LEPAS OFF TO A RACING START AFTER GOODWOOD DEBUT
- LEPAS makes its first UK public appearance at Goodwood Festival of Speed
- L8 premium SUV draws thousands to the LEPAS stand
- More than a dozen orders taken, with deposits paid, before car can even be test driven
- Hundreds register for test drives at their local dealership
- Thousands also watch from the stands as racing driver Sasha Brunton piloted L8 up the famous hillclimb twice per day
The new LEPAS L8 premium SUV made a triumphant first impression at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026, with more than a dozen eager customers placing orders without ever having driven the car.
The event marked the UK public debut of both the LEPAS brand and the new L8 and the ‘reveal’ in the first glance paddock was a huge success, generating an overwhelmingly positive reaction from showgoers.
More than 123,000 thousand people visited LEPAS across the four days of the festival, with 14,000 taking the time to explore the L8 and hundreds registering their details to request test drives when their local LEPAS dealer opens.
For some though, just seeing the car – displayed in the range-topping Elevate spec’ and priced £37,900 – was enough to make their mind up, with a total of 14 cars pre-ordered and deposits paid.
Thousands of fans also filled the grandstands and lined the track as LEPAS racing driver Sasha Brunton piloted the L8 up Goodwood’s famous hillclimb twice per day.
LEPAS UK Managing Director, Ray Wang, was among the team in the first glance paddock introducing both the LEPAS brand and the L8 to the crowds stopping by and inviting them to explore the model and try out all the onboard tech and premium comfort features. With temperatures in Sussex soaring, the electrically cooled front seats with massage function, proved particularly popular.
After the show, Ray said: “There was so much interest in LEPAS and the L8 that our team in the paddock literally did not stop from the moment the gates opened at 7am until they closed again at 7pm.
“For me, it was wonderful to be able to speak to people, show them the car personally and to hear their feedback directly. I was so pleased by the reaction. People were overwhelmingly positive and loved what they saw.
“Honestly though, I wasn’t expecting us to receive so many orders before people have even had the chance to take the car for a test drive.”
The new LEPAS L8 premium SUV is powered by the state-of-the-art LEPAS Super Hybrid ecosystem, featuring a highly efficient 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), electronic gear selector and a next generation 18.4kWh battery which can be DC fast charged from 30% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes.This powertrain can deliver a combined range of up to 745 miles, a pure electric range of up to 56 miles and a highly efficient combined fuel consumption of up to 403.5 mpg. CO2 emissions are just 21g/km. A fully electric L8 will follow in 2027.
It is offered in two distinct and appropriately named trim lines. The first, ‘Essence’, offers everything the modern driver needs, with outstanding levels of technology, safety and comfort. Meanwhile, ‘Elevate’ models add everything the modern driver could possibly want, with in-car luxury and refinement taken to the next level for a truly high-end experience.
Prices for the L8 PHEV Essence begin at £34,900 RRP on-the-road, while the L8 PHEV Elevate starts at £37,900 RRP on-the-road.
*Figures according to WLTP test cycle