Leapmotor D19: the Chinese manufacturer unveils the new flagship model of the brand

Until now, when you heard about Leapmotor, you most likely automatically associated the Chinese brand name with yet another manufacturer of mainly city cars, small in size and with affordable prices. Well, you can get that idea out of your head, because nothing could be further from the truth.

The Chinese manufacturer has just entered the luxury vehicle segment with its new D19 SUV, a large model that also integrates the most advanced technology.

With over 5.2 metres in length, almost 2 metres in width and a wheelbase of more than 3 metres, the D19 positions itself as the new flagship of Leapmotor in the Chinese market. Designed to compete in the premium segment, this model will be available there with two powertrain options: fully electric or electric with a range extender based on a combustion engine (EREV). Both with technical specifications that will leave you speechless.

Hold on tight!

The electric version of the D19 features a 1,000-volt architecture, with all that this entails in terms of efficiency and supported charging power. Leapmotor claims that in just 15 minutes it can recover 350 km of range -we understand this under the Chinese CLTC homologation cycle-. It also comes with a 115 kWh battery pack with cells supplied by CATL that combine LFP and NMC technology, offering a CLTC range of 720 km.

In terms of performance, it doesn’t fall short either: it integrates two electric motors, one for each axle, giving it all-wheel drive and delivering a combined output of 540 kW. It is thus capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in under three seconds, matching the performance of many supercars, and let’s not forget that we are talking about an SUV here.

For those who never stop

On the other hand, the EREV version of the D19 integrates a combustion engine acting as a generator, together with two electric motors that jointly deliver 400 kW. Although, as might be expected, this version offers greater range than the pure electric one, its performance is somewhat lower, accelerating in this case from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately five seconds. A couple of seconds more.

The EREV’s battery pack also uses cells supplied by CATL, with the same Freevoy Super Hybrid technology that combines LFP and NMC chemistry in each cell, but its capacity is smaller, at 80.3 kWh. Either way, it stands out for having the largest capacity installed to date in a series-production vehicle with a range extender. Its purely electric range reaches 500 km, and we are left eager to know the total range of the vehicle once the combustion engine kicks in, as this figure has not been announced by the manufacturer.

In the technology section, the D19 SUV stands out for being the first vehicle to integrate an oxygen generator, capable of producing 8 litres per minute. This technology has been developed for use on trips to high-altitude regions, such as the Himalayas, in order to improve passenger wellbeing.

The D19 is also equipped with two Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chips, which provide 1,280 TOPS of computing power for the infotainment system and driver assistance features. This hardware ensures smooth, advanced performance and positions the D19 as one of the most technologically advanced vehicles.

You won’t believe what it costs

Finally, it should be noted that although Leapmotor has not officially confirmed the price list for its new premium SUV, it is speculated that the D19 could cost around 300,000 yuan. That’s roughly 36,000 euros. Yes, you read that right: less than 40,000 euros for a large SUV with the technical specifications we have described. Crazy.

Deliveries in China will begin in the first half of 2026 and, for the moment, it seems we can rule out its launch in Europe, as the Chinese manufacturer’s strategy on the continent is more focused on affordable vehicles outside the premium segment.