Chinese startup Leapmotor is best known for cut-price small and mid-size models including the C10 medium SUV it launched here with last yr, but it surely’s planning to launch larger and more premium models.
It has released handful of teaser images of its upcoming flagship SUV, which is about to wear either the D16 or D19 nameplate when it’s launched within the Chinese market during 2026.
Leapmotor’s recent range-topper is predicted to supply three rows of seating, and can likely be offered as either an electrical vehicle (EV) or an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) – the brand has never offered some other powertrain type because it began producing its first vehicles in 2019.
The brand new SUV can be one in all two or three models in Leapmotor’s D series of vehicles, with one other set to be a people mover. These can be the brand’s largest models, logically slotting in above A-, B- and C-series vehicles.
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In keeping with Chinese outlet Autohome, the flagship SUV can 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 start with A and move up one after the other, it’ll be harder. So our alternative of C can be an important think about Leapmotor’s success,” Leapmotor founder, chairman and CEO Zhu Jiangming told the publication, referring to the brand launching mid-size C models first.
The styling of the brand new SUV is incredibly just like not only Leapmotor’s existing C16 large SUV, which entered production last yr, but additionally a raft of other large Chinese SUVs comparable to the Aito M9, Geely Galaxy M9, Li Auto L9, Deepal S09, and Onvo L90.
Its polished, monoblock-style wheels are also harking back to those on the Zeekr 9X, though otherwise its styling is minimalist in traditional Leapmotor style with smooth flanks and slim lighting elements front and rear.
While Leapmotor hasn’t confirmed exterior dimensions yet, it may very well be over 5m long.
Chinese brands have yet to supply electric SUVs this huge in Australia, although BYD’s premium brand Denza could bring its N9 crossover SUV here. Should the D16 come here, it might likely function Leapmotor’s rival to the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9.
Along with rolling out its recent D-series models, Leapmotor can be set to introduce two more vehicles for its A series to hitch the T03 city automotive.
The brand has already fleshed out its B- and C-series lines.
The B10 small SUV due in Australia this yr can be followed by the B05 small hatch revealed at this month’s Munich motor show. Leapmotor also launched the B01 small sedan earlier this yr in China.
The C-series lineup is comprised of the mid-size C10 crossover SUV already offered here, plus a stretched version called the C16. There are also two older models, the C01 mid-size sedan launched in 2022 and the C11 SUV launched in 2020.
The Chinese brand, which has a three way partnership with Jeep parent Stellantis to distribute its vehicles globally called Leapmotor International, posted a 30 million yuan (A$6.5m) profit in the primary half of 2025.
The result’s a marked turnaround from a 2.2 billion yuan (A$4.7bn) loss over the identical period last yr, with an operating profit of 14.1 per cent being its highest for the reason that company was formed in 2015.
It has its sights set on a profitable calendar yr.
Despite keen pricing, the one Leapmotor model available in Australia up to now – the C10 – is languishing within the sales charts. Just 381 examples were sold here in the primary eight months of this yr, well behind the rival Geely EX5 (2736).
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
