China’s Chery Group will close out the year with the launch of another new brand for Australia, taking the count to four with new entrant Lepas set to sit alongside existing marques Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo.
While there will be some overlap in vehicle price, capability and size, Chery Group executives claim Lepas will set itself apart from its siblings with European-tuned ride and handling, greater refinement, and more fashion-conscious design inside and out.
The Lepas L6, which will spearhead Lepas in Australia.
Five models have now been locked in for Australia, all with a choice of fully electric powertrains or a hybrid alternative.
The push kicks off with the L6 midsize SUV and L4 small SUV in their battery electric forms before the end of this year, followed by their plug-in hybrid (PHEV) equivalents in the first half of 2027.
Then, in the latter half of 2027, Lepas will push into bigger territory with PHEV versions of the L8 upper-midsize SUV and the L9 large SUV — the latter has not yet been revealed.
The Lepas L8
The product offensive will wrap up in 2028 with the launch of the fully electric L8 and L9 powertrain option and something quite interesting: the Mazda 3-sized L2 hatchback, either as a full EV or as a plugless hybrid.
Within the Chery Group, Lepas — which is a portmanteau of ‘leopard’ and ‘passion’ — is targeting buyer preferences in export markets like Europe and Australia and will be positioned as a mid-tier to entry-premium new energy brand.
When it arrives in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year, the L6 will debut a Europe-validated ride and handling tune completed out of Chery’s base in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Lepas L4
Executives claim Lepas models will sit flatter, turn in more sharply and roll less dramatically than equivalent vehicles from the Chery brand.
While the tuning differs, some Lepas models will benefit from specific suspension hardware including double-plate bushings.
Still, there is a question mark over how far the differentiation of Lepas will go. Some Lepas models are sold as Chery-brand cars in China and it’s not yet clear how ‘bespoke’ the LEX architecture underpinning Lepas models is.
The interior of the L6.
Pricing isn’t yet known, but Lepas has locked in initial specifications for the electric L6 model, which will be the first to hit Chery’s blended showrooms locally.
The L6’s electric bona fides are fairly modest: a 4574mm-long midsize SUV, this is a 400-volt vehicle that uses a 65kWh LFP battery to provide 440km range (WLTP), equating to consumption of 14.7kWh/100km. Peak charging speed is just 120kW.
It’s a front-wheel drive vehicle producing 160kW/275Nm but unlike some rivals it does score multi-link independent rear suspension.
Standard kit will include six-way power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, 13.2-inch portrait touchscreen, 8.8-inch digital instrumentation, 360-degree parking camera, eight-speaker Sony stereo and a 50-watt wireless device charger.
The L6 is expected to have a 386-litre boot (expanding to 1255L with the rear seats folded). ADAS technology has been validated locally.
We expect the electric L6 to be priced in the low- to mid-$40,000 range in Australia.
The Lepas L8
Arriving shortly after the L6 is the electric version of the L4 small SUV. Under the skin, the L4 a very similar vehicle to the L6 — both share a 2700mm wheelbase, but the L4 is 154mm shorter in the body (at 4420mm). It’s also slightly narrower and lower.
Lepas has not released L4 specifications yet but it will use the same 65kWh battery, albeit with slightly more range (450km) and the same 160kW/275Nm motor as its sibling.
