Leapmotor’s Decade of Craftsmanship Yields Dual Flagships, Moving Beyond the 'Value' Label

Can Leapmotor only build ordinary cars for the mass market?

At yesterday’s Leapmotor 10th-anniversary event, Leapmotor gave a clear response with two flagship models from its D series—the D19 and D99: it will no longer follow but instead "lead."

Although the D19 will not officially launch until April next year, its product definition and core specifications were fully revealed last night, basically outlining its future position in the family car market, pending only the price announcement.

The D-series MPV model, the D99, made its public debut for the first time, primarily serving to demonstrate Leapmotor's product capability boundaries in larger sizes and higher specifications.

With this, the D series has officially completed its dual-flagship layout.

Ten years into vehicle manufacturing, Leapmotor has entered a new stage. Zhu Jiangming stated at the event that for the next decade, Leapmotor aims to become a world-class smart electric vehicle enterprise, with an annual sales volume of 4 million units.

Can these two flagship products support Leapmotor's ambition to move upmarket?

01How Leapmotor Defines the 300,000 RMB-Class Flagship SUV

As the first model from its D series to reach production, the D19 marks Leapmotor’s first direct entry into the full-size flagship SUV segment in the 300,000 RMB price bracket.

Its product definition is clear: it does not pursue premium pricing but instead brings space, comfort, and features typically concentrated in higher price tiers down to a mainstream segment centered on family users.

With exterior dimensions of 5,252 × 1,995 × 1,780 mm and a wheelbase of 3,110 mm, the vehicle offers both 2+2+2 and 2+3+2 seating layouts to cater to multi-child families and group travel. It is available in five exterior colors—Songgu Green, Guangdian White, Liquid Silver, Tianmu Gray, and Metallic Black—and three interior color options: Yunwu Gray, Danya Brown, and Ji Yu Gray.

In terms of exterior design, the D19 emphasizes stability. The most prominent detail on the side is the zero-step pure-flat window design; according to the company, this solution required an investment of over 20 million RMB.

The purpose of this design is not merely visual flair. It aims to reduce wind noise and enhance cabin quietness while minimizing the structural fragmentation often seen on the sides of traditional large SUVs. Combined with low-saturation colors like Songgu Green and Liquid Silver, the overall appearance is enduringly appealing.

D19’s lighting system has received significant attention. Its million-pixel DLP projection headlights serve roles far beyond simple illumination, integrated into various specific scenarios: light carpet projection for width indication on narrow roads, dynamic prompts to yield to pedestrians, ground projections during parking and welcome sequences, as well as outdoor movie screening and karaoke projection functions.

These features provide more intuitive and predictable auxiliary information in night driving, narrow road, and family travel scenarios, delivering a more complete entertainment experience.

The pragmatic approach that balances utility with experiential quality is also reflected in the spatial planning of D19’s interior. An 88% usable space ratio ensures practicality across all three rows.

Upon entering the cabin, D19’s interior design avoids distinctively tech-focused or minimalist routes, opting instead for a treatment that leans toward a living space aesthetic.

Soft covering materials span 25 square meters across the primary contact areas of the first, second, and third rows, with tactile feel and material consistency prioritized highly. The vehicle extensively uses imported full-grain top-layer calfskin, processed using a semi-aniline chrome-free tanning method. Cao Li, Vice President of Leapmotor, stated at the launch event that the calfskin used in the Leapmotor D19 comes from the same supplier as that of the Maextro S800.

The second row is designed as the core area for the vehicle’s comfort experience, supporting a 120-degree zero-gravity recline posture, four-way electric leg rests, and an ABTS integrated seatbelt, offering passengers a relatively suspended feeling.

The third row also supports stepless electric adjustment up to 131 degrees and is equipped with dual armrests, avoiding the awkward positioning often associated with MPV third rows being relegated to emergency use only.

Additionally, all six seats in the D19 support heating. The first two rows feature suction-type ventilation and ten-point massage. The suction design avoids the discomfort of cold air blowing directly on the skin, making it more suitable for family scenarios involving long-duration travel. Both the second and third rows are equipped with sunshades that block more than ninety percent of light.

Beyond comfort features, the D19 incorporates several function-oriented designs. For instance, it includes an automotive-grade Senye Oxygen Cabin system that delivers a maximum oxygen generation flow of 8 liters per minute, primarily targeting scenarios such as high-altitude driving or fatigue from long drives. The standard 23-speaker audio system comes equipped with headrest speakers for the driver, ensuring a full-vehicle sound field while also preserving privacy at the driver's seat. These features address a wider range of niche needs across the diverse travel scenarios of family users.

