Jaecoo has confirmed its flagship 8 SUV will arrive here in May, marking its expansion into more premium territory following the success of the smaller 5 and 7.

Featuring curvier, sleeker styling compared to the Chinese brand's existing models, the plug-in hybrid 8 will arrive in the UK with two trim levels: Luxury at £45,500 and Executive at £47,500.

Both are equipped with the Super Hybrid System (SHS) that's also used by other Chery group models, such as the Omoda 9 and Chery Tiggo 9.

The powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a three-speed automatic gearbox, sending 422bhp and 427lb ft of torque through both axles.

This gives the 8 a 0-62mph time of 5.8sec – very nearly as quick as the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

It has a combined range of more than 700 miles and an electric-only range of 83 miles, while DC fast-charging capability of up to 40kW allows for a 30-80% charge in around 20 minutes.

Some other Chery group SUVs are offered with pure-ICE and electric power, but Autocar understands that an EV variant of the 8 isn't currently planned, and while an entry-level petrol variant is available in other right-hand-drive markets (with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that makes 245bhp and 284lb ft), there are no plans to bring it here.

The Luxury model features seven seats, making the 8 the first Jaecoo model offered in the UK to feature a three-row layout. 

Meanwhile, the Executive maintains a third row of seating but with a six-seat layout made up of four extendable ‘captain’s chairs’ upholstered in Nappa leather.

Dual 12.3in displays, a Sony 14-speaker sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats are all standard.

Autocar understands that the 8 isn’t an attempt to distance Jaecoo away from the value segment but rather a further addition to the range in response to market and customer feedback.