Lepas leaps into the UK market, joining stablemates Omoda, Jaecoo and Chery.
The flagship Lepas L8 is the first of the brand's cars to launch here, and you'll be able to buy one from July. If you're one of the first in line, you'll get your car in September.
The Lepas name comes from ‘leopard’, ‘leap’ and ‘passion’, and the marketing material says the L8’s styling ‘takes inspiration from the agile, muscular contours of a running leopard’, and that the ‘distinctive LED headlights are styled to echo the focused intensity of a leopard’s eye’.
However, we can’t help but notice the similarities between the front end of the Lepas L8 and Chery’s Tiggo 8. Being somewhat charitable, there are also similarities to the Jaguar F-Pace.
Around the sides, the Lepas L8 has a simpler design than Chery models, and the rear end sees a slim, full-width lightbar that could be borrowed from a host of different carmakers – we see bits of Audi, Leapmotor and Porsche in its design. Even the brand’s font is very close to a Porsche font.
Lepas L8 prices and trim levels
It might be the brand's range-topping SUV, but the prices are much lower than a comparable European rival. The first of two trim levels, Essence, starts from £34,900, while upgrading to the top-rung Elevate trim is £3,000 more.
As we've come to expect from Chinese brands, a lot of standard equipment is fitted. Highlights of the Essence trim include LED headlights with auto high-beam assist, a panoramic glass roof, two-zone climate control, keyless entry, remote preconditioning, online-connected sat nav, adaptive cruise control and super-fast wireless phone charging.
The £37,990 Elevate trim adds an electric bootlid, a heated windscreen and electrically adjustable front seats with heating, cooling and massaging functions. Plus, you get front parking sensors, automated park assist and a Sony sound system. Visually, the only difference is that Elevate sits on 20-inch wheels, whereas Essence rides on 19s.
Range and performance
As expected, the Lepas L8 gets a version of Chery's Super Hybrid System. A 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine joins forces with an 18.4kWh battery for an electric range of 56 miles and a total range of 745 miles. The battery power will be prioritised over the engine, giving an EV-like driving experience – but without any of the range anxiety.
On a public fast-charger, the L8's battery can be topped up from 30-80% in 20 minutes, although it'll be more cost effective if you can charge at home. The L8 also lets you power small appliances from the car's battery.
A fully electric L8 is coming in 2027, which is a bit of a surprise – it'll be the first large electric car that the Chery group has launched here.
Dimensions
At 4,688mm long, the L8 squeezes in between the Chery Tiggo 7 and 8. It’s a five-seater with a focus on space and comfort – the rear seats recline and Lepas promises nearly a metre of rear legroom.
The L8 is 1,871mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1,686mm tall. The wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) is a substantial 2,800mm.
Future Lepas models
Following the L8 will be two smaller and presumably cheaper SUV models. These will be called the Lepas L4 and Lepas L6. All three models are expected to come to the UK in the next couple of years, offering petrol, electric and/or plug-in hybrid choices.
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