By Xolile Hopa

iCAUR will add the V27 REEV to its local line-up in the fourth quarter, a big all-wheel-drive SUV that couples electric performance with a petrol engine to take the stress out of long trips.

“The V27 is tailored to the practical needs of South African SUV drivers,” says Shannon Gahagan, Head of Brand and Marketing at iCAUR and OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “It delivers full electric capability for the weekday commute alongside the freedom to take on long trips without charging delays.

The V27 measures 5,045 mm long, 1,976 mm wide and 1,894 mm tall with a 2,900 mm wheelbase. It has an upright stance, a long bonnet and a rear-mounted spare wheel, and local cars will wear 21-inch alloys.

The five-seater’s cabin is dominated by a 15.4-inch touchscreen and an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster. South African models will get a 15-speaker sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 50 W wireless phone charging and voice control. A dual glass roof, leather upholstery, ventilated and electrically adjustable front seats and driver position memory complete the comfort list.

Two electric motors, a 150 kW unit at the front and a 185 kW unit at the rear, drive all four wheels and together produce 335 kW and 505 Nm, good for a claimed 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine never turns the wheels and simply generates electricity when the battery needs it. That battery is a 34.31 kWh lithium iron phosphate unit and iCAUR claims up to 150 km of electric-only range (NEDC), stretching to 1,000 km in total once the petrol engine is added.

Charging is at 6.6 kW on AC, while a DC fast charger can take the battery from 30% to 80% in 13 minutes under ideal conditions and a vehicle-to-load function can power external devices at up to 6 kW.

Safety kit includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic braking, a 540-degree panoramic camera and automated parking assistance.

Pricing, final specifications and launch dates will be confirmed closer to the car’s arrival.