The iCaur V23 spearheads the funky brand's introduction to the South African market.
Image: Jason Woosey
Sixto Rodriguez would not have needed a Sugar Man to bring colour to his dreams if this brand was around in the early 1970s.
The iCaur brand has officially landed in Mzansi, bringing a dash of colour to a market where conservative and generic seem to be the norm.
iCaur positions itself as a youthful and tech-heavy ‘new energy’ lifestyle brand, with a focus on adventurous design and customisation. Even the dealerships marketing this Chery-owned brand were designed to look like a toy box.
The V23 is a colourful addition to South Africa's electric car market.
Image: Supplied
And if you were wondering about the name… iCaur is actually iCar in China, but the name was changed for international markets due to copyright conflicts with a certain American tech giant named after a fruit.
The first two vehicles to land are the retro-styled V23 and the more modern-looking 03T. Both feature electric drivetrains, with range-extender options expected to join the line-up at a later stage.
The V23 offers almost endless customisation potential.
Image: Supplied
The V23 has a cool factor that few vehicles on the market can match - because the customisation possibilities are almost endless, with a glut of wraps and accessories available through dealers.
"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,” said iCaur’s national brand manager, Shannon Gahagan.
The V23 also features over 20 factory-integrated mounting points, allowing owners to add or replace accessories such as roof racks, exterior attachments and interior mounts. Items such as removable fender flares, side ladders and auxiliary lighting can also be ordered at dealer level.
The V23 is priced from R519,900 in 2WD (rear-wheel drive) form, making it one of South Africa's least expensive EVs, while the more powerful AWD commands R669,900. Its more upmarket 03T sibling costs R639,900 in 2WD form and R699,900 in AWD configuration.
The V23 2WD base model is relatively modest on the performance front, with outputs of 100kW and 180Nm, and its claimed range is 360km from its 60 kWh battery. However, as a city runabout, it works just fine, and on the short launch route, it provided adequate performance.
The twin-motor AWD variant is a little brawnier, with 155kW and 292Nm on command, while its 81.8 kWh battery provides a claimed range of 430km.
Although it’s based on a unibody EV platform, its ground clearance and available all-wheel drive are said to make it more capable off the beaten track than a regular crossover. However, given that our launch route was purely on tar, we'll reserve any judgement until we've had the vehicle on test.
Digital meets analogue in the cabin.
Image: Supplied
Inside the cabin is a pleasing mix of traditional analogue controls, for things like the climate system, and digital screens, with a 15.4-inch touchscreen taking pride of place in the centre of the dashboard. It's well stocked, with standard features including leather seat upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats, cruise control, voice command and a seven-speaker sound system. Safety features include six airbags and traction control.
The AWD model adds heated front seats as well as the full complement of driver assistance gizmos, including a 540-degree surround view camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Keep Assist and Reverse Collision Warning.
The 03T is positioned as the flagship of the range, until the V27 arrives at a later date.
Image: Supplied
The iCaur 03T is also available in 2WD and AWD variants, with the former featuring a 135kW motor positioned atop the rear axle and fed by a 65 kWh battery. The dual-motor AWD version ups the ante to 205kW and gains a slightly larger 69.7 kWh battery. The two versions accelerate from 0–100km/h in 10.5 seconds and 6.5 seconds, respectively, however the top speed is limited to 150km/h.
In terms of range, the 2WD model is said to cover 431km between charges, with the AWD extending this to 436km, according to claims. DC fast charging allows both variants to be charged from 10% to 80% in as little as 30 minutes.
03T interior.
Image: Supplied
Standard features include black leather upholstery, ambient lighting, climate control and electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. Additionally, the AWD gains a massage function and an adjustable leg rest for the front passenger.
The vehicles are covered by an eight-year or 200,000km vehicle warranty, albeit with battery coverage limited to 160,000km. A five-year or 100,000km service plan is also part of the deal.
IOL Motoring