The L8 SUV will be the first car sold in the UK by Lepas, the Chinese brand has today confirmed.
The Omoda and Jaecoo sibling (whose name is a portmanteau of 'leopard', 'leap' and 'passion') is owned by Chinese giant Chery and has been created with a focus on the European market.
The L8 is its flagship – a five-seat SUV that's positioned as a premium alternative to the likes of the similar sized Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 but expected to be priced to undercut them.
While little from a technical point of view has been confirmed about the UK-bound L8, it will sit on the same modular T1X platform as its Omoda and Jaecoo sibling models.
In Indonesia, the L8 is sold exclusively with the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as the UK-market Jaecoo 7, so it's fair to expect the same to be offered here.
That combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and 18.3kWh battery for 56 miles of electric-only range and 204bhp.
An electric version of the L8 is expected to follow, given that its platform-mates are also offered in EV form.
Inside, the cabin is a minimalistic affair centred around a portrait-oriented 13.2in infotainment touchscreen. Below that, physical buttons for control climate functions flank an audio volume dial. A 10.2in digital instrument cluster and a wireless phone charger also feature.
Safety functions come in the form of “next-generation driving assistance”, said Lepas, without detailing further.
Join the debate
Add your comment
The L8 lepers .....
What a weird name. Lepas, sounds like Lepers, who were never popular!
And what a dull car - can anyone tell the difference between this and the Tiggo??
Honestly it looks like a generic car from an insurance advert.
Are we going to let this flood of Chinese cars destroy our industry, or finally see some sense?
'Patriotic', flag-waving Brits don't care where their SUV comes from, apparently.
Yes ye have Mclaren but they are low volume and for rich people. Hardly an industry.
So tell me were is this great British motoring Industry that is going to be destroyed by the chinese cars?
Nissan Sunderland is a car factory, making cars in the UK. It is therefore part of the UK car industry, foreign owned or not.
What are you missing?
See also: the Toyota factory in Derby, Mini in Oxford, JLR in the Midlands, and other smaller manufacturing plants, as well as myriad suppliers.
None of these are owned by UK businesses, sadly, and the industry isn't what it was, but all are crucial providers of jobs and revenue.
Again, what makes this so hard for you to understand?