The LEPAS L8 demonstrates its potential on a route of nearly 1,000 kilometres through eastern China

There are cars that are presented in a controlled setting, between spotlights and speeches. And there are others that prefer to prove their worth on the road. The LEPAS L8 belongs to this second category.

To demonstrate what its new SUV is capable of, the brand organised the LEPAS Spain Journey, a route of more than 1,000 kilometres through eastern China that served as a real-world laboratory to test the model before its arrival in new markets. Over four days, guests from Spain and members of the local team travelled through the Yangtze River Delta, crossing cities, motorways and mountain roads at the wheel of the vehicle that will mark LEPAS’s commercial debut.

Beyond the scenery, the real protagonist of the journey was the L8, a plug-in hybrid SUV that combines power, efficiency and technology to suit both everyday use and long-distance travel.

A hybrid system designed for travel

The LEPAS L8 relies on a plug-in hybrid propulsion system that combines a 1.5 TGDI engine with a state-of-the-art electric system managed by a highly efficient DHT transmission.

The result is a combined output of 205 kW (279 CV) and a peak torque of 365 Nm, figures that deliver a smooth and progressive response in different driving scenarios.

In terms of efficiency, the model integrates an 18.4 kWh battery, which allows up to 100 kilometres in electric mode. When both systems work together, the total range can reach up to 1,300 kilometres, a figure designed to minimise stops on long journeys.

The combustion engine, for its part, achieves a thermal efficiency of 44.5%, one of the keys to the balance between performance and consumption the model seeks.

Technology on the LEX platform

The L8 has been developed on the LEX platform, a multi-energy architecture designed to adapt to different electrified propulsion systems.

This technical foundation optimises the efficiency of the whole and improves the vehicle’s dynamic behaviour on different types of road. Along the route through the Yangtze River Delta, the model showed balanced handling both in the urban traffic of Shanghai and on the motorway sections towards Suzhou or on the winding roads of Moganshan.

The experience showed how the hybrid system efficiently manages the delivery of power between electric and combustion engines, maintaining a high level of comfort even on prolonged journeys.

An interior designed for long journeys

The cabin of the LEPAS L8, called the SKYLINE Cabin, is designed to turn the car into a comfortable and high-tech space during travel.

The interior features a large vertical central screen run by the 8155 chip, which allows control of the vehicle’s main functions and access to advanced connectivity systems.

In terms of comfort, the model includes massage and ventilated seats, a BOYAMelody sound system and an interior layout designed for everyday use. In total, the cabin offers 47 storage spaces, in addition to a boot of 507 litres, reinforcing its positioning as a versatile vehicle for travel.

The technological equipment is completed with more than 20 ADAS driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, the APA automatic parking assistant, RPA remote parking and a 540° panoramic vision system.

A route to test the car… and understand the brand

The journey began in Shanghai, where the L8 faced the dense traffic of one of the world’s largest metropolises. From there, the route advanced towards Suzhou, a city known for its classical gardens and its blend of tradition and modernity.

On the second day, the convoy headed for Mogan Mountain, a mountainous area covered in bamboo forests where narrow, winding roads allowed the vehicle’s dynamic behaviour to be explored.

The final leg of the trip took participants to Wuhu, a city on the banks of the Yangtze River and the historic home of Chery Automobile.

There, guests were able to learn about the industrial ecosystem that underpins the model’s development and visit the company’s manufacturing and safety centres, where vehicles are validated before their international launch.

The first chapter of LEPAS

More than a simple test drive, the LEPAS Spain Journey was a way of presenting the L8 within the context of the brand’s global vision.

A plug-in hybrid SUV designed to combine efficiency, technology and driving comfort, and which represents LEPAS’s first step in its expansion into new markets.

And if anything became clear after almost a thousand kilometres on the road, it is that this journey was not just a test drive. It was also the first chapter of the brand’s international story.