Chery Lepas 8 SUV rolls off assembly line – 1st model from new brand; Tiggo 8 Plus size; coming to SEA?

In October last year, Chery introduced its new sub-brand called ‘Lepas’ which it says it aimed at the “next-generation urban elites focusing on family.” Fast forward a few months, the Chinese company has now announced that the first model that is part of this new product line has rolled off the assembly line.

Called the Lepas L8, it is an SUV that bears similarities to the latest Tiggo 8 Plus revealed last July. The latter is a five- or seven-seat SUV that measures 4,715 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, 1,745 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,710 mm.

Chery did not provide detailed specifications but the Tiggo 8 Plus on sale in China is available with a turbocharged inline-four petrol engine rated at either 197 PS (194 hp or 145 kW) and 290 Nm of torque for the 1.6-litre version, or 254 PS (251 hp or 187 kW) and 390 Nm for the 2.0-litre option. The lower-displacement engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, while the 2.0-litre unit gets an eight-speed automatic driving the front wheels.

Reports from Chinese media outlets indicate the Lepas 8 will also be offered with plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, in addition to regular combustion engines. The brand is also said to be export-oriented, with Southeast Asia being one of the target markets along with the Middle East and South America.

If you’re wondering why Chery chose the name ‘Lepas’, the company explained that it fuses the words ‘leap’ and ‘passion’ to symbolise “dynamism and vitality while balancing elegance with fervour.” Following the L8, the line-up will be expanded to include models covering all mainstream segments.

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