The Foundational Capabilities Expected of a Flagship 02

Leapmotor has addressed the question of how a family can sit comfortably and enjoy themselves in terms of product definition and space. On powertrain, chassis, and intelligent systems, Leapmotor aims to answer another more practical question: Is this full-size flagship SUV sufficiently composed for daily use?

First, regarding range, the D19 offers both pure electric and extended-range powertrain options. The highlight of the extended-range version is its 80.3 kWh large battery, which delivers a CLTC pure electric range of 500 km, already comparable to the range levels of many pure electric vehicles.

Structurally, Leapmotor has applied CTC battery-chassis integration technology to its range-extended models, reducing redundant structures and creating space for chassis layout and energy efficiency. Paired with an 800 V high-voltage platform, the battery charges from 30% to 80% in approximately 16 minutes.

The D19 EREV version employs a four-wheel-drive extended-range solution featuring an integrated drive-and-generator unit. This high level of integration reduces system complexity while delivering more linear power output, effectively balancing strong performance with ride comfort.

The D19 EV version features a maximum battery capacity of 115 kWh and a CLTC range exceeding 720 km. It is equipped with CATL’s latest generation "super-mixed cells" and a full-domain kilovolt high-voltage architecture, striking a balance among energy density, safety, and lifespan.

In terms of performance, the D19 EV utilizes a three-motor four-wheel-drive configuration with a system power output of 540 kW, achieving zero-to-100 km/h acceleration in the 3-second range. The EREV variant produces 400 kW, enabling 0–100 km/h acceleration in the 4-second range.

For chassis dynamics, the D19 adopts a combination of dual-chamber closed-air suspension and continuously variable damping shock absorbers. It also introduces an active pre-sighting "Magic Carpet" function that adjusts suspension settings in advance based on road conditions.

On the intelligence front, the D19 is equipped with five screens and dual Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chips, providing 1,280 TOPS of computing power. This surplus supports edge-side AI large models and multi-screen interaction capabilities.

Empowered by edge-side large models, the D19 unlocks additional interaction scenarios, such as call summaries, smart ordering, Sentry Mode summaries, and AI-powered vehicle retrieval. It also supports assisted driving from parking space to parking space.

Overall, the D19 has delivered a fairly complete performance in the fundamental areas expected of a flagship vehicle. Focusing on the usage scenarios of family users, it has practically implemented space, comfort, configuration, and technological capabilities one by one.

For Leapmotor, the D19 serves more as a watershed moment in product positioning: it proves that the company now has the capability to build a true full-size flagship SUV in the RMB 300,000 price segment, while laying a clear technical and product logic foundation for future products with higher specifications and larger dimensions.

03D99 Makes Its Debut

The debut of the D99 was the highlight of last night's launch event. As Leapmotor's first MPV model, and considering its size and flagship positioning within the D series, this is likely the most expensive vehicle Leapmotor has ever produced.

The naming of the D99, with one 9 representing the MPV series and the other 9 signifying its flagship positioning, clearly reflects Leapmotor's high expectations for this model.

Only limited information about the D99 was revealed during last night's event. What is confirmed is that the platform reuse rate of the D platform remains high. Core highlights from the D19—including flat side windows, zero-gravity seats, large battery capacity, dual powertrain options (pure electric and range-extended), kilovolt pure electric architecture, CTC technology, spacious interior, oxygen generation function, dual 8797 chips, and edge-side large language models—will be carried over to the D99.

Additionally, information revealed at the launch event indicates that the D99 aims to become the "longest pure-electric range extended-range MPV globally" and also hold the title for "the longest pure-electric range in its class," making long-range capability a key highlight of the D99.

With a length exceeding 5.2 meters, a width nearing 2 meters, a wheelbase over 3.1 meters, and equipped with 19-inch wheels, the D99 features a notably short front end and a steep A-pillar angle. This design serves a dual purpose: reducing aerodynamic drag and energy consumption while maximizing interior space.

Beyond the shared color options of Photoelectric White, Liquid Silver, Sky Gray, and Metallic Black offered on the D19, the D99 introduces an exclusive custom color named Chenjing Blue, which made a distinctive impression at the event.

The ten-year milestone marks a turning point for Leapmotor, shifting its strategy from following competitors to leading the market. With the D19 and D99, Leapmotor is stepping out of the safety zone defined by cost-effectiveness; rather than rushing to announce prices below market expectations, it is placing its vision for flagship vehicles squarely in the spotlight.

Whether the D series can withstand market scrutiny remains to be seen. The D19 has yet to reveal its price, and the D99 has only just begun releasing information.

But it is certain that Leapmotor is no longer satisfied with merely selling cars well, but is attempting to establish a more long-term product logic: using platform capabilities, technology reuse, and scaling strategies to cover more forms of vehicle markets with higher specifications.

By Da Yong Edited by James