Lepas L8 SUV Rolls Off Assembly Line As New Chery Brand’s First Model

The mighty Chery Group from China saw its new 'Lepas' sub-brand mark the official line-off for its first SUV model offering, dubbed the Lepas L8.

It appears that Chery Group, China’s largest auto exporter, has an endless stream of sub-brands ready. The latest of which to debut this week is called ‘Lepas’. Established on Oct last year, parent firm Chery says it is aimed towards the “next-generation urban elites focusing on family.”

Chery adds that the name ‘Lepas’ fuses the words ‘leap’ and 'passion’, thus symbolising “dynamism and vitality while balancing elegance and fervour.” We’ll leave to you on how to interpret the brand rationale provided.

Fast forward to the present and the new Chery-owned sub-brand noted saw its first model offering roll off the assembly line just recently. Unfortunately, details for this new model are relatively scant, though we’ve scoured through several sources online to piece together as much information as possible.

We've actually sized up the Lepas 8 (or Lepas L8) in what appears to be a pre-production concept back in Oct last year.

Officially dubbed as the Lepas L8, we’ve actually seen this crossover SUV in pre-production concept stage back in Oct last year. No details were issued to us then, and it seems details continue to elude us here too.

Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the Lepas L8 does bear plenty of similarities with the Chery Tiggo 8 Plus that debuted in China back in July last year. Presumably, the similarities also extend under the hood.

The latter model noted, as you can probably guess, is positioned as a 5/7-seat D-SUV offering that sits 4,715 MM long with a 2,710 MM wheelbase, 1,860 MM wide, and 1,745 MM tall. In China, the Tiggo 8 Plus is reportedly primed with either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol powerplant.

Outputs vary at 194 HP and 290 NM, and 251 HP and 390 NM, respectively. Additionally, the lower displacement engine is mated with a 7-speed DCT automatic, where as the larger-displacement mill here gets an 8-speed automatic box instead. Both are also reportedly front-wheel-drive (FWD).

No details were provided during our viewing, but the Lepas 8 (Lepas L8) pictured here does bear plenty of similarities with the Chery Tiggo 8 Plus model currently marketed across China.

Presently, various Chinese auto websites and portals indicate that the Lepas 8 will see plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain options readied alongside the regular combustion (ICE) mills we’ve detailed. Presumably, it could harness the same PHEV system as seen in the Jaecoo J7 PHEV.

Additional reports by various Chinese online media and automotive portals further indicate that Chery seeks to position ‘Lepas’ as  an export-oriented brand – much like Omoda and Jaecoo. Key markets for which will include the Middle East, Latin America and, critically, Southeast Asia (ASEAN). 

We will try to ascertain more details as they arise, most likely later this week during Auto Shanghai 2025 . In the meantime, would you be keen to see yet another Chery-owned brand enter our marketspace in the near future? Share your take in the comments below…