Latest news with #iCaur
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Chery-owned iCar coming to South Africa as renamed iCaur
Off-road devised EV brand will be a standalone marque similar Omoda & Jaecoo and Jetour, and launch officially in August before sales start in the first quarter of 2026. Retro-styled V23 is likely to be one of the models iCaur will bring to South Africa. Image: iCaur South Africa After a series of rumours stemming from the Shanghai International Auto Show in April this year, Chery has confirmed that its electric off-road-focused iCar brand will be debuting in 2026, but under a different name. How do you say it? Founded two years ago, with its first model, the 03, being shown at Chery's inaugural tech festival event in its hometown of Wuhu later that same year, the marque will function in a standalone capacity similar to its Omoda & Jaecoo and Jetour siblings. ALSO READ: All-electric Jaecoo J6's low running costs won't justify lofty price tag In a turnaround though, and because of copyright ownership, the brand will be known as iCaur. Still pronounced 'i-car', sales will commence in the first quarter of 2026, making it the 15th Chinese vehicle manufacturer in South Africa after its parent company and divisional trio, BAIC, BYD, Dayun, Dongfeng, Foton, GAC, Great Wall Motors (GWM) Haval, JAC, LDV and MG. Its operations taking place from a projected 15 dealers by the time of its market arrival, the initial iCaur line-up will seemingly consist of three models, the same number currently sold in China. What to expect? Jaecoo J6 no more. Prepare for iCaur 03 Of these, the 03 will formally debut as an iCaur after initial plans had been for it to debut as the Jaecoo J6. While shown as an iCar at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last year, rebadging it as the J6 was eventually decided on for the starting of sales this year. Indeed, while a number of pre-production units were provided to the media badged as Jaecoos, plans on selling it came to an abrupt halt in a move now known to have been taken in response to the launching of iCar as iCaur. The iCar 03 made its world debut at Chery's Tech Day in Wuhu two years ago. Image: Charl Bosch As such, the 03 will take leave of the Jaecoo specific front-end and revert to its iCar frontal appearance, still with the inverted L-shaped headlights, and a lower case 'i' on the faux spare wheel cover that houses a storage area instead of the charging equipment. Dimensionally, the 03 measures 4 406 mm long, 1 910 mm wide and 1 715 mm tall with its wheelbase stretching 2 715 mm. The claimed ground clearance is 195 mm. The move to iCaur from Jaecoo will, speculatively, have a further impact on the 03's choice of powerplants as the J6 had been expected to offer only all-wheel-drive. iCar 03 made its debut, before becoming the Jaecoo J6, at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last year. Image: Charl Bosch In this instance, the dual electric motor setup produces 205kW/385Nm from a 69.7-kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack. At the time, Jaecoo claimed a range of 364 km, 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and DC charging up to 80 kW that requires a waiting time of 30 minutes from 30-80%. In the case of the rear-wheel-drive, the battery pack produces 65.6-kWh and drives a single electric motor that makes 135kW/220Nm. The claimed range is 371 km and the 0-100 km/h dash 10.5 seconds. The iCar 03 was originally supposed to be sold as the Jaecoo J6. Image: Jaecoo Similar to the all-wheel-drive, the two-wheel-drive 03 supports DC charging up to 80 kW, and will necessitate the same 30 minute wait from 30-80%. Specification, while still to be divulged, will more than likely be carried over from the now defunct J6 and include the 15.6-inch infotainment display, heated and electric front seats, panoramic sunroof, a 540-degree surround-view camera system and a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster. iCar 03T likely? Showcased at the end of last year, the improved 03T, which sports sharper styling, wider wheel arches and subtle rear facia changes, could also be earmarked for South Africa as it is reportedly under consideration for Malaysia, according to As per the 03T, also sold as the rebadged Chery X3 Plus in China, measures 4 327 mm in overall length, with the rest of its dimensions being similar to the 03 that also goes by the name Chery X3. Updated iCar 03T could also be in-line for South Africa. Image: iCar Power, reportedly, comes from a 68.3-kWh battery pack that produces 185 kW. Suggestively, this amounts to the all-wheel-drive as official iCar pricing claims a range of between 501 km and 520 km based on China's CLTC measurements. Pricing reportedly ranges from 119 800 yuan (R298 505) to 129 800 yuan (R323 422). Retro V23 Depicted in the brand's official confirmation statement, the third model it currently produces, the retro-styled V23, will serve as the alternative to the 03 and possibly, as the entry-level iCaur product. An aesthetic combination of the Toyota Land Cruiser 40-series when viewed from the front, the Defender 110 from the side and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class at the rear, the V23 made its world debut last year as a joint venture between Chery and the Zhimi Technology division of smartphone marker, Xiaomi A supposed tribute to the Soviet-era Beijing Jeep BJ212 that has been used by the Chinese military since 1965, the V23 has measurement of 4 220 mm in overall length, a height of 1 845 mm, width of 1 915 mm and wheelbase of 2 735 mm. Sporting a claimed 