Chinese language startup Leapmotor is finest recognized for cut-price small and mid-size fashions together with the C10 medium SUV it launched right here with final 12 months, but it surely’s planning to launch bigger and extra premium fashions.
It has launched handful of teaser pictures of its upcoming flagship SUV, which is about to put on both the D16 or D19 nameplate when it’s launched within the Chinese language market throughout 2026.
Leapmotor’s new range-topper is predicted to supply three rows of seating, and can seemingly be supplied as both an electrical automobile (EV) or an extended-range electrical automobile (EREV) – the model has by no means supplied some other powertrain sort because it began producing its first automobiles in 2019.
The brand new SUV will probably be one in all two or three fashions in Leapmotor’s D collection of automobiles, with one other set to be a folks mover. These would be the model’s largest fashions, logically slotting in above A-, B- and C-series automobiles.
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In accordance with Chinese language outlet Autohome, the flagship SUV will probably be priced between 250,000 and 300,000 yuan (~A$52,725-$63,265).
“We launched C first, then B, then D and A… For those who begin with A and transfer up one after the other, it will likely be harder. So our alternative of C can be a vital think about Leapmotor’s success,” Leapmotor founder, chairman and CEO Zhu Jiangming informed the publication, referring to the model launching mid-size C fashions first.
The styling of the brand new SUV is extraordinarily just like not solely Leapmotor’s present C16 massive SUV, which entered manufacturing final 12 months, but additionally a raft of different massive Chinese language SUVs such because the Aito M9, Geely Galaxy M9, Li Auto L9, Deepal S09, and Onvo L90.
Its polished, monoblock-style wheels are additionally harking back to these on the Zeekr 9X, although in any other case its styling is minimalist in conventional Leapmotor type with clean flanks and slim lighting components entrance and rear.
Whereas Leapmotor hasn’t confirmed exterior dimensions but, it could possibly be over 5m lengthy.
Chinese language manufacturers have but to supply electrical SUVs this massive in Australia, though BYD’s premium model Denza may carry its N9 crossover SUV right here. Ought to the D16 come right here, it might seemingly function Leapmotor’s rival to the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9.
Along with rolling out its new D-series fashions, Leapmotor can be set to introduce two extra automobiles for its A collection to affix the T03 metropolis automotive.
The model has already fleshed out its B- and C-series strains.
The B10 small SUV due in Australia this 12 months will probably be adopted by the B05 small hatch revealed at this month’s Munich motor present. Leapmotor additionally launched the B01 small sedan earlier this 12 months in China.
The C-series lineup is comprised of the mid-size C10 crossover SUV already supplied right here, plus a stretched model known as the C16. There are additionally two older fashions, the C01 mid-size sedan launched in 2022 and the C11 SUV launched in 2020.
The Chinese language model, which has a three way partnership with Jeep guardian Stellantis to distribute its automobiles globally known as Leapmotor Worldwide, posted a 30 million yuan (A$6.5m) revenue within the first half of 2025.
The result’s a marked turnaround from a 2.2 billion yuan (A$4.7bn) loss over the identical interval final 12 months, with an working revenue of 14.1 per cent being its highest because the firm was fashioned in 2015.
It has its sights set on a worthwhile calendar 12 months.
Regardless of eager pricing, the one Leapmotor mannequin accessible in Australia to date – the C10 – is languishing within the gross sales charts. Simply 381 examples have been offered right here within the first eight months of this 12 months, nicely behind the rival Geely EX5 (2736).