The Chinese automaker iCaur has officially confirmed that the V23 will make its South African debut in May 2026.
iCaur is one of two new car brands under the Chery Holding Group that is scheduled to launch this year – the other being Lepas.
Lepas is set to appear this week with its first two cars – the L4 and L8 SUVs – while iCaur will follow in May with the V23 and 03T.
While Lepas’s cars are comparable to Chery’s own Tiggo Pro range of petrol crossovers and SUVs, iCaur will offer a radically different lineup of retro-styled SUVs with electric powertrains.
“A new era of motoring is on the horizon, arriving with confidence, distinctive design and a clear electrified focus,” said the company.
“The all-new iCaur V23, from the Chery Group’s adventure-focused electric SUV brand, is set to debut in South Africa in May 2026, bringing competitive pricing, generous standard specification and retro-inspired styling to the local EV market.”
iCaur recently announced some of the key specifications for the new V23, giving us our first look at what we can expect a few months from now.
What to expect
iCaur confirmed that the V23 will feature two models at launch, a two-wheel-drive (2WD) unit and all-wheel-drive (AWD) unit.
This determines the car’s output, as the 2WD V23 uses a single front-mounted electric motor, while the AWD option gains a second e-motor over the rear axle.
The automaker stated that the SUV can produce “up to 155kW and 2922Nm,” presumably in reference to the AWD models, so it’s still unclear how much power the 2WD units generate.
It also noted that the 2WD is equipped with a 60kWh battery, while the AWD has a bigger 82kWh power cell, but it has yet to disclose the range for either model.
However, iCaur did state that the 2WD can achieve a 20%-80% charge in just 36 minutes when using a DC fast charger, while the AWD can do the same in 40 minutes despite its much larger battery.
The V23 use disc brakes all around with ventilated discs at the front, and the suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front with a multi-link rear setup.
The base models are equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/55 tyres, while the top-end AWD has larger 21-inch rims with 265/45 R21 rubber.
A few of the feature highlights confirmed so far include LED headlights, leather upholstery, electronically adjustable front seats, a seven-speaker stereo, and a massive 15.4-inch central infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Chinese SUV will also come standard with cruise control, parking sensors, a reverse camera, six airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, electronic stability control, and traction control.
The AWD units have additional assistance functions, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, and forward collision warning.
The V23’s full specifications and pricing will be announced ahead of its launch in May 2026.
iCaur V23
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