Chery has a new international sub-brand called Lepas. Unlike the familiar Bahasa Malaysia word, this brand’s name fuses “Leap” and “Passion,” symbolising dynamism and vitality while balancing elegance with fervour, according to Chery.
Lepas will be backed by Chery’s eight global R&D centres, and will operate exclusively as an international brand, similar to Jaecoo.
The company recently celebrated the rollout of its first vehicle, the Lepas L8. The company has not revealed any specifications for the L8, but the new SUV could be based on the Chery Tiggo 8 Plus, given the similarities in their front-end design.
The Chery Tiggo 8 Plus measures 4,715 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, 1,745 mm tall, with a wheelbase spanning 2,710 mm. For context, this puts the Tiggo 8 Plus in a similar size category to the Omoda C9.
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Inside, the Chery Tiggo 8 Plus is equipped with a central 15.6-inch infotainment display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset, a 10.25-inch driver’s digital gauge cluster, a 12-speaker Sony sound system, and a zero-gravity front passenger seat.
Two powertrains are offered for the Chery Tiggo 8 Plus in China. The first is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 197 hp and 290 Nm, paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The second option is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 254 hp and 390 Nm, paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Chinese media reports suggest that the Lepas L8 will be available with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric (EV) powertrains, in addition to petrol powertrains.
The brand is also reportedly focused on international sales, with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America highlighted as key target markets.
