Chery's newest brand Lepas has unveiled its first concept car, the Aura, a three-door shooting brake that points to a more aggressive design direction for the fledgling new-energy marque. The concept was revealed at the inaugural Lepas Global Elegant Lifestyle Week in Wuhu, China, and Lepas describes it as offering "the clearest vision yet of the future direction" for the brand.
Lepas executives also showed CarExpert an upcoming production model, the small L2 hatch due in 2028, which carries the same athletic look. The Aura itself has not been confirmed for production.
A more dramatic take on Lepas design
The Aura keeps the pronounced shoulder lines and haunches seen on existing Lepas models but wraps them in more dramatic proportions, with a long wheelbase, short overhangs and a wide stance. Up front it departs from the current lineup, merging the grille and side air intakes into one large black surface area for a more aggressive face.
That fascia incorporates what Lepas calls a "digital canvas", letting owners personalise the car with unique graphics, lighting and animations. An elliptical rear display performs a similar role at the back, which Lepas says "opens up new opportunities for personalised tail-light signatures" and allows owners to, "in a way, become the designer of their own car".
The concept debuts three paint colours drawn from natural landscapes at different times of day: Dawn Pearl, inspired by a Tahitian sunrise; Bacalar Blue, simulating the waters of the Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico; and Provence Twilight, based on lavender fields at dusk. Lepas also cites "porcelain-inspired surfacing", echoing comments from Chery global design chief Steve Eum, who said he drew on porcelain, pebbles, waves, ballerinas and high-end fashion for the L6 EV.
The leopard remains the brand's core reference point: the name Lepas is a portmanteau of "leopard" and another word, and the headlights across its vehicles, including the Aura, are inspired by the big cat's eyes, with feline cues visible in the SUVs' rear haunches. The personalisable displays are the most distinctive idea here, turning lighting signatures into an owner-set feature rather than a fixed design element.
Where Lepas sits in Australia and what comes next
Lepas is positioning itself as a more premium alternative to Chery's established Chery and Omoda Jaecoo marques. The brand has already revealed three SUVs, the small L4 and mid-size L6 and L8, with the L6 set to be the first to reach Australia, arriving in showrooms over the coming weeks.
Australian pricing for the L6, and for the wider Lepas range, has not been announced in the source material, so local buyers will need to wait for Chery's local arm to confirm figures. The L2 hatch, meanwhile, is not due until 2028.
The Aura is a concept, so its role is to signal where Lepas design is heading rather than to preview a specific showroom model. For Australian buyers, the near-term question is the L6's local price and specification, which the brand has yet to lock in publicly.
