China Auto Daily丨Leapmotor launches D19 SUV from RMB 219,800 with dual 8797 chips

Leapmotor D19 Market Launch and Technical Specifications

On April 16, Leapmotor officially launched the D19, the inaugural model of its D-series lineup. The vehicle is available in seven variants with a price range of RMB 219,800 (USD 31,900) to RMB 269,800 (USD 39,100). Built on the LEAP 4.0 technical architecture, the D19 is equipped with dual Qualcomm 8797 chips and features VLA high-level assisted driving capabilities alongside a vehicle-grade oxygen cabin.

The D19 offers both extended-range (EREV) and battery electric (BEV) powertrains. The EREV version utilizes an 800V high-voltage platform and a 1.5T range extender. The three-motor configuration delivers a combined system power of 400 kW, enabling a 0-100 km/h acceleration in the 4-second range. This variant is equipped with an 80.3 kWh CATL battery pack, providing a CLTC pure electric range of 500 km.

IM Motors LS8 Launch and Performance Data

IM Motors officially released the LS8 on April 16, announcing a limited-time launch price range of RMB 249,800 (USD 36,200) to RMB 299,800 (USD 43,400). The LS8 introduces several hardware firsts, including a full-line wire-controlled four-wheel steering system, an Nvidia Thor computing chip, and a 520-line ultra-visual Lidar. The vehicle’s intelligence is driven by the IM Ultra Agent 1.0 AI system.

The LS8 features the "Stellar" super-hybrid system based on a 1.5T engine. The four-wheel-drive version achieves acceleration from 0-100 km/h in approximately 4 seconds. Under CLTC standards, the pure electric range reaches 430 km, while the total comprehensive range is rated at 1,605 km. According to IM Motors, the vehicle supports 800V ultra-fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from 30% to 80% in 12 minutes.

GAC Aion N60 Pre-sale and Efficiency Metrics

GAC Aion commenced pre-sales for its N60 pure electric SUV on April 16, offering three configurations priced between RMB 115,800 (USD 16,800) and RMB 135,800 (USD 19,700). The N60 is built on the AEP 3.0 electric-exclusive platform and is scheduled for official market launch on April 28. Notably, the model features Lidar and 4D millimeter-wave radar as standard equipment, utilizing WeRide’s end-to-end large model to provide NDA full-scenario assisted driving.

The N60 is powered by the Quark Drive 2.0 system, which incorporates amorphous alloy and silicon carbide technology. This system delivers a maximum power of 165 kW. According to GAC, the use of amorphous alloy stator cores combined with silicon carbide controllers reduces drive system losses by 75%. This efficiency results in a power consumption of 11.7 kWh per 100 km and increases CLTC range by 5% to 8% compared to similar battery capacities.

AITO M8 First Anniversary Delivery Milestone

Huawei’s Managing Director, Yu Chengdong, announced on April 16 that the AITO M8 has surpassed 170,000 unit deliveries during its first year on the market. This volume has positioned the M8 as the annual sales leader in the RMB 400,000 (USD 58,000) class SUV segment. The AITO M8 integrates the Huawei ADS intelligent driving suite, which the brand identifies as a key driver for its market performance in the premium vehicle sector.

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