe in, do our research and get it right.”