Upcoming iCaur V23 iWD EV SUV Aces Through Off-Road Challenge

The upcoming iCaur V23 EV SUV has been put through the challenge at the Kev Advenduro off-road test course.

Ahead of its much-anticipated local debut, the upcoming iCaur V23 EV SUV has been put through the challenge at the Kev Advenduro off-road test course here in Gamuda Gardens, Rawang. Geared with its unique all-wheel drive (AWD) system and adventure-ready design, the V23 races through the course with ease, thus proving its abilities as an off-road EV SUV.

Through the 2.8 km of loose mud-and-gravel test course, the V23 has survived multiple off-roading ordeals, including several steep hill climbs and descents, sharp turns, and uneven terrains. Part of its success through this course is thanks to the V23’s dual-motor powertrain setup with iCaur’s proprietary intelligent all-wheel-drive (iWD) system.

What's more impressive is that the iCaur V23 iWD completed this off-road challenge only by wearing its original 21-inch alloy wheels shod in normal road tyres!

Besides the impressive combined output of 211 PS and 292 Nm, the iWD system grants the V23 up to six distinct driving modes, including Comfort, Eco, Sport, Off-Road, Slippery, and Individual. With this system, the EV SUV also boasts an impressive maximum gradeability of up to 40%, while both the Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Hold Control (HHC) functions help the V23 to scale up and down steep hills with ease.

As for the car itself, the V23 was designed and developed with off-road capabilities in mind, and this can be seen from its decent approach and departure angle of 42° and 41°, respectively. With its tall ground clearance of 210 mm and a heavily-armoured underbody, this EV SUV boasts a maximum water wading depth of up to 600 mm.

To help amateur off-roaders manoeuvre the V23 easily, the EV SUV comes with a unique 540-degree camera system that features a transparent chassis view, allowing drivers to see the underside of the car. Also helping is the dedicated off-road view mode, which displays live information like both the pitch and roll angle of the vehicle, as well as the tyre pressure level.

iCaur V23 iWD EV SUV

Apart from its decent off-road capabilities, the iCaur V23 also makes for a pretty usable daily driver. Some key highlights include the sizable 81.8 kWh battery that is good for up to 430 km of NEDC range, a large 15.4-inch central infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities, and many more.

Bookings for the upcoming iCaur V23 EV SUV can now be made at any iCaur Malaysia authorised dealership, with estimated price figures of RM145,000 for the base-spec 2WD variant and RM155,000 for the top-spec iWD variant as tested. For reference, the V23’s less extreme and more conventional sibling, the iCaur 03, currently retails from RM119,800 to RM129,800, so which one of these rugged, off-road-ready EV SUVs is your favourite?