Leapmotor’s rival for the Volkswagen ID 3 has surfaced ahead of its official unveiling later this year.

Named the A05, the electric hatchback will form a key part in the Chinese brand’s ambitious plans to cement itself as a mainstream player in Europe.

It measures 4.2m long, 1.8m wide and 1.6m tall, thrusting it into competition with cars such as the Cupra Born, Renault Megane and MG 4 EV. 

Images published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show it bears a strong resemblance to the B03X crossover that Leapmotor revealed last year, with squinting headlights up front and a blocky rear end.

The MIIT filing also reveals the A05 will be powered by a single front-mounted motor with either 94bhp or 121bhp. There will be a choice of two lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, although their capacities have yet to be disclosed. 

Given Leapmotor’s models have thus far undercut their European competitors, pricing for the A05 is expected to start at around £25,000 when it arrives in the UK later this year.

Speaking to Autocar in January, Leapmotor UK MD Damien Dally suggested that the rapid expansion of the brand’s line-up will be key in securing its position against long-established rivals.

“Versus 2025, we will go from about a third of the market covered to almost 90% of the market covered,” he said – although he admitted that “when you get bigger, life gets more complicated”.

Dally said that maintaining Leapmotor's approach of offering one trim level for each of its cars would be “key” in helping customers to understand its range and offering “no compromise” in kit.

“We’re almost positioning Leapmotor as the ultimate non-materialistic brand," he explained. "I’m saying to you 'spend less on your car, spend more on life, spend more time with your family'. 

"We give a product that is specified to the nines at a [great] price. There’s no compromise. The only compromise is you’re gonna have to get your head around a new badge on the front – which is backed by [Stellantis], the world’s fourth-largest vehicle maker.”