2026 Lepas L8

• The 2026 Lepas L8 is priced from £34,900 for Essence and £37,900 for Elevate, both powered by a 1.5-litre turbo plug-in hybrid system.
  

• Combined range reaches up to 745 miles, with a pure-electric range of up to 56 miles and CO2 emissions of just 21g/km.
  

• Pre-orders open in July, deliveries begin in September, and a fully electric L8 is due to follow in 2027.

Lepas has confirmed pricing and full specification for the L8, the D-segment SUV that will launch the brand in the UK this summer. It's a car built almost entirely around plug-in hybrid tech for now, with pricing that starts at £34,900 for the Essence trim and climbs to £37,900 for Elevate — both figures RRP on-the-road.

Exterior design observations

Lepas leans hard on a leopard motif throughout the L8's styling. The front end carries what the brand calls a "Diamond Mesh" grille alongside "Leopard's Eye" daytime running lights, while the bodywork is shaped by sweeping curves and pronounced haunches meant to echo the animal in motion. The only real exterior difference between the two trims comes down to wheels: Essence rides on 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, Elevate steps up to 20-inch versions. Elevate buyers also get acoustic laminated front windows and Active Engine Noise Cancellation, on top of the LED lighting, heated power-folding mirrors and privacy glass shared by both trims. Six paint options are offered, with Expressive Emerald included and the rest — Instinct White, Leopard Black, Mystic Purple, Impulse Red and a matte Stoic Grey — priced between £500 and £750.

Vehicle proportions and stance

Built on Lepas's LEX platform, the L8 gets a 2,800mm wheelbase, which the brand says translates into 970mm of rear legroom — enough, it claims, for a limousine-like feel in the back seats.

Interior space and technology

Both trims come with a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and remote engine start that can de-ice or pre-condition the cabin before you get in. A 13.2-inch waterfall touchscreen anchors the dashboard, running Lepas's "Hello LEPAS" voice assistant alongside 4G connectivity and both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Elevate adds a hands-free power tailgate, heated windscreen, massaging and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting with 256 colour options and an in-car fragrance system. Audio is a 6-speaker setup on Essence, upgraded to an 8-speaker SONY system on Elevate.

Powertrain and performance details

Every L8 uses what Lepas calls its Super Hybrid System: a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission and an 18.4kWh battery. DC fast charging takes the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes. Lepas quotes a combined range of up to 745 miles, a pure-electric range of up to 56 miles, fuel economy as high as 403.5mpg and CO2 output of just 21g/km — low enough to qualify for free entry into London's ULEZ. A fully electric version is planned for 2027.

Practical usability features

Safety kit is shared across both trims, including autonomous emergency braking, emergency lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control and ten airbags. Elevate adds front parking sensors, a 540-degree camera, and parking assist systems capable of steering and shifting the car into a space without the driver inside it.

Market positioning

As the model spearheading Lepas's UK arrival, the L8 sits in the mainstream D-segment SUV space, though the release doesn't name direct rivals [Inference]. The L6 and L4 SUVs are due to follow in the coming months. Pre-orders open in July, with first deliveries in September.

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