The iCar moniker has been directly associated with Apple‘s rumored foray into the automotive industry, but it is actually the name of a new Chinese brand owned by Chery. Today, iCar unveiled the 03 rugged electric SUV and the iCar GT electric sports car concept at a special event that was held before the Shanghai Auto Show. Along with these two models, they announced the development of four more production models that will be released in the future.
To begin with the highlight of the presentation in Shanghai, the iCar GT is a low-slung, fully-electric sports car with scissor doors and T-shaped LEDs on both ends, which are reminiscent of Tesla’s emblem. Similar illuminated T-shaped elements can be found on the large-diameter wheels, while the low nose, toned rear shoulders, and integrated spoiler at the back create a sporty ambiance.
The interior of the iCar GT is sci-fi inspired, featuring a yoke steering wheel with an integrated display. This is joined by a large touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard, which has an illuminated area that resembles water. While there is no word on the specifications of the concept , it is expected that the features may be toned down when it evolves into a production offering.
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Moving on to the iCar 03, it adopts a rugged SUV stance, a body made of steel and aluminum, and a fully electric powertrain. TThe two-tone body, boxy wheel arches, and simple surfacing take inspiration from the Land Rover Defender and other off-road-focused SUVs, such as the Jetour Traveller, which is also a Chery product. The “iCar Allroad” lettering on the storage box mounted on the tailgate, the generous ground clearance, and the short overhangs hint at better-than-average off-road credentials.
The 03 has a length of around 4,200 mm (165.4 inches), which is similar to that of European sub-compact SUVs (B-segment)), although the wheelbase is 2,700 mm (106.3 inches) long, which is closer to the compact segment.
The full-scale prototype of the iCar 03 had blacked-out windows, suggesting it is a static representation of the upcoming production model and not giving away the design of the interior. As reported by Chinese media, among the technologies that will be featured in the SUV are a sophisticated virtual assistant called i-VA, plenty of smart vehicle functions, NFC unlocking, and an L2+ capable ADAS suite.
In addition to the GT sports car and the 03 SUV, iCar revealed the silhouettes of five upcoming production models that remain under wraps. These will include two low-slung vehicles, two SUVs, and one MPV, all powered by fully-electric powertrains and based on the i-MS architecture. Although iCar did not disclose any specifications for the powertrains of its future models, it announced its collaboration with CATL, the world’s largest battery maker. As a result, iCar will be the first automaker to use sodium-ion batteries in production vehicles under the Ener-Q moniker.
As reported by Car News China, iCar will be focused on younger buyers, with a price range between ¥150,000 – ¥400,000 ($21,800 – $58,200).
