A sneak peek at the funky new iCaur V23 ahead of its South African launch
Expect to see the new iCaur V23 on local roads from May.
Image: Jason Woosey
In a world of ‘same-old’ SUVs and crossovers that are becoming harder to tell apart, the iCaur brand promises a breath of fresh air with products that are designed to bring a more playful spirit to the new vehicle market.
The iCaur brand is owned by Chinese auto giant Chery, but it has a highly unique personality, to say the least. This is perfectly captured in the highly customisable and retro-styled V23, which takes its design inspiration from classic off-roaders of yesteryear.
It almost makes you want to rip it out of a colourful box on your birthday!
The V23 will be introduced alongside the more modern-looking 03T when the brand makes its South African debut in the second half of May. Both are fully electric vehicles, but ‘range extender’ versions are set to join the range in 2027, while the larger V27 is also set for local introduction.
IOL managed to get a sneak peek of the new V23 at the company’s head office ahead of launch.
The funky V23 will spearhead the local iCaur range.
Image: Supplied
Even the dealerships are designed to match the funky appeal of the brand, and these facilities will allow customers to customise their V23 to their heart’s content, iCaur’s national brand and marketing manager Shannon Gahagan explained.
"You’ll be able to walk into a dealership and design your wrap there. You can do stickers, a half wrap or a full wrap — whatever your heart is set on — and the dealership walks you through the whole experience,” Gahagan said.
Although the wraps, which will be available on the V23, are provided by independent suppliers, they enjoy full OEM backing and warranties.
The funky V23 is highly customisable.
Image: Supplied
But how much will the new vehicles cost?
Although final pricing has yet to be determined, indicative pricing is currently estimated to range between R550,000 and R650,000 for the V23, with the 03T slotting neatly above that model range.
That is extremely impressive given that these are fully electric vehicles.
On that note, the V23 will be available in single-motor and twin-motor formats. The former has an output of 100kW and is paired with a 60kWh battery. Final range figures have yet to be confirmed, but overseas media reports indicate a mileage of up to 500km, between charges, on the Chinese CLTC cycle.
Although the V23 is not a rugged off-road vehicle, given that it is based on a unibody EV platform, it should be more capable than your regular ‘crossover’, thanks to its ground clearance and available all-wheel drive.
Although we weren’t able to experience the newcomer out on the road, as the prototype we were exposed to was not yet homologated for road use, a quick spin around the office park did reveal an easy-going driving experience.
The interior was particularly impressive, and in keeping with the V23’s retro appeal, it is more analogue than we’ve come to expect from modern Chinese vehicles. Although there is a large (15.4-inch) central screen, the vehicle does have separate physical controls for the climate system, and there are also auxiliary outlets for wiring accessories into the vehicle.
Sitting behind my driving position, there was loads of rear legroom too, and the boot space should be sufficient for a small family.
“Inside the V23, we’ve focused on delivering the kind of features customers genuinely want, without forcing them into expensive options lists,” explained iCaur product manager Lindokuhle Sibanyoni.
All vehicles will come standard with leather seat upholstery, electrically adjustable seats and a seven-speaker infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sibanyoni added.
That’s as much as we can tell you about the new iCaur V23. So far, we are impressed with its funky and colourful nature, and we look forward to spending more time with it after launch.
IOL Motoring