Confirmed earlier this year as heading to South Africa in 2026, Chery-owned iCar has released more details of the boxy V27 ahead of the start of sales in China in the first quarter of the new year.

According to The Citizen, one of three models planned for South Africa, the others being the retro-styled V23 and all-electric 03T, the V27 made its first public showing in Dubai in August, before being shown again at Chery’s annual International User Summit in Wuhu the following month.

Set to be marketed under the renamed iCaur brand in South Africa, the V27 incorporates styling from the Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series at the front, while the rear resembles that of the last-generation Isuzu Trooper to an extent.

Size and flagship status

Likely to become the flagship iCaur model above the V23, the V27 seats five and measures 5 055mm long, 1 976mm wide, 1 894mm tall and has a 2 910mm wheelbase.

Interior and tech features

Still to be fully detailed for South Africa, carnewschina.com reports the V27 will be equipped with a 23-speaker sound system, a 15.4-inch infotainment system, LiDAR, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and a digital instrument cluster recessed into the dashboard.

Powertrain and performance

Little known until now, up front, the V27 debuts what Chery calls its ‘Golden Range Extender’ powertrain modelled around the familiar 1.5 T-GDI petrol engine.

Producing 105kW on its own, the engine is mated to a 34.3-kWh battery pack powering a single or a pair of electric motors.

The engine, serving largely as a generator for the electric hardware, allows the V27 to output 184kW in single-motor rear-wheel drive guise, and 335kW in dual-motor four-wheel drive form.

Accordingly, albeit based on China’s CLTC data, the V27 has a claimed all-electric range of 210km and a combined range of 1 200km, most likely applicable to the single motor.

Launch and pricing

Still to be priced in China, expect more details to emerge with the opening of pre-orders in the People’s Republic in mid-January.

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