iCaur V25 News

The latest brand to hit Australian shores from Chery Group, iCaur, has just made its public debut, and here’s what you can expect from the unusual new brand. iCaur Australia’s Head of Brand Kate Gillis told CarsGuide where the new marque will sit in Chery’s greater line-up, how it’s differentiated from rivals, and a bit on what’s coming next. The brand’s first product is the V25 mid-size SUV. It wears boxy 4WD styling, although it isn’t as adventure capable as some rivals. It will also launch early next year in fully electric form and a range-extender hybrid version will arrive at a later date. When asked why the brand was launching with a fully electric over a hybrid, Gillis said it was part of making a splash for the new brand, giving it a way to instantly stand out in a crowded market. “iCaur is a new-energy native” she said. “We wanted to have the first product and our flagship for now being a full battery electric vehicle. It’s a point of difference for us - obviously there are PHEVs already in this boxy SUV format, but nobody is doing a battery electric and we want to be the first to market with that.” “It’s for people who enjoy experiences and are electric car progressives. They want an EV but they’re not sure that it will fully suit their lifestyle - is meant to be a better fit for them.” While the V25 has boxy styling clearly inspired by proper four-wheel drives, it rides on a monocoque chassis rather than a hardcore ladder frame, and has less ground clearance than some rivals, with the underbody space designed to maximise batteries in fully electric versions. The hybrids in the brand's range sold overseas are range-extenders, with no hardware linkage between the engine and wheels, which are driven purely by electric motors. Performance is as high as 335kW/505Nm, according to Chinese specifications. The hybrid version will launch first in its domestic market and will be equipped with a 1.5-litre engine producing 115kW paired to a 33.68kWh battery good for a 150km electric driving range. Specs for the fully electric V25 which we'll see in early 2027 are yet to be revealed, even overseas. When asked how adventure capable iCaur is positioning itself given the styling, Gillies said the V25 and the rest of the range won’t be pitched as hardcore off-roaders. “It will be a very capable all-wheel drive - we wouldn’t say we’re up in that rugged category.” While pricing for the V25 was yet to be confirmed, but Gillis said iCaur was for “buyers with a higher discretionary income”, and if that means a more niche customer base compared to other Chery Group brands, that’s okay. “We won’t be a mass-market brand like Omoda Jaecoo or Chery - we’ll be more premium and the product opens up that opportunity for that new price point,” she said. This capable but not hardcore positioning seems to place the iCaur V25 as a rival to the likes of the Subaru Solterra (from $61,990) or the also-just-revealed next-generation Haval H7, which GWM promised would be priced less than $50,000. We can at least expect it will be priced above the current Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV, which starts from $34,990 drive-away, leaving a healthy $15,000 price gap for the incoming mid-sizer to shine. iCaur is also considering multiple versions of the V25, and may not just stick to all-wheel drive from launch, with rear-wheel drive options also being available to the brand. A big part of what sets iCaur apart, Gillis says, will be a commitment to customisation, something the brand is working on to have available at or close to the brand’s launch. “There’s a lot about modification and accessories and a real practical element around the iCaur brand,” she said, “the goal is to have no two iCaurs be quite the same - we’re going to be working with our dealers to make sure those accessories are both easy to choose but also easy for them to install - no waiting three months for parts - and it can all be installed inside our network.” She added new technologies also add opportunities for the brand to stand out for adventurous buyers; “Things like vehicle-to-load systems are certainly something we’re looking at as part of the spec offering.” On the topic of dealers, Gillis said iCaur is aiming to have national coverage from day one, and the brand was being picky about what dealer applications it selects. “They may have other Chery brands or not” she said, “but that doesn’t automatically qualify them. We’ll be carefully choosing them based on compatibility. We’ve had a lot of applications where we’ve said it’s not quite right for us.” She said the local division was looking to import some of the fun showroom appeal which the brand has for its outlets in China. iCaur will face internal competition on the boxy SUV front from fellow Chery Group brand Jetour, which is also planned to launch in 2027. Jetour is set to be independently imported rather than factory backed, like the rest of the Chery Group brands currently sold in Australia. Stay tuned for more details on iCaur's Australian launch plans before the end of this year.

