Revealed in Dubai earlier this year, the iCaur V27 has made its Chinese public debut (under the local iCar marque, of course) at the ongoing Auto Guangzhou show. A large D-segment SUV with styling that apes the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser 70, it’s set to join the V23 as the brand’s second model in the Middle Kingdom, now that the original 03 has been subsumed into the Chery Fulwin lineup as the infamous X3 (I assume you’ve seen the videos of the failed stair climb on social media). The boxy design does little to disguise the V27’s bulk – it measures 5,055 mm long, 1,976 mm wide and 1,894 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. That makes it a whopping 825 mm longer than the V23 and 639 mm longer than the 03; in fact, it’s within 100 mm of the full-fat Land Cruiser 300. Unlike its pure electric siblings, the V27 has a range extender. iCaur still hasn’t released much in the way of details since the car’s August world premiere, but a ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT) suggests that the engine is a 1.5 litre turbo petrol unit making 142 PS. This reportedly juices either single (rear-wheel drive) or dual motors that produce up to 455 PS, getting the car from zero to 100 km/h in around five seconds. A 34.3 kWh battery delivers a pure electric range of 200 km on China’s CLTC cycle, contributing to a claimed total range of over 1,200 km. With its upright stance, angular wheel arch flares and an external spare tyre (not a storage box as per the V23), the V27 looks ready to drive off the beaten track – even though its unibody construction and lack of locking differentials mean it’s more suited to light off-roading at best. The square headlights with round internals and separate side markers are pure Land Cruiser 70, framing a gloss black grille and sitting atop a black bumper with vertical silver bars. Along the side, you’ll find front fender camera modules that mimic a Land Rover Defender’s vents, as well as an actual (if rather small) rear quarter windows for a modicum of over-the-shoulder visibility versus the V23. iCaur says the vertical square taillights are inspired by Legos, and that the body’s various bevelled surfaces are akin to a tub of ice cream that has been scooped out. The low and level window line, meanwhile, provides better outward visibility for all occupants. For the first time, we’re getting a look at the interior of the V27 – and it’s very similar to the V23, as it turns out, with a bluff dashboard and an abundant usage of chunky horizontal and vertical elements for a more rugged appearance. The main difference is the existence of a slimline digital instrument display, complementing the 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor. Just like the V23, there are toggle switches on the roof (including auxiliary switches for wiring up accessories); on the V27, these extend to the air-con controls, sitting below the centre air vents and above the dual smartphone holders (one of which is a Qi wireless charger). A large drive mode selector is nestled next to the cupholders, while up above you’ll find dual portholes in place of a conventional panoramic glass roof, claimed to filter out 99.9% of UV rays. Despite the size, the V27 is a strict five-seater, with those at the back getting air-con vents (unlike the V23) and BMW-style mounting points on the backs of the front seats for attachments such as an tablet holder. Thanks to the 69.9% of its footprint being used for cabin space, iCaur claims a generous 950 mm of knee room, 50 storage spaces dotted throughout the interior and a 715 litre boot – the latter is extendable to 1,818 litres with the rear seats folded. There are also 50 attachment points inside and out for various iCaur-branded accessories that are said to be eco-friendly. In China, the V27 will be offered with highly-automated city and highway driving functionality, equipped with lidar sensors and software from fellow Chinese firm Horizon Robotics. Other markets will almost certainly be restricted to the usual Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features. Will the V27 arrive in Malaysia? iCaur hasn’t said anything as yet, but its viability for the local market very much depends on whether it can be assembled locally. To its credit, Chery Corporate Malaysia its in the midst of building a new plant in the Beringin High-Tech Auto Valley that is set to open next year, and the V27 could very well be produced there. Would you like to see this thing in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments. Compare prices between different insurer providers to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services. Many payment method supported and you can pay with instalment using Grab PayLater or Shopee SPayLater.