The Chery iCar V23 compact crossover was spotted in China with an EREV powertrain. It will deal with a range anxiety problem as extended-range electric vehicles are gaining momentum in China. The iCar V23 EREV will enter the domestic market next year.
Chery launched iCar in 2023 as a mainstream NEV brand for young buyers. The brand’s first model was the iCar 03 brawny electric SUV. On December 16, iCar launched the second model, which is the V23 BEV crossover created jointly with Xiaomi subsidiary Zhimi. Its price range is 99,800 – 139,800 yuan (13,700 – 19,200 USD). Now, the iCar V23 has been seen in China with an EREV powertrain option.
iCar V23 with EREV powertrain
The Chery iCar V23 crossover with an EREV powertrain was spotted at the car carrier in China. We can tell it adopts a range extender by an exhaust pipe in the rear. This model’s exterior design is highly unfinished. For example, it has a hole instead of a fuel cap door. The battery of the iCar V23 is quite low under the hood. So, this vehicle is in the early test stages.
There is no information about the iCar V23 EREV’s powertrain. It will most likely adopt the Chery-developed range extender adopted by the Exlantix ET crossover. It is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 115 kW (154 hp) and a thermal efficiency rate of 44.5%. We expect the Chery iCar V23 EREV to adopt both RWD and 4WD drivetrain variants.
The range-extended variant of the iCar V23 will become cheaper than the electric version. We at CarNewsChina expect this car to start at around 90,000 yuan (12,350 USD). So, it will become one of the few mainstream cars with a range extender available in China.
More about iCar V23 EV
The electric variant of the Chery iCar V23 adopts off-road look inspired by some sturdy body-on frame SUVs. It has dimensions of 4220/1915/1845 mm with a wheelbase of 2735 mm. Its ground clearance reaches 210 mm. Approach and departure angles are 43 and 41 degrees, respectively.
The V23’s cabin adopts a 15.4-inch screen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. It has two rows of seats with a 2+2 layout. With the second-row seats folded, the trunk capacity of the iCar V23 reaches 744 liters.
The iCar V23 has three powertrain configurations. The entry-level trim has a 100 kW (134 hp) e-motor and a 47.3 kWh battery for a 301 km range. The second variant has the same electric motor with a bigger battery for 60 kWh and 401 km range. The 4WD version of the Chery iCar V23 has two e-motors with a combined power of 155 kW (211 hp). The 81.8 kWh ternary NMC battery powers them, suitable for a 501 km range.