Buyers are about to get their first look at the next wave of EVs coming to Australia.  The 2026 Everything Electric Sydney event will showcase many of the latest EVs headed Down Under, and will have a record number of new examples on show. Many affordable Chinese plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars will be available to look at, as well as some of the most anticipated new cars on their way to Australia.  There will be plenty of new models put on show for the first time by Chery.  Chery’s European-styled sub-brand Lepas will have two of its new models about to hit Aussie showrooms on display.  The Lepas L6 electric mid-size SUV will be the brand’s first car put on sale in Australia, due in October 2026.  Lepas will also show off its smaller L4 electric SUV that is expected to arrive Down Under in 2027.  Chery’s adventure-focused sub-brand iCaur will introduce its V25 rugged SUV for the first time. The V25 is scheduled to arrive in early 2027 with a range-extender hybrid set-up to rival the plug-in hybrid Denza B5.  Chery and Omoda Jaecoo will debut new models at the show as well, with more details to be revealed closer to the event.  Zeekr will unveil its hugely-anticipated 7GT electric wagon publicly for the first time.  The 7GT takes aim at Europe’s elite luxury models the Audi S5, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.  Earmarked for a late 2026 or early 2027 arrival, the 7GT will be the popular Chinese brand’s fourth model on sale Down Under.  Geely will continue its new model surge in Australia, with the introduction of two SUVs to its line-up.  The brand has not revealed any more specific details about what the models are.  They will join the mid-sized fully-electric EX5 and plug-in hybrid Starray EM-i that have both experienced a positive sales return so far.  Geely is on the up in Australia, with its methodical approach to introducing models seeing it claim solid sales results. GWM is another brand to have a strong presence at Everything Electric.  The brand’s new-generation Haval H7 mid-size SUV will be on show, scheduled to launch Down Under later in 2026.  It is expected to be available in both five- and seven-seater configurations, giving it a wider family appeal.  GWM will also have a more affordable PHEV ute on display.  The GWM Cannon PHEV is pitched as a cheaper and smaller sibling to the Cannon Alpha PHEV, and could undercut the confidently-selling BYD Shark 6.  The Cannon PHEV is expected to officially launch in Australia in October 2026.  MG’s U9 electric ute will be on display for the first time in New South Wales at the show.  The U9 is one of few electric utes targeting the Australian market, along with the low-volume Toyota HiLux BEV.  MG’s luxury sub-brand IM will put its LS9 large SUV on display.  The LS9 is a six-seater SUV that provides competition for the popular Zeekr 9X.  It could launch in Australia in later 2026 or early 2027.  Hyundai will present its Staria Load Electric van for the first time in Australia.  The Staria Load EV will join diesel- and hybrid-powered variants of the car already on sale.  It will battle in an increasingly competitive electric van segment against the Kia PV5 and affordable Chinese rivals, including the LDV eDeliver 7.  Forthing will show off an electric people mover that will launch in 2027.  Forthing currently only sells its Taikon 5 mid-size SUV in Australia, available as a range-extender hybrid or fully-electric.  Cadillac’s new Lyriq V performance SUV will be on show.  It is the brand’s first of its V-Series, boasting as the fastest Cadillac ever.  It will join the standard Optiq, Vistiq and Lyriq SUVs Down Under in early 2027.  Cadillac Lyriq-V Chery and Omoda Jaecoo new models  Forthing electric people mover Two Geely SUVs GWM Haval H7 and Cannon PHEV Hyundai Staria Load Electric iCaur V25 IM LS9 Lepas L6 and L4 MG U9 EV Zeekr 7GT

Chery has confirmed it's adding another sub-brand to its growing arsenal in Australia. New adventure-focused iCaur brand will join Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda and Lepas in the carmaking giant’s local line-up.  Chery will also likely launch Freelander and maybe Exceed in the next few years. Its Jetour off-roader brand will arrive later this year via a separate factory-backed entity. iCaur Australia boss Kate Gillis said Australians have a strong desire for vehicles that are practical, capable and good looking. “The V25 has been developed to meet those expectations while bringing a distinctive personality that will appeal to customers looking for something different,” said Gillis. The V25 features tough-looks with light off-roading ability. The company confirmed it will launch early in 2027, with the V25 the first model to join the line-up. It will go head-to-head with the Denza B5 and Subaru Forester in Australia and Toyota LandCruiser FJ in other markets. iCaur Australia hasn’t revealed any details for the V25, but specs have emerged in China. A filing to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) last month showed the V25 is an extended range hybrid (EREV). An EREV uses the petrol engine just to charge the sizable battery, with only electric motors driving the wheels. This gives it the driving benefits of an EV but without the range anxiety. It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 115kW, and a 33.68kWh battery delivers an electric driving range of up to 150km albeit under the more lenient CLTC test cycle. According to the MIIT’s details, the V25 is 4636mm long, 1920mm wide, 1855mm tall, has a 1820mm wheelbase and has a track width of 1635mm at the front, 1642mm at the rear. Overhangs of 736mm at the front and 1080mm at the rear are also quoted, though an approach angle of 28 degrees and a departure angle of 24 degrees have also been reported. In China iCaur has the V23 and V27.  The V23 is an electric SUV that uses a single electric motor to make 155kW and 292Nm. It is paired with a circa 82kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 430km. It can only charge at a max 104kW via a DC charger. The V27 is a bigger, chunkier tough-looking SUV, which uses an extended range hybrid set-up. A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine charges the 34.3kWh battery, with power coming from a pair of electric motors driving each axle, which combine for 335kW and 505Nm.