Here’s a mystery SUV spotted testing on Malaysian roads, posted up by Kevin Kiew on the paultan.org Automotive/Car Discussion Group on Facebook. We think that this camo-ed mule is the iCaur V23, from its boxy shape that takes after classic 4x4s, the square ‘spare tyre’ backpack and the location of the number plate to the left of it. Registered units of the V23 have been recently spotted.
Not seen here is the Land Cruiser BJ-style front end, which gives the iCaur V23 an appealing retro-modern look. The iCaur V23 was previewed in Malaysia in May this year alongside the iCaur 03 that was launched last month, the first model for the Chery-owned brand in Malaysia. The right-hand-drive V23 made its market debut in Thailand earlier this month as the Chery V23, priced from 699,900 baht (RM90,900) to 889,900 baht (RM115,500).
The V23 isn’t an 03 with a different face – we’re looking at a totally different body. At 4,220 mm long, 1,915 mm wide and 1,845 mm tall, with a 2,735 mm wheelbase, the V23 is 186 mm shorter, 5 mm wider and 130 mm taller than the more conventionally-shaped SUV that’s the 03. With wheels pushed to the extreme ends of the footprint (you have a full view of the tyres from the front), the shorter V23’s wheelbase is 20 mm longer.
The Chery V23 in Thailand is offered in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive forms, with the RWD packing a single 136 PS/180 Nm motor and the AWD getting a 211 PS/292 Nm setup. The RWD does the 0-100 km/h sprint in 11 seconds, while the AWD variant does the same in a much quicker 7.5 seconds. Both are limited to a top speed of 140 km/h.
The RWD is powered by a 59.93 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a claimed 360 km NEDC range (a WLTP-rated range closer to 300 km can be expected). The AWD gets a larger 81.76 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack with a claimed 430 km NEDC range, or closer to 360 km WLTP.
As for recharging, it’s up to 85 kW DC for the RWD, and up to 104 kW for the AWD, while AC maxes out at 6.6 kW. The V23 can supply up to 3.3 kW through its vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. Not the highest figures around when it comes to range and recharging, so there’s some price to pay for the V23’s style.
So, this or the 03 for you? The 03 is priced from RM119,800 to RM129,800 in Malaysia, and the V23 set to undercut it.
GALLERY: iCaur V23 previewed in Malaysia
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