Chery confirms iCaur V25 will lead new brand into Australia

Chery has confirmed the new iCaur V25 will be the first model launched by its latest brand in Australia when the boxy electrified SUV marque arrives in early 2027.

The announcement firms up iCaur’s Australian launch plans and puts the V25 at the head of the queue, despite the larger V27 previously being expected to arrive alongside it – and potentially lead the brand’s local rollout.

The V25 will make its first Australian public appearance at the Everything Electric show in Sydney from September 18-20, giving potential buyers an early look several months ahead of its showroom arrival.

Chery Australia hasn’t announced pricing, final specifications or exactly which V25 powertrain will be offered here, saying those details will be released closer to launch.

Known as iCar in China and iCaur in export markets because of objections from Apple, the young Chery-owned brand specialises in boxy lifestyle SUVs with electrified powertrains and only began selling vehicles in 2023.

The production V25 made its major public debut at the Chengdu motor show last week, revealing a mid-size SUV measuring 4636mm long, 1920mm wide and 1855mm tall, with a 2820mm wheelbase.

That makes it slightly longer and wider than a Toyota RAV4, but the monocoque V25 adopts much more traditional off-roader styling with circular headlights, squared-off wheel-arches and a side-hinged rear door.

Chinese regulatory filings detail a range-extender version powered by electric motors and a 33.68kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, with a 115kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine acting as a generator rather than directly driving the wheels.

Rear- and all-wheel-drive versions have been detailed, with claimed electric driving ranges of 150km and 145km respectively under China’s WLTC standard. The AWD model has also been listed with an 1800kg towing capacity.

The V25 is underpinned by a monocoque chassis and independent suspension rather than off-road-oriented ladder-frame live axles.

Other hardware revealed for the Chinese-market V25 includes 19- or 21-inch wheels, 197mm of ground clearance, and approach and departure angles of 30 and 28 degrees respectively.

The Chinese V25 has a 200kg static roof-load rating, fixed aluminium side steps, removable D-pillar panels designed to accommodate accessories such as a ladder or external storage box, and an 88-degree side-hinged rear door carrying a 22.7-litre external storage compartment.

There’s also some serious driver-assistance technology available in China, where the V25 can be equipped with roof-mounted LiDAR as part of Chery’s Falcon Pilot 700+ system, supported by 26 other sensors and a Horizon Robotics Journey 6P processor producing a claimed 560 TOPS of computing power.

The cabin combines a large central infotainment display with a slim digital instrument panel and retains physical rotary controls for functions including climate control, audio volume and drive modes.

The V25 will spearhead another significant expansion of Chery’s Australian operations.

iCaur will join Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo and incoming Lepas under the Chinese manufacturer’s local operation, while the Chery-JLR Freelander brand is also due in Australia in 2027.

Chery-owned Jetour is coming too, although it will be handled by a separate Australian importer.

The larger V27 remains expected to follow the V25, while the smaller V23 has previously been earmarked for Australia after it receives a future update.

“Australia is one of Chery Group’s most important international markets, and we’re delighted to introduce iCaur as the next step in our long-term growth strategy,” said iCaur Australia head of brand Kate Gillis.

“Australian motorists have demonstrated a strong appetite for vehicles that combine style, technology and capability. The V25 has been developed to meet those expectations while bringing a distinctive personality that will appeal to customers looking for something different.”

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