By Karim Hammam
Chinese electric vehicle startup Lepas has unveiled the Aura concept at its Global Elegance Night in Wuhu, China, presenting a new styling direction that openly references European luxury brands while previewing a potential small L2 model expected next year.
Design Influences and Personalization
The concept's front end echoes Aston Martin with a rounded grille, slim 'Leopard-Eye' headlamps, and a single black panel housing air intakes. The rear adopts an Alfa Romeo-like silhouette, while the bootlid logo uses a script closely resembling Porsche's. Lepas says the design invites owners to personalize lighting and graphics through a front display capable of animations and an oval rear display that can change light patterns, moving beyond traditional paint selection.
Leopard Aesthetics and Aerodynamics
Chief designer Ivan Dulanovic described the Aura as the second evolution of the brand's 'Leopard Aesthetics,' emphasizing a wide body, long wheelbase, short overhangs, and sculpted shoulders. Integrated air channels direct airflow over and through the car to generate downforce, with Dulanovic stating that form and function are inseparable and that the leopard's stance — lean, forward, and efficient — shaped the vehicle's surfaces.
Color Palette and Future Models
Three concept finishes carry geographic narratives: Dawn Pearl, a soft pink inspired by sunrise in Tahiti; Bacalar Blue, a turquoise drawn from Mexico's Bacalar Lagoon; and Provence Twilight, a deep blue-violet referencing French lavender fields at dusk. The Aura's proportions and styling cues are expected to inform future Lepas road cars, with persistent rumors pointing to a compact L2 model that could adopt the concept's front-end treatment and customizable lighting.
