New VW ID.3-Rivalling Leapmotor Lafa 5 EV Hatch Teased

Stellantis-backed Leapmotor have just teased this upcoming new EV hatch offering called the Lafa 5.

Here’s yet another teaser from a Chinese-run electric vehicle (EV) brand with strong European links. This time, it’s the turn of Stellantis-backed Leapmotor brand, and the Hangzhou-rooted EV maker released these teasers for an upcoming new EV hatch.

Called the Leapmotor Lafa 5, the Chinese EV maker’s new metal teased is set to enter Europe’s burgeoning compact EV hatch marketspace, more so given its reported debut planned for the upcoming IAA Mobility Show in Munich next week (Sept 9).

In other words, this Chinese fighter is poised to take the fight up directly against the Volkswagen ID.3. Surely, from what we can see in these teasers, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is certainly holding high promise.

Clearly, the Lafa 5 sees Leapmotor put the Volkswagen ID. 3 into its crosshairs, and it aims to woo buyers from Europe's burgeoning compact EV hatch segment.

Known prior by its ‘B05’ codename, the Lafa 5 reportedly underpins the LEAP 3.5 modular architecture that it shares with the marque’s also-new B10 crossover. It also dons distinguishing design language and touches that Leapmotor is renowned for.

Highlights of the latter include curved LED headlights, retractable door handles, a sporty roof spoiler, and a single taillight unit spanning the hatch’s entire tailgate width. Other key touches include blacked-out side mirrors plus sculpted fenders.

Notably, a closer look of the teaser images also reveals the presence of a LiDAR sensor on the roof. Clearly, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is also set to bring this rather ‘uncommon’ yet sophisticated tech into the small, accessibly-priced EV segment.

More details are expected once the Leapmotor Lafa 5 fully - and properly - debuts at next week's IAA Mobility Show 2025 in Munich.

As this is a teaser still, there are no dimension figures provided. However, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is widely expected to feature a similar footprint as the rivalling VW mentioned, which sits 4,262 MM long, 1,809 MM wide and 1,552 MM tall.

What’s interesting here too is the fact that the Lafa 5 is the first Leapmotor offering that does NOT adopt a two-character naming scheme as it’s the marque’s other offering. This likely marks the automaker’s goal of accelerating overseas sales with this EV hatch.

Expect more details once the Leapmotor Lafa 9 properly – and fully – debuts next week in Munich.