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Leapmotor, the Chinese EV start-up partnered with Stellantis, has revealed a compact electric saloon aimed at younger buyers - and it has not ruled out a European launch.

Twinned with the Kia Sportage-sized Leapmotor B10 crossover that is due in UK showrooms later this year, the Leapmotor B01 is a five-door fastback of a similar size to the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 Sportback.

It has only been revealed in Chinese guise so far – complete with roof-mounted Lidar sensor – but Leapmotor has pledged to have a six-model line-up in the UK by 2027, so could bring the B01 here to join the T03 supermini, B10 crossover and C10 SUV.

A Leapmotor official told Autocar the company is assessing the viability of small saloon sales in Europe, but noted that demand for such cars has fallen in recent years. 

Technical details are yet to be fully revealed, but Leapmotor touts a ‘segment-leading’ range of 404 miles (650km) - though that is according to China’s CLTC test cycle which tends to be more generous than Europe’s WLTP system, so expect that to translate to a figure in the mid-350s.

The battery chemistry and capacity have not yet been confirmed, but the B01 owes its long range, in part, to its sleek fastback silhouette; with a drag coefficient of just 0.197, it is slipperier than even the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.

Speaking at the car’s Shanghai motor show debut, Leapmotor senior vice president said the B01 was designed to respond to “what young consumers really want from a car”.

He said that “for young people who perceive taste”, the current offering of similarly sized and priced alternatives in China – predominantly aimed at ride-hailing services – is currently “not enough”. 

“They want good features and quality - they want it all!”

The B01 is set to be priced from the equivalent of roughly £15,000 in China, but if exported to Europe would cost considerably more - likely in the mid-£20,000s, where it would serve as a rival to the likes of the Citroën e-C4, Renault 5 and MG 4. 

As standard, it comes with contrasting black trim, sporting-inspired alloy wheel designs, a choice of two interior colours, a 14.6in touchscreen with over-the-air updates, and chrome elements which Leapmotor says are “from suppliers of the same level as Mercedes-Benz”. 

Other notable features include a 256-colour ambient lighting system, a hidden 70-litre ‘magic expansion space’ beneath the 460-litre boot, and a tissue box in the back of the centre console - a nod to the importance of rear seat refinement in China.

Confirmation of the B01’s powertrain specifications will be revealed closer to launch, but it has been confirmed to have a single motor on the back axle for rear-wheel drive.

MG has revealed the Cyber X as a boxy, high-riding electric SUV at the Shanghai motor show.

It is the the second model in the brand's Cyber line-up, established last year by the Cyberster roadster, marked out by a more upright, boxy and rugged silhouette than its SUV range-mates and positioned more towards lifestyle-minded buyers.

It also features illuminated badges and full-width LED light bars front and rear. Rivals are expected to include the new Smart #5.

MG's Cyber sub-brand has been created to target younger buyers and is initially aimed at China. But MG has previously confirmed global ambitions for its Cyber-branded models. The Cyberster, for example, is on sale in the UK.

In addition to the CyberX, MG plans to launch eight new models over the next two years across three product lines: sports cars, saloons and SUVs. 

The CyberX will be underpinned by parent company SAIC’s latest E3 electric platform and will be among the first MG models to adopt this new architecture.

It is described by SAIC as its “first fully electric, system-level architecture”. It is designed to support a wide range of models – from compact cars to large SUVs and sports cars – and has the flexibility to accommodate “various drivetrain configurations”.

At the heart of the structure is SAIC’s new CTB (cell-to-body) construction, where the battery structure contributes to the rigidity of the car's body, helping to reduce weight and improve efficiency.

MG says the new SUV will also be among the first models to receive its new Zebra 3.0 operating system and digital user interface. It is designed to offer more contemporary voice recognition and connectivity features than existing MG systems.  

New MG models based on the E3 platform will also use Horizon Robotics' J6 chip, which is expected to support new developments in driver monitoring, navigation and semi-autonomous functions.

Together, these systems will underpin the CyberX’s technical package, although full drivetrain specifications and battery specifications have yet to be revealed.

The Lexus ES is returning to battle the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 for an eighth generation, with a bold new look and an electric option for the first time.

The new version of Lexus's executive saloon was revealed at the Shanghai motor show in China, where it's the number one imported vehicle, ahead of a UK launch next spring.

It will be the Japanese premium brand's only saloon on sale here, following the axing of the larger LS flagship earlier this year.

Lexus said this new generation of ES makes advances in "ride quality, comfort and quietness" over its predecessor and has been designed to offer "first-class comfort for everyone on board".

The minimalist cockpit marks a complete departure from the previous car and has clearly been designed with heavy influence from the Chinese market: physical controls are few and far between and a large 12.3in touchscreen takes centre stage as the primary control interface.

The new ES is based on the same GA-K platform as the NX SUV, but Lexus claims to have increased rigidity throughout the chassis to boost refinement and responsiveness, resulting in an "agile, responsive feel that belies its size" - which is also increased over the previous car, by 165mm in length, to take the ES to 5.14m overall.

The hybrid ES 300h that's coming to the UK uses a familiar 'self-charging' petrol-electric arrangement that produces either 200bhp or 245bhp and can drive either the front or both axles.

The new electric ES, meanwhile, can be had in front-driven ES 350e form with 222bhp or dual-motor, four-wheel-drive ES 550e form with 338bhp. 

Lexus hasn't yet detailed battery capacities or ranges, but no doubt the electric ES will target a maximum of more than 350 miles per charge to keep pace with its German rivals.