MG4 XPOWER 'undriveable' says rival Chinese brand

Leapmotor has taken a rare public swipe at a direct rival, with the MG4 XPOWER labelled “undriveable” by one of the Chinese brand’s senior executives. It comes as Leapmotor launches its rear-drive B05 hatchback and prepares a special Euro-tuned B05 Ultra hot hatch to challenge established hotties like the benchmark VW Golf GTI.

Car brands rarely take direct aim at each other in public.

Which made Leapmotor’s assessment of the MG4 XPOWER stand out.

"We are looking for a good compromise between power and control," said Alexis Cieslewicz, Leapmotor's product marketing boss, explaining the thinking behind the upcoming B05 Ultra hot hatch.

"Because we do not want to have something like the MG4 [XPOWER], which has 470 horsepower, but it's undriveable."

The damning criticism of MG’s hot hatch suggests the B05 Ultra will be a more engaging hot hatch to drive. Time will tell.

Indeed, the MG4 XPOWER, a 320kW, 3.8 second dual-motor bruiser, has attracted some criticism for its aggressive power delivery, particularly in conditions where control and poise are prioritised over straight line performance.

The standard B05 is already positioned as a well-equipped compact hatch, producing 160kW/240Nm, with a 0-100km/h claim of 6.7 seconds.

Expected to be priced around $35,000 when it arrives in Australia from around September, and offering between 400-480km of driving range depending on battery size, the rear-wheel-drive layout already sets it apart from many rivals in the segment.

The Ultra variant, however, is set to go further.

While the Chinese-market version adds a modest increase to 180kW/255Nm, Leapmotor says the European version will be more than just a cosmetic upgrade.

"It's not the Chinese car," said Danilo Annese, Leapmotor's commercial head for the Europe region.

"[The Chinese version is] … just a body kit, and we want to do it a little bit better than that.

“When I look to the power – it could be more.

“So we are discussing that this is not that car, it's not the Chinese car. It's [just] a body kit, and we want to do it a little bit better than that.

“But you know, sky's the limit. And let's see what we can do.”

Based on current expectations, outputs in the region of 200kW and 350Nm are possible, which would put the B05 Ultra’s performance in line with traditional hot hatch benchmarks such as the Golf GTI, with an estimated 0-100km/h time of well under 6.0 seconds.

The Leapmotor exec also moved to clarify that the Ultra badge will not become a broader performance sub-brand across its range.

"For the moment, no. I think it's a version of B05 [only],” he said.

Leapmotor has indicated that development is progressing quickly, with a potential mid-2027 arrival under consideration if timelines hold.

"Normally the guys are fast," noted Annese of Leapmotor's development team.

"So, I expect if things are going well, that will be mid next year."

If delivered with competitive pricing, rear-wheel-drive dynamics and improved control compared to rivals, the B05 Ultra could emerge as a credible alternative to established hot hatches.

Particularly if it avoids the “undriveable” criticism levelled at the MG4 XPOWER.

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