Chery has just unveiled a new 4×4, and there’s a good chance that it could be coming to South Africa.
The new SUV, called the V23, is the latest product to come from iCar – the Chinese automaker’s electric sub-brand, which will be launching in South Africa at some point in the near future, though the exact date has yet to be announced.
The manufacturer’s local division previously confirmed to TopAuto that it plans to introduce four more sub-brands in our country, one of which is iCar, while the other three are Exeed, Karry, and Luxeed.
However, these brands will not use their own names when they eventually make their local debut, as the parent company has instead opted to sell its catalogue under one of the three existing nameplates in South Africa – Chery, Jaecoo, and Omoda.
What we could be getting
Chery did not confirm any specific nameplates when it said that it would bring iCar to South Africa, but given that the brand is still new and only has two models to speak of so far, it’s reasonable to assume that the V23 will come here eventually.
Jaecoo is perhaps the most logical nameplate that the car will be sold under, as it is the company’s sub-brand focused on upmarket SUVs with models like the J7 and J8, so something like a “Jaecoo V23” seems like a reasonable designation provided the automaker doesn’t use a different model name altogether.
The V23 is the result of a partnership between Chery and Zimi Technology, which is owned by Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi, and is the second iCar model to be revealed after the 03 that went public in April 2023.
The new car is actually smaller than the 03; measuring 4,220mm in length, 1,915mm in width, and 1,845mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,730mm.
To put that in perspective, it is roughly the same length as the Jeep Renegade while being slightly taller and wider. Considering that the Renegade is one of the smaller vehicles that Jeep sells, the V23 could be viewed as a relatively compact vehicle, at least in comparison to other 4×4 SUVs.
The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) has two different powertrain configurations, including a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) single-motor or an all-wheel-drive (AWD) dual-motor setup.
Unfortunately, the iCar has not yet provided the power figures for either layout, but it did state that it would use batteries sourced from Chinese manufacturer CATL and that the AWD units have a range of 400km while the RWD units can manage more than 500km.
It also revealed that the V23 has an aggressive approach angle of 43 degrees, departure angle of 41 degrees, and ground clearance of 212mm, lending credence to the idea that this will be a capable off-roader.
Photo of the interior. Source: Car News China
Like many other recent 4x4s, such as the Suzuki Jimny five-door, Land Rover Defender, GWM Tank 300, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and Toyota Prado, the iCar is following a boxy retro aesthetic that appears to be the new trend amongst vehicle designers.
A few of the confirmed features thus far include circular LED headlights, a rear-mounted storage box, automatic climate control, a two-tone black and white leather interior, a large infotainment screen, and a Level 2 Advanced Driver Autonomy System.
More information about the iCar V23’s specifications will reportedly be announced on April 12 at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, and it is scheduled to go on sale in its home market in the second half of 2024.
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