Latest news with #iCarV23
Man of Many
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Man of Many
Chery's iCar Off-Road Brand Confirmed for Australia, Electric V23 Model On the Cards
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 23 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Chery's off-road EV brand 'iCar' set to launch in Australia after the UK by next year Name changed to 'iCaur' due to trademark issue The first vehicle is likely to be V23 compact off-roader to rival the Suzuki Jimny Expected to be priced less than AUD$40,000 plus on-roads One of the stars of the Shanghai Auto Show, Chery's off-road brand 'iCar,' is confirmed for Australia. The first car to arrive for local markets will be the iCar V23, according to a company representative who spoke to 'Because Jaecoo has the 03 exported already, we're going to do the V23 under iCaur (for overseas markets).' The V23 is a compact electric off-roader and soon-to-be range-extender hybrid that will be available to 'global markets' from mid-2026. With Jeep Wrangler vibes and a length (4,220 mm) that would place it closer to a five-door Suzuki Jimny (3,965mm), the car will appeal to prospective buyers who want an off-road aesthetic, but will likely never leave the inner city streets of Sydney or Melbourne. The car, which reminds us of Apple's scrapped EV project, will arrive with a different name to avoid trademark issues. Set to be called 'iCaur,' the V23 will likely be followed by the larger Jeep Wrangler-sized V25 hybrid SUV in late 2026 before the smaller V21 electric SUV arrives in 2027. Here's everything you need to know! iCar V23 | Image: Supplied / iCar While it looks like a Temu car, it ticks all the usual SUV design cues with those chunky wheel-arches, slab-sided proportions and mean-looking front-end. Hence, despite being just 4,220mm in length, it sure does pack a punch in terms of sheer road presence. Despite its small stature, performance is just fine, and certainly better than a Suzuki Jimny because of that EV powertrain. Expect both the single and dual motor versions to arrive in Australia, and here's what power and range look like: Single-motor iCar V23 (China specifications) : 100kW/180Nm 47 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery Up to 300km range (CLTC) : Dual-motor Single-motor iCar V23 (China specifications) : 155kW 81 kWh (NMC) battery Up to 500km range (CLTC) : What stands out the most is that 300km range (CLTC) figure—it might not be enough. The CLTC cycle is far more lenient than the WLTP figure standard in Australia, and we'd only expect 250km of WLTP range when certified for our market. We don't see how this is enough to make it a true off-roader for Australia. It won't have enough range to make it out of the city, but the range-extender hybrid that's rumoured to arrive later could fix this issue. Despite the tough looks, off-road ability is limited. The iCar V23 has only 210mm ground clearance, which is similar to a Toyota RAV4 (213 mm). On a positive note, it does have 43- and 41-degree approach and departure angles, which should help it out on steep carpark entries and exits. iCar V23 | Image: Supplied / iCar On the inside, the interior looks reasonably plush, while the steering wheel looks like a Range Rover and is flanked by actual buttons and a massive 15.4-inch touchscreen, which is standard fare these days. The large infotainment system runs a Snapdragon 8155 chip in China, and you get safety features like ADAS, all-around cameras and more. Whether or not all of these features arrive in overseas markets like Australia is still up for question, but they usually do. Storage-wise, boot capacity is an ample 744 litres. Publications, including Autocar and Drive, say that the iCar V23 is going to arrive in the UK by next year, meaning we should expect an Australian market launch a bit later in the year. In China, the V23 is priced between 99,800 to 139,800 yuan (AUD$21,500 to AUD$30,000), which does suggest that it could arrive in Australia with a targeted price of less than AUD$40,000 before on-road costs. It all depends on how much it costs to swap that 'iCar' badge to one that says 'iCaur.' Strange name, isn't it?!
Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Chery boss confirms iCar brand for Australia
Chery's iCar brand has been confirmed for launch in Australia, where it will join the Chinese carmaker's namesake brand, as well as Jaecoo and Omoda. The news was confirmed by Chery International president Zhang Guibling at the recent Shanghai motor show, where the new Chery-owned EV brand presented its three-model lineup comprising the 03, 03T and V23 compact electric SUVs. While iCar was launched exclusively as an EV brand in China in April 2023, Chery's export boss indicated that Australia will also receive extended-range electric vehicle (EREV – dubbed by iCar as REV) powertrains, which he acknowledged were more suitable for the longer distance travelled by Australians. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'iCar launched in China as an EV [brand]. But very quickly we will introduce REVs. The REV will address range anxiety, so I'm sure Australian customers will appreciate it,' said Mr Guibling. 'We are trying to make a difference. iCar is a completely different brand for Chery, and in the future we want to provide a different experience to different customers.' No local launch timing or model rollout plan was provided for the iCar brand in Australia, but Mr Guibling confirmed EREV development was already underway. iCar V23 Credit: CarExpert However, iCar will remain a brand name for China's domestic market only; for export markets including Australia, Chery's boxy adventure vehicle brand will assume the name iCaur due to a trademark dispute. It's unclear whether Australians will be offered all three iCar EVs currently sold in China, all of which borrow their bluff design cues from hardcore off-road icons like the Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Suzuki Jimny. The iCar 03 was first to launch in 2023, in both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive forms, offering a CLTC range of up to 501km from CATL battery capacities of up to 69.7kWh, and featuring a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster and solar panels on the roof to increase range. iCar V23 Credit: CarExpert It has since been rebadged for various markets including Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, with names such as the Jaecoo 6 and Chery J6. The more rugged, higher-performance iCar 03T followed in 2024, bringing upgraded mechanicals, more overt off-road styling including wider wheel-arches, vertical LED lighting and extra off-road equipment. The V23 is the newest, smallest and most distinctive member of the iCar family. The compact four-seat electric SUV gains a 15.4-inch touchscreen with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, advanced driver assist systems, and both DC fast-charging and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert Priced from just RMB 99,800 ($A21,425) in China, the retro-styled V23 attracted more than 31,000 pre-orders within hours of its launch in China. The entry-level version – with a 100kW and 180Nm electric motor, 47.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and approximately 301km of driving range on the lenient CLTC cycle – is also available with a slightly larger 59.9kWh battery, capable of delivering about 401km of driving range. Flagship V23s – powered by a dual-motor powertrain with 155kW and 292Nm, an 81.8kWh NMC battery and 501km of claimed driving range – are priced from RMB139,800 (~A$31,000). iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert Despite the relatively low outputs, iCar claims single-motor V23s can accelerate from 0-50km/h in 4.8 seconds, while dual-motor versions take 3.5 seconds. 0-100km/h sprint times haven't been disclosed. Measuring 4220mm long, 1915mm wide and 1845mm tall on a 2730mm wheelbase, the V23 is larger across every dimension than the Suzuki Jimny XL, and has an approach angle of 43 degrees, a departure angle of 41 degrees and, in all-wheel drive guise, ground clearance of 212mm. Single-motor versions are fitted with 19-inch wheels as standard, while dual-motor versions get 21-inch alloys. Under the skin there's five-link rear suspension, while buyers can also option off-road suitable tyres. iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert In the rear, the two second-row seats can be folded flat, providing up to 774 litres of space. CarExpert understands Chery Australia has been pushing for iCar's local launch for some time, following its relaunch as a factory distributor in 2023, when it released the Omoda 5 small SUV. It was followed by the Tiggo 7 Pro mid-size SUV, and last year the larger Tiggo 8 Pro and the Tiggo 4 Pro light SUV, which has become its top-seller and helped drive a 114 per cent sales increase in 2024. iCar 03T Credit: CarExpert Chery sales were up a further 216 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, and should continue to increase with the launch of more new models including plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8, plus a plugless hybrid version of the Tiggo 4 with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. There's also a premium, three-row Tiggo 9 Hybrid on the way and expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025 – possibly in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The latter would offer more performance from the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine backed by an electric motor and a larger 18.3kWh battery.
