Chery Group-owned brand reveals it sporty side
Concept blends elements of the hatchback and shooting brake design
Menacing front end its reminiscent of recent Audis
The Chinese-owned Lepas automotive brand, which has been making waves in many European markets with a selection of cut-price SUVs, has recently unveiled a stunning concept that could influence its future models. While the marque’s L8 and L6 SUVs are fairly generic in their exterior styling, the Aura concept blends hatchback proportions with a sporty shooting brake aesthetic that could easily go toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s best designs. According to the Chinese company, which showcased its concept at the brand’s Global Elegant Lifestyle Week in Wuhu, China, the Aura represents the second evolution of what it brilliantly calls ‘Leopard Aesthetics’. After all, the company’s name is a portmanteau of “leopard” and “passion”. The most distinctive feature is the ‘Leopard-Eye’ lighting signature at the front, while the faux grille is an enormous back-lit screen that houses the Lepas logo. (Image credit: Lepas/Chery) According to its designer Ivan Dulanovic, this digital canvas at the front can display adaptable graphics, lighting effects and animations, while an elliptical display at the rear offers scope for personalized taillight signatures. A lack of front grille and ducting also suggests that the concept could use an electrified powertrain…