Lepas South Africa has introduced the L6 sport-utility vehicle as a larger alternative to the L4 model that launched earlier this year. The new range consists of two derivatives, with the Javan priced at R469 900 and the Pantera at R499 900. The L6 offers additional interior space, a more commanding road stance and an expanded list of standard equipment.
Design cues for the L6 draw from the silhouette and motion of a leopard, visible in the vehicle’s proportions and exterior detailing. The shape retains a clean, contemporary look suited to the segment, with subtle styling touches that distinguish it from competitors.
Inside, the five-seat cabin includes a panoramic sunroof, a 13,2-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone mirroring and a 540-degree high-definition surround-view camera system as standard across both versions.
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Dimensions for the L6 are 4 554 mm in length, 1 852 mm in width and 1 681 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2 700 mm. Luggage capacity measures 435 litres with all seats occupied, and an additional 71-litre compartment beneath the load floor provides concealed storage. Folding the 40:60 split rear bench expands the main cargo area to 1 255 litres while retaining access to the lower compartment. Roof rails are rated to carry up to 75 kg.
Power comes from a 1,5-litre turbo-charged petrol engine that delivers 108 kW at 5 500 r/min and peak torque of 225 Nm from 1 750 r/min to 4 000 r/min. Drive is routed to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Drivers can select between Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes. Claimed combined fuel consumption is 7,2 l/100 km.
The suspension setup comprises MacPherson struts at the front and an independent rear arrangement, with electric power steering.
Both the Javan and Pantera ride on 19-inch alloy wheels and come with LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights and LED taillights. Exterior features include roof rails, a rear spoiler and dual exhaust outlets.
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Convenience items cover keyless entry, remote engine start and stop, push-button start, an electric tailgate and rain-sensing wipers. The side mirrors are electrically adjustable, heated and fold automatically, while all four windows have one-touch operation with anti-pinch protection.
The cabin is trimmed in black with faux-leather upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel and a digital instrument cluster. The driver’s seat has six-way electric adjustment, and the front passenger seat offers four-way electric adjustment. Dual-zone automatic climate control includes rear vents for second-row passengers, and an N95-level filtration system maintains air quality. The centre armrest storage compartment is heated and cooled. Additional cabin details include a damped glovebox, second-row reading lights, a folding rear armrest and ISOFIX child-seat anchor points.
The 13,2-inch infotainment display supports Bluetooth, radio, offline voice recognition and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Two Type-C ports are located in the front, while rear passengers have access to one USB and one Type-C port. A 50 W wireless charging pad is also fitted.
The Pantera adds several upgrades over the Javan. These include heated and ventilated front seats with power lumbar support, an eight-speaker Sony premium audio system, multi-colour ambient cabin lighting, and an air purification system with a water ioniser and ozone function. The Pantera also gains full Level-2 driver assistance, comprising adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and traffic jam assist.
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On the safety front, both derivatives are equipped with front, front-side and side-curtain crash bags, with the Pantera receiving an additional front-centre bag. Standard safety features include load-limiting and pre-tensioned front seatbelts, load-limiting second-row belts, ISOFIX points, child-safety locks and a tyre-pressure monitoring system. Anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and electronic stability control are fitted, along with hill start assist, hill descent control, an electronic parking brake and auto hold.
Both models have front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, rear cross-traffic braking, blind-spot detection, door opening warning, lane change assist and multi-collision braking.
The 540-degree surround-view camera system is standard. The Pantera’s driver-assistance suite extends to lane departure warning, intelligent headlight control, emergency lane keeping, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning. Autonomous emergency braking detects vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, while traffic jam assist, integrated cruise assist and lane departure prevention add further support.
Jay Jay Botes, general manager of Lepas and Chery South Africa, said the L6 represents a significant step for the brand in the local market. He noted the L4 introduced customers to Lepas and that the L6 builds on that with added space, comfort and a wider array of technology and safety features. He added the model strengthens the company’s position in the sport-utility vehicle segment and signals what buyers can expect as the range expands.
All L6 derivatives are sold with a 5-year or 150 000 km warranty, a 10-year or 1 000 000 km engine warranty and a 5-year or 75 000 km service plan. The L6 will make its public debut at the Festival of Motoring, scheduled for August 28-30 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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