- 2026 Leapmotor D19 moves Chinese challenger brand into more luxurious territory.
- The D19 is a new seven-seat large SUV that is a potential rival to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
- It is the first of Leapmotor's D series of larger vehicles, complimenting its small B and mid-size C offerings.
Leapmotor, the Chinese start-up backed by Jeep and Peugeot owner, Stellantis, has thrown the covers off its next upcoming model, the D19 SUV.
The D19 is a large SUV expected to be offered with three rows, and judging by the pictures and comments from the brand’s founder, Zhu Jianming, it is also expected to move Leapmotor into more luxurious territory.
The D19 will be the first vehicle in the company’s D series of vehicles, adding to the B series of small vehicles, and C series of mid-sizers. Currently in New Zealand, only the Leapmotor C10 is offered, an electric and range-extender hybrid mid-size SUV.
The brand plans to add the B10 small SUV with similar powertrain options before the end of this year, and has also just revealed a golf-sized B05 hatchback, which will be built in Spain and offered primarily to the European market.
The new D16 is planned to launch to the Chinese market before the end of this year, according to the brand’s founder, who also said it would be targeting a price range between the equivalent of NZ$59,000 - $72,000.
The D16 follows in the footsteps of previous Leapmotor products, offering a relatively minimalistic exterior design, with the common theme of simple strip lights front and rear, flush door handles, and a design largely void of overt motifs or highlights.
However, pictures of the new car also show enormous chrome-style wheels, and flaps on both sides of the body suggest there will also be a range-extender variant, with the large SUV likely to offer both electric and hybrid forms.
Jianming has been reported as saying the D series of vehicles from the brand will be “a new species” of vehicle from the brand, “equipped with the latest technologies and using parts from the best suppliers in the industry.”
No further details about the D19 three-row SUV, like battery size, power, standard equipment, other than it is expected to use a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for its central computing features.
The B10 small SUV is next for the brand, due before the end of the year.
- Tom White, deputy news editor.