Leapmotor’s Corolla rival could go hybrid

Leapmotor is considering expanding its rear-drive B05 hatchback lineup beyond battery-electric power, with a hybrid or range-extender variant under evaluation for Europe and other global markets.

For now, the B05 is exclusively offered a battery-electric vehicle, but comments from Leapmotor’s European leadership suggest that could soon change.

Leapmotor commercial head for Europe, Danilo Annese, signalled a hybrid derivative has not been ruled out despite initial engineering restrictions.

“Originally, Leap told us that the front space of this car was not enough to welcome an engine. And this was the original comment,” he said.

The challenge stems from the B05’s packaging. Its cell-to-chassis battery integration maximises cabin space but leaves minimal room in the front for an internal-combustion engine.

However, Annese indicated ongoing development work could yet overcome those constraints.

“This is the beauty of research and development in China, that they do not exclude anything prior, so there are talks on that,” he said.

And the hybrid route aligns with Leapmotor’s broader strategy.

In Australia, the Leapmotor C10 and B10 SUVs both launched as EVs before later gaining hybrid variants, reflecting the brand’s willingness to adapt to market demand.

That demand is evolving rapidly in regions such as Europe and especially Australia, where plug-in hybrids and range-extender electric vehicles are attracting buyers not yet ready to fully commit to EVs.

Last month’s national sales figures confirmed plug-in hybrid sales have surged by a whopping 202.3 per cent year-on-year – to now account for 8.7 per cent of the overall market – while regular hybrids edged up 11.3 per cent to 19,024 (17.8% market share).

By comparison, internal combustion sales slumped, with petrol down by 27.1 per cent year-on-year and diesel by 29.8 per cent last month.

However, even as demand for PHEV and range extending EVs – or REEVs – booms, Annese stressed that any decision to build a hybrid B05 hot hatch remains commercially driven.

“Clearly, we need to see the segment [growth], we need to see the demand,” he said.

“But I think we have our space, so we need also to see whether the REEV or PHEV, the way we want to call it, has his own rights or not with Chinese R&D.

“Everything is possible, more or less, but of course there has to be a business case behind it. It’s not for free as you can imagine.”

As global demand continues to shift towards electrified alternatives that blend petrol and battery power, the B05 could follow its SUV siblings in adopting a broader powertrain mix.

Any such move is likely to depend on market demand and engineering feasibility, with further clarity expected as Leapmotor continues to expand its presence in export markets like Europe and Australia.

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