Lepas L8 arrives priced from £34,900

The new Lepas L8 has gone on sale in the UK, priced from £34,900.

Lepas is one of several new Chinese brands to arrive in the UK recently, and does so under the wider Chery umbrella alongside existing manufacturers Omoda and Jaecoo.

The new L8 is a large SUV which uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It brings together a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and battery which, Lepas says, will return up to 53 miles of electric-only range. Vehicle-to-load technology means that external devices, such as air pumps or kettles, can be powered using the car’s battery.

All cars come equipped with a high level of standard equipment, including 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and a large central screen. A 10.25-inch driver’s display is also fitted at this grade.

An additional £3,000 will introduce Elevate trim, which adds 20-inch wheels, active noise cancellation for a quieter ride and six-way adjustable driver’s seating. An in-cabin fragrance system is also included in this specification, alongside a folding table on the back of the front passenger seat.

Ray Wang, managing director of Lepas UK, said: “Opening the order books for the L8 PHEV is another hugely important moment for Lepas in the UK.

“We have spent the past few months putting all the pieces in place. Our first dealerships are opening, cars are on their way to the UK and following the appointment of Black Horse and Lex Autolease, we can now offer customers a really competitive range of finance and leasing options from day one.”