Ahead of its official introduction in Malaysia, Lepas held a global test drive event at its home base in Wuhu, China in conjunction with its global partner conference, giving members of the media a taste of what’s to come in the very near future – and our very own Julie was on-site to get a first-hand experience.
The test drive comprised both closed-course handling circuits and real-world on-road drives, giving us a thorough sampling of their portfolio – including the Lepas L6 EV, Lepas L6 PHEV, Lepas L4 EV, and Lepas L8 – in all driving conditions.
On the course, the Lepas L6 EV was put through various handling challenges such as U-turns, S-curves, and figure-eight slalom tests to assess its handling capabilities. Despite its heavy weight, the electric L6, powered by the Intelligent LEX platform, still displayed adequate body control and steering response, thanks to its low centre of gravity.
The L6 PHEV, meanwhile, was tested across speed bumps and uneven road surfaces to test its ride comfort and NVH performance. Built on the same platform as the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV and Jaecoo J7 PHEV, the C-segment crossover handily absorbed the larger undulations, thanks to its suspension calibration which the company said was tuned specifically to effectively absorb road impacts and maintaining a “theatre-level” quiet cabin.
Performance tests involved the L4 EV, which is powered by a 218 hp (160 kW) electric motor. As expected, the compact electric crossover demonstrated quick acceleration with smooth power delivery throughout the speed range, delivering powerful acceleration without any excessive shocks to the driveline.
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On the open roads, the Lepas L6 PHEV delivered a comfortable and quiet driving experience, thanks to its series-parallel hybrid powertrain operating with its electric motors. At higher speeds through the scenic rural routes and highways, the internal combustion engine steps in and automatically switches between parallel and series operations, ensuring immediate and efficient power, while keeping RPMs low for a quieter cabin.
The impressive in-car experience was further complemented by the plush seats and luxurious amenities inside the cabin, including the cooler box compartment that helped keep our drinks cool throughout the 334 km journey from Jiangsu to Wuxi, before ending back at Wuhu.
The test drive programme is part of the Lepas “Global Journey of Elegant Driving” campaign, which is a comprehensive “validation system” for its vehicles that spans closed-track testing, long-distance real-world testing, as well as static evaluation. The company says similar evaluation programmes will soon be implemented in various markets, as the brand prepares for a wider global debut.
Backed by a wide array of resources from its parent company, Chery, Lepas’s lineup of new energy vehicles is set to cover multiple segments and powertrain types to meet the diverse global demands. Closer to home, the “elegance-focused” brand is set to make its official debut in Malaysia this year, and as you can see, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to!
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