200 mm of ground clearance, the V23's departure angle is set at 41-degrees and its approach at 43-deegers. No details surrounding its breakover angle was divulged. V23's rear bears more than a close resemble to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Image: On the power front, the V23 offers a choice of two battery packs; the entry-level being a 59.9-kWh module powering a single rear-axle mounted electric motor developing 100kW/180Nm. Based on CLTC measurements, which differ from the WLTP used in Europe and by in-large, South Africa, the two-wheel-drive V23 will do 401 km on a single charge and require a waiting time of 30 minutes from 30-80%. Producing the same power, the extended range two-wheel-drive receives a bigger 81.7-kWh battery that translates to a claimed CLTC range of 550 km. V23's interior sports a central display similar in appearance to the Ineos Grenadier. Image: iCar Finally, the all-wheel-drive retains the bigger battery pack, but adds a 55kW/112Nm motor to the front axle for a combined output of 155kW/292Nm. In this guise, the range falls to 501 km, while the claimed waiting time remains at 30 minutes from 30-80%. Sporting an interior similar to that of the Ineos Grenadier, notable specification items consist of a 15.4-inch infotainment system, the 540-degree surround-view camera, a series of physical climate control dials and Adaptive Cruise Control. Priced from 109 900 yuan to 149 800 yuan in China, which equates to R273 746 and R373 132 respectively when converted directly and without the various taxes included, the V23 is likely to be priced significantly higher once sales in South Africa commence next year. Almost here The brand will its official debut at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring in August where more details will be revealed. ALSO READ: Preview for South Africa? All-electric Jaecoo J6 debuts in Thailand
The Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
Chery's iCaur EV brand to enter South Africa in 2026
Battery choices include 51kWh and 70kWh packs, with the latter offering a maximum claimed range of up to 501km. iCaur says the 03 will also be available as a range-extender electric vehicle (REEV), which adds the flexibility of an on-board petrol engine that charges the battery — ideal for longer trips or areas with limited charging infrastructure. V23 Next in line is the iCaur V23, which stands out with a retro-inspired design the carmaker says draws influence from off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The V23 will offer battery options ranging from 47kWh to 82kWh, depending on configuration, with driving ranges between 301km and 501km. The entry-level rear-wheel-drive model delivers 100kW and 180Nm, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version boasts 292kW and 455Nm — enough for 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Chinese brand iCaur to launch in South Africa - will its bold-looking SUVs be a breath of fresh air?
The iCaur V23 is a compact electric SUV with rugged looks. Image: Supplied And just when you thought the South African market could not possibly accommodate another Chinese vehicle brand, it's time to meet the iCaur. A product of the Chery Group, the iCaur vehicles are certainly not run of the mill, and South Africans will be able to experience them first hand when the brand launches locally during the first quarter of 2026. The brand is actually called iCar in China, but for obvious trademark reasons, it has been changed to iCaur for international markets. As a relatively new brand, established as an all-electric nameplate in China in 2023, iCaur aims to bring a more playful and user-centric spirit to the new energy vehicle market, says SA brand and marketing manager Shannon Gahagan. The local vehicle line-up has yet to be announced, but iCaur SA has released pictures of a boxy compact SUV called the V23. The brand also offers a larger (but also somewhat boxy) SUV called the iCaur 03 in some overseas markets, and interestingly, this vehicle has already been confirmed for South Africa as the Jaecoo J6. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The iCaur 03 is badged as the Jaecoo J6 in some markets. Image: Supplied The iCaur V23 boasts rugged looks and with a length of 4,220mm, it's not a great deal larger than the Suzuki Jimny 5-door. It is offered in rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive guises, with respective power outputs of 100kW and 155kW. Customers abroad can also choose between two battery sizes, with the 59.9 kWh entry option enabling a claimed range of 400km and the larger 81.8 kWh unit allowing 550km. iCaur intends to create a whole lifestyle experience around the brand. Image: Supplied In addition to standing out through emotional design and creating new vehicle segments, iCaur is also aiming to create a lifestyle ecosystem of sorts, extending beyond the car to include gear, content and experiences. The South African importer is currently finalising its dealer network and aims to have 15 dealerships up and running by the time of launch. 'South Africa is a country with a rich outdoor lifestyle, vibrant urban culture, and an increasingly energy-conscious mindset,' Gahagan concluded. 'These are the communities iCAUR is built for.' South Africans will get their first taste of the new vehicles at the Festival of Motoring, to be held at Kyalami from August 29. IOL Motoring Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Chery's iCaur EV brand to enter South Africa in 2026
