Lepas AURA Concept Previews the Face of Future Lepas Models

Lepas, Chery’s new brand, revealed its first concept car at a preview event in Wuhu, China. It’s called AURA, and it previews the design of the Lepas models still to come, including their headlamps.

Lepas AURA concept is built around what Lepas calls its “Natural Energy” philosophy. It’s also the first outing for a design language Lepas names “Leopard Aesthetics”, described as confident proportions and flowing surfaces set off by distinctive lighting. Lepas pitches the car as a look at its “vision for innovative electrified mobility”.

Lepas opened its range with the L6 BEV at $47,990, on a platform that also takes plug-in hybrids. See our L6 EV specification story for more detail on that car. AURA is a concept rather than a production model, but many a concept has become a road car.

Lepas AURA concept takes its shape from a leopard

The wheelbase is long and the overhangs are short, with a wide track drawn from the movement and muscularity of a leopard, a very long stretch. Sculpted surfaces carry pronounced shoulders and integrated air channels, a pairing meant to balance visual strength against aerodynamics. There’s more than a little familiarity about the look and feel as modern cars seem to become slightly homogenised.

“AURA explores elegance through composure rather than decoration,” said Ivan Dulanović, Chief Designer of Lepas. Yes, it’s elegant, but could you pick it in a car park? Surely that’s the question. It’s pretty, but most new cars are. There isn’t such a gulf between the entry level and the top as we saw in days of old. The 80s and 90s saw misery-boxes positively poverty-stricken. While cars may be more expensive than those eras, they’re vastly different animals.

It’s beneath the face where the magic happens

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The grille and the side intakes are merged into a single clean black surface across the nose. Lepas calls the headlamps its signature Leopard design, and they’ll carry through to future Lepas models. Personally, I can’t see much in the way of animal, but sure, let’s go with it.

Screens at both ends and paint from the landscape

Displays at the front and rear of Lepas AURA concept can show an owner’s own graphics and animations, along with customised lighting. Lepas puts this down to personalisation, but will anyone but children bother to use it?

Provence Twilight is one of 3 exterior colours, alongside Dawn Pearl and Bacalar Blue. All 3 are inspired by natural landscapes, running from sunrise tones to twilight hues.

AURA’s proportions, surfaces, lighting and colour will help inform the next generation of Lepas vehicles. Lepas released no powertrain, size, price or timing details for the rather pretty concept though.

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More Lepas Stories

• 2026 Lepas L6 BEV Opens Chery’s New Brand at $47,990
• Lepas L6 EV Uses a Platform That Also Takes Plug-Ins
• Lepas L6 EV Targets Australia After Local Testing Program Ends

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