Chery’s latest sub-brand, iCaur, has officially arrived in Singapore with the launch of the V23 electric SUV.
Chery has introduced its third sub-brand in Singapore, with iCaur making its official debut following an event held at official distributor Vertex Automobile’s showroom on 23 September.
The first model from iCaur to be offered here is the V23, an electric SUV that has quickly garnered popularity among Singaporean car buyers here. The V23 was first previewed at the Singapore Motorshow in January, and Vertex opened the order books for the car a few weeks before the official launch.
In that time, Vertex said that it had already sold over 100 units of the V23, and a number of the first owners were presented with tokens of appreciation at the event.
Several of the owners noted the V23’s unique design as a major appeal, and the V23 does present itself as a rugged-looking SUV in the vein of cars like the Suzuki Jimny off-roader. Vertex also offers owners the opportunity to customise the V23 to their liking, with accessories like different
The car’s tall stance certainly cuts an imposing figure, and the boxy squared-off styling evokes hints of the Land Rover Defender. Further helping the car stand out are the range of available colours, which include shades like Astral Purple, Ranger Green and the eye-catching Lava Orange.
Vertex also offers owners the opportunity to customise the V23 to their liking, with accessories like different grille designs, roof-mounted lights, side ladders and roof racks among the various options available to be outfitted on the car.
The interior follows the same rugged theme, with chunky controls that are designed for maximum ease-of-use. The 15.4-inch central infotainment touchscreen is complemented by a set of physical switches that are crafted from hardy plastics.
Standard features include ventilated front seats and a 540-degree panoramic camera, but the V23 also offers a number of other handy bits that underlines its status as a go-anywhere all-action vehicle. There’s a bracket on the dashboard just above the touchscreen where passengers can mount an action camera, as well as nets integrated in all the doors to contain items without getting the cabin dirty.
However, the V23 only offers 234 litres of boot space, although this is expandable to 744 litres with the rear seats folded down. There’s no frunk as well to complement the lack of storage, and passengers will have to make do with the various pockets littered throughout the cabin.
Power comes from a single electric motor that produces 100kW/134bhp and 180Nm of torque, allowing it to qualify for a Cat A COE. Interestingly, the car is rear-wheel-driven and comes with standard road tyres as standard, which is an indication of how iCaur envisions most owners will drive the car in urban confines despite its rugged off-road outlook.
The car’s 59.53kWh battery gives the V23 a claimed driving range of up to 312km as measured under the WLTP combined cycle, although Vertex organised an efficiency drive exercise for the media prior to the launch, with the winner clocking in excess of 500km on single charge.
The iCaur V23 is available with a price tag of $184,999 with COE at launch, which puts it on par with Vertex’s other popular rugged-looking electric SUV, the Jaecoo 6 RWD.
Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on YouTube and on TikTok!