Chery confirmed on Tuesday that its iCaur sub-brand will officially enter the South African market in the first quarter of 2026. This will make it the fifth brand under the Chery Group to arrive on local shores, joining Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and Jetour. Founded in 2023, iCaur is targeting younger, tech-savvy buyers with a portfolio of rugged all-electric SUVs that promise genuine off-road capability. Two models will be available: 03 Starting with the compact iCaur 03 crossover. It offers two EV powertrain options: a single-motor set-up with 137kW and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version with 208kW. Battery choices include 51kWh and 70kWh packs, with the latter offering a maximum claimed range of up to 501km. iCaur says the 03 will also be available as a range-extender electric vehicle (REEV), which adds the flexibility of an on-board petrol engine that charges the battery — ideal for longer trips or areas with limited charging infrastructure. V23 Next in line is the iCaur V23, which stands out with a retro-inspired design the carmaker says draws influence from off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The V23 will offer battery options ranging from 47kWh to 82kWh, depending on configuration, with driving ranges between 301km and 501km. The entry-level rear-wheel-drive model delivers 100kW and 180Nm, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version boasts 292kW and 455Nm — enough for 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds. This impressive performance is backed by solid off-road credentials: 210mm of ground clearance, a 600mm wading depth and approach/departure angles of 43° and 41° respectively. Both models also offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, allowing users to power camping gear, fridges or tools when venturing off the grid. iCaur South Africa is finalising its retail network, with initial dealerships planned for major metropolitan hubs. The brand aims to establish a footprint of 15 dealerships by launch. Further details will be announced closer to the local launch.
Auto Car
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Ineos could turn to Chinese firm to boost development of new electric 4x4
Deal to use iCaur platform is being explored by Ineos in bid to slash its CO2 output as soon as possible Close Ineos Automotive is in talks with Chery to build cars on a range-extender (REx) EV platform from the Chinese group's iCaur off-road brand, Autocar has learned. The tie-up would allow Ineos to move quickly to develop its postponed Fusilier REx off-roader and expand its line-up beyond the slow-selling Grenadier combustion-engined off-roader. The launch of the Fusilier would give Ineos a crucial low-CO2 model that would allow it to comply with emissions regulations in both the UK and the European Union. Currently, the company manages the regulations by selling some Grenadier models as commercial vehicles, thus ensuring it stays within the lighter-touch rules for low-volume manufacturers. Ineos is expected to repurpose iCaur's upcoming V27, an offroader that uses a 1.5-litre turbo engine as a generator when the charge from its battery – either 22kWh or 33kWh – is depleted. At 4.8m long and just under 2.0m tall, the V27 is larger than the Fusilier concept revealed last year but still smaller than the Grenadier. The all-wheel-drive version packages an electric motor on each axle and produces up to 449bhp, iCaur has said. Ineos declined to comment when approached by Autocar. In May, iCaur CEO Su Jun released a picture of himself standing with a prototype of the V27, asking social media followers whether they agreed with comments that it was 'the national version of the G-Class' or the 'new-energy Land Cruiser'. The iCaur brand is targeting sales in the UK and mainland Europe from early next year with a range of models starting with the V23 (pictured below), a small electric SUV. Subsequent models will include the V25 and a planned new 'V21' to rival the Jeep Avenger. Chery CEO Yin Tongyue said in April last year that 'two premium marques' in Europe wanted to use Chery platforms and the f rm was in talks with two others. One of those premium brands was Chery joint-venture partner JLR, which has since announced that it will revive the Freelander brand in China using Chery's T1X platform, shared with Chery brands Omoda and Jaecoo. The other premium marque looks set to be Ineos. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo also visited Chery's hometown of Wuhu earlier this year and showed interest in the iCaur V23. The iCar brand – which was forced to rename itself iCaur for exports to avoid a legal clash with Apple – has been a hit in China after the launch of the V23. The brand plans to repeat that success overseas and has set a goal of opening 2000 showrooms in 100 countries within three years. Chery is very open to deals with European car makers. In Spain it has signed up with local brand EV Motors to sell its Tiggo range of SUVs under revived Spanish marque Ebro. Meanwhile, the same cars in Italy are badged under the local DR brand. Both tie-ups involve an element of local assembly, with Ebro's cars sent over as partially built kits and finished in Nissan's former Barcelona plant. Ineos could be expected to repurpose its former Smart car facility in Hambach, France, to build the Fusilier model from iCaur kits sent over from China. Extended-range EVs are included in the EU's increased tariffs for China-built EVs, but assembling the cars in Europe could enable Ineos to circumvent them, provided that it can show it adds enough local value. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
