The iCaur REEV is confirmed for SA
While the iCaur 03T is a competent EV, range anxiety remains a persistent issue, particularly over longer distances. Sure, the 2WD derivative has slightly lower battery power consumption, but could there be another option that is still better suited for cross-country travel? Maybe a REEV?
ICaur thinks so, which is why we may be getting the range extender version of what is essentially the 03T before the end of the year. It has a 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine that functions as a generator to recharge the 33.6kWh battery pack. The battery then powers the rear-mounted e-motor, which produces 185kW and 300Nm. For reference, the RWD and AWD variants make 135kW and 205kW, respectively.
Performance is decent, too. It can sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds before maxing out at 170km/h. More importantly, iCaur says it can travel up to 190km on electric power alone before the petrol engine needs to step in. Total range is claimed at around 800km, which sounds pretty handy for local conditions. The only question is whether that figure holds up in the real world.
As for charging, the 03T REEV supports both AC and DC fast charging capabilities as well as vehicle-to-load functionality, which effectively turns the car into a mobile power source.
In terms of features, you still get the same 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen paired with a 9.2-inch digital driver display. My only real criticism, based on what I picked up from the EV version, is the lack of physical buttons and the wireless smartphone charging pad, which sits directly in the sun. Other than that, the interior is impressive, particularly when it comes to the build quality.
At this stage, iCaur hasn’t released the official local pricing and local specifications, but it makes a lot of sense by giving customers the benefits of an EV, minus range anxiety, which was probably my biggest concern with the electric variant. Now it’s up to the brand to price it right to make it a convincing option for local consumers.
