Lepas has revealed details for its L8 flagship SUV, which is set to launch in the UK this autumn with a 745-mile total range and a starting price of £34,900.

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The premium plug-in hybrid SUV opens for pre-orders in July, springboarding the Chinese brand’s UK offensive, while a fully electric version will arrive in 2027.

Owned by Chinese giant Chery, Lepas is an all-new brand designed to appeal to the European market as the group continues its global expansion.

Launching alongside the existing Omoda, Jaecoo and Chery marques, the Lepas name draws on the words ‘Leopard’, ‘Leap’ and ‘Passion’.

Positioned as a more lifestyle-led, premium option, Lepas will focus on electrified powertrains – including plug-in hybrids and full EVs – starting with the flagship L8, followed quickly by the mid-size L6 crossover in PHEV and pure electric form, and the L4 small SUV as both a plug-in hybrid and EV.

Delivering a rival to the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, the L8 is built on Lepas’s inhouse LEX platform and features a 2,800mm wheelbase for a “truly cavernous interior”. In the back, with the front seats in a normal driving position, rear passengers get just under a metre of rear legroom (970mm) for limo-like levels of comfort.

In keeping with the brand name’s etymology, the L8’s design channels the power and grace of a leopard. Upfront, a signature ‘Diamond Mesh’ grille mimics the rhythm of a leopard’s coat, while ‘Leopard’s Eye’ daytime running lights are intended to give the vehicle a mesmerising, menacing stare.

It’s powered by the Lepas Super Hybrid powertrain, featuring a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), electronic gear selector and an 18.4kWh battery. A fully electric model with follow in 2027

The PHEV powertrain can deliver a combined range of up to 745 miles, a pure electric range of up to 56 miles and combined fuel consumption of up to 403.5mpg. CO2 emissions are 21g/km, qualifying the L8 to drive free of charge in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The battery can be DC fast-charged from 30% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes.

The L8 will be available in two distinct trim levels – Essence and Elevate – which are priced from £34,900 and £37,900 respectively.

Standard equipment includes LED headlights with intelligent high beam assist and LED rear lights, an acoustic laminated windscreen for noise reduction, electrically adjustable heated and power-folding wing mirrors and privacy glass on the rear windows and rear windscreen.

Onboard systems for both include a 13.2-inch central waterfall touchscreen display, a connected navigation system, the “Hello Lepas” AI-powered voice assistant, 4G connectivity, wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 50W wireless phone charging with active cooling, and four USB ports front and back.

Interior creature comforts shared across both models include panoramic sunroof with sunshade, dual-zone-climate control, keyless entry and go and remote engine start, which allows users to de-ice the car remotely while also pre-heating or pre-cooling the cabin.

Tech upgrades for Elevate customers include hands-free power tailgate, heated windscreen and power-adjustable front seats with heating, cooling and massage functions, and a 256-colour ambient interior mood lighting system and in-car fragrance technology. Other features include front parking sensors and a 540-degree panoramic camera system. The Elevate also swaps the standard six-speaker audio system for a superior Sony Premium eight-speaker audio system.

Elevate models also get acoustic laminated front windows for extra soundproofing, alongside Active Engine Noise Cancellation for a super quiet cabin, as well as puddle lights built-in to the wing mirrors.

Advanced driver-assistance technologies common to both trims include autonomous emergency braking, emergency lane-keeping and front distance monitoring as well as driver assistance functions such as adaptive cruise control and intelligent speed limit control. All L8s also get 10 airbags.

Top-tier Elevate models also gain advanced parking assist and a remote parking assist, which allows the vehicle to steer, brake, and shift gears into or out of a parking space while the driver stands outside.

Both models are available in a range of colours for greater personalisation. For no extra cost, drivers can choose metallic Expressive Emerald or, for £500, can upgrade to Instinct White, Leopard Black, Mystic Purple or Impulse Red. For £750, they can also choose Stoic Grey in a matte finish. The Essence rides on 19-inch diamond-cut wheels, while the Elevate gains larger, 20-inch wheels.

The L8 will arrive in Lepas showrooms in September, with pre-orders opening next month and the first deliveries to customers in September.