iCaur: The new fun-loving kid on the block

I'll answer your burning question first: iCaur is known as iCar in China. In fact, its full name is iCar Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. The brand was renamed to iCaur for its global release due to trademark and copyright reasons - yes, it is pronounced 'i-car', not 'i-call' or 'i-cow'.

If you have been reading our articles and watching our videos, you would've already known about the iCaur V23. When we first laid eyes on the V23 last year at Auto China 2025 in Shanghai, we were instantly captivated by its retro-inspired design. While Omoda and Jaecoo is the brand that Chery chose to enter the global market with, I've got to admit that iCaur was the brand that captured my heart then.

Since that encounter, I started sharing photos of the V23 through my social media, to friends, and anyone who's willing to listen to me talk about a relatively unknown Chinese EV brand. In a small way, I was hoping to point more people towards iCaur's direction, drum up more attention and hopefully, bring the brand our way, as back then the iCaur and the V23 wasn't confirmed for our market yet.

Once and again, iCaur has emphasised its inspiration from classic off-roaders - it is the only brand that I've ever seen publicly acknowledging something like this

A brand that's headed in the right direction

It turns out that I didn't have to worry - the V23 appealed to so many that I've started seeing it everywhere online, and some friends were even actively sharing about the car before I've mentioned it to them.

So, what's so special about iCaur? Well, it's the only brand that I have ever seen proudly acknowledging the cars that it was inspired by - its presentation slide at the Auto China 2025 included a classic Mercedes-Benz G-wagen, Land Rover Defender, and a Toyota Land Cruiser. The humble attitude was appealing, but even more so was the actual product - while the V23's design is clearly inspired, it isn't a shameless duplicate, instead it was unique and very attractive.

The iCaur V27 takes centre stage at this year's Auto China show in Beijing - the V27 is slightly larger than the V23, and is offered with a range-extender EV powertrain

Fast forward to this year's Auto China, and we saw the introduction of the V27, a slightly larger SUV that you'll see elements of the Defender and Land Cruiser on, but still manages to have a distinct look and charming presence.

And we might have the brand's ethos to thank. iCaur states that it believes in three main values: Design-first, Technology-driven, and Life-centered. It also operates with the slogan: Classic Never Fades. It explains that 'true classics are neither retro nor trend driven', signifying the brand's desire to create designs that will last the test of time, and it has clearly done so by studying the iconic off-roaders that have achieved that status.

 Being a sub-brand of Chery Group, iCaur is in a good position to enjoy the technology that its parent company owns

More than just good looking

We know that iCaur has gotten the design part down to an art. As for the tech part, it is a blessing that iCaur belongs to Chery Group, which is a veteran in the automotive industry, and the top automobile exporter in China, no less.

From the innovative technology to the know-how in manufacturing cars, iCaur has everything it needs to create good cars

With the backing of an automotive behemoth that owns multiple research and development centres around the world, along with countless cutting-edge technology, you know that iCaur is in a good position. We've attended Chery's conferences and has learnt plenty about its tech advancements. From highly capable Level 3 Autonomous driving systems built upon AI-based foundations, to development on solid-state batteries and innovative hybrid engines that achieves unprecedented levels of thermal efficiency, Chery Group has it all.

iCaur models are built to high standards, with the V23 achieving an impressive five-star safety rating by ASEAN NCAP; at the same time, iCaur vehicles are also offered with efficient and powerful powertrains

Models such as the iCaur V23 has clearly benefited from its parent company. The V23 has achieved an impressive five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating with an overall score of 91.02 points - thanks to the safety systems and the rigid monocoque chassis.

iCaur also has the flexibility to offer models with various efficient, reliable and powerful drivetrains, including the full electric ones found in models like the V23, and highly efficient Range-Extender EV (REEV) hybrid drivetrains that are found in models like the V27.

This is the Singaporean media's first time driving iCaur's products - on a muddy off-road course!

During our recent visit to Chery Group (and iCaur)'s hometown in Wuhu, China, we had the opportunity to experience the V23 and V27 on an off-road dirt track. Both the full EV and REEV drivetrains we tested were the all-wheel drive variants that provided stout performance. The course wasn't hardcore, but it wasn't exactly a walk in the park either - you'll definitely require sufficient traction, ground clearance and a fair bit of torque here.

While it wasn't a serious obstacle course, the terrain was broken, slippery and undulating - probably enough to upset less capable off-roaders

With the iCaur V23 and V27, it was all fun - so much so that neither of us wanted to stop driving

Both cars handled the undulations, climbs and uneven surface flawlessly. There were even instances when we approached and cleared the crests with a little too much speed, but the cars held up without issue, despite the abuse. After our experience at the test track, I'm convinced that these cars don't only look capable, they are indeed pretty good off the tarmac.

iCaur encourages its customers to customise and personalise their own vehicles

Made to meet your needs and wants

With its 'Life-Centric' ethos, iCaur says that it wants to turn every journey into a story of its own, going with a user-centric experience. When we visited the iCaur section at the exhibition hall located within the Chery International Park, it was clear what the brand meant. There were several customised versions of the V23 and V27 being showcased, along with walls filled with optional dress-up parts and various accessories for the iCaur models.

Modified versioons of the V23 and V27 were showcased in iCaur's own exhibition section within the Chery International Park

Car modification has always existed, as people enjoy customising and styling their own cars, be it to express their own style, or to improve their daily driving experience.

iCaur's products like the V23 and V27 were designed with easy personalisation in mind, along with built-in interfaces and official optional add-ons

However, iCaur has consciously designed its cars with built-in interfaces and attachment points, along with official optional add-ons to facilitate the process. As a result, owners are able to customise their own iCaur to suit their preferences with minimal hassle.

With a planned debut sometime around August this year, we will get to see iCaur's products in Singapore really soon!

iCaur will officially enter Singapore soon!

While we got our first look at the iCaur V23 in China last year, an iCaur product has actually been roaming our roads for quite a while now: the iCaur 03. The iCaur 03 entered Singapore under the Jaecoo branding, and has been sold as the Jaecoo J6.

However, it has been confirmed that the iCaur brand will make its official debut around August this year. The fully-electric V23 will be the first model to be sold here, likely in the rear-wheel drive Cat A COE guise, while the V27 will potentially arrive late next year.

From what we've experienced in Wuhu, I'm pretty sure the iCaur V23 and V27 will have a substantial fan base when they reach our shores. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to driving these cars on Singapore roads.