iCaur rules out diesel and utes as V25 lines up for early-2027 Australian launch

No diesel, no ute, says iCaur leadership

Chery's iCaur brand has ruled out diesel power and a pickup for now, in comments from its leadership ahead of the V25's Australian launch in early 2027. Asked by Australian media, including CarExpert, in China whether iCaur could use a diesel engine, iCaur International CEO Ronna Luo replied: "Definitely no diesel engine plan." She also said a pickup or truck was not in the brand's current plans. ¹

That contrasts with the parent company's approach in Australia. As CarExpert reports, Chery is preparing the Stockman dual-cab ute for Australia, with customer deliveries due from February 1, 2027 after the previously announced late-2026 launch slipped. The Stockman will use a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain with preliminary combined outputs of 350kW and 800Nm. Toyota Australia sales vice-president John Pappas separately told CarExpert this month that "customers still need diesel in regional and rural Australia". ¹

Design direction beyond the box

iCaur's bosses also signalled the boxy styling of today's lineup will not define every future model. Dr Su Jun, Chery Automobile vice president overseeing iCaur's product design, brand building and business operations, told Australian media including CarExpert: "A boxy car is only one kind of our car." He cited the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and S-Class as very different shapes that remain recognisable members of the same brand, adding: "So I don't think boxy is the only gene of the family." ¹

Ms Luo said she would "prefer not to limit ourselves to boxy", emphasising a mix of classic design and electrified technology instead. Asked whether the brand would move beyond SUVs, she replied: "Mostly SUVs. Yes." Dr Su said the design team draws on the restraint and simplicity of brands such as Apple and Muji, aiming for a recognisable product family even when individual vehicles take different forms. ¹

A more streamlined direction has already been previewed: the Robox concept, revealed at the Beijing motor show earlier this year, keeps rugged styling cues but has a more swept-back roofline than the production V-series SUVs. ¹

V25 global debut and what it offers

The V25 made its global debut and officially went on sale worldwide at the 2026 iCAUR International User Summit, which opened on October 19 in Wuhu, China. Chery Group's press release says the V25 rounds out the V-series lineup alongside the V23 and V27, and three officially customised V-series models — the V23 Forge, V25 Game Changer and V27 Sun Roam — are planned for global markets by early 2027 through knock-down production or dealer-installed packages, subject to local regulations and market conditions. ³

Chery's pre-summit materials describe the V25 as an "all-way SUV" offering multiple powertrain options including the Golden REEV range-extender and a battery-electric variant, equipped with the i-AWD intelligent all-wheel-drive system. The Golden REEV system is claimed by the manufacturer to achieve fuel-to-electricity conversion with 44.5% thermal efficiency. ²⁴

Manufacturer-claimed capability figures for the V25 include a 1.8-tonne towing capacity, 6kW vehicle-to-load (external discharge) capability, more than 20 ecosystem interfaces, 66.4% space efficiency, 41 storage spaces and a body made of 80% high-strength steel. These remain manufacturer claims. ³

V25 as iCaur's first Australian model

The V25 will be iCaur's first Australian model, due in early 2027. CarExpert reports it measures 4636mm long, 1920mm wide and 1855mm tall on a 2820mm wheelbase, placing it in the broad size class of the Toyota RAV4. Despite its off-roader styling, it uses car-like unibody construction rather than body-on-frame underpinnings. ¹

The V25's Australian powertrain lineup, pricing, warranty coverage, final specifications and detailed launch arrangements are still to be announced, and the vehicle has already been spied testing in Australia, as CarExpert previously reported. Right-hand drive versions of the smaller electric V23 and larger V27 range-extender have been shown, but Australian sales of those models remain unconfirmed. ¹⁶

Global rollout context

The brand has expanded quickly since its international launch. Chery says iCaur is now present in more than 40 countries and regions, with plans to reach more than 70 markets by 2027. The V23 has surpassed 100,000 units in cumulative global sales and received the Red Dot Design Award in 2026, while the V27 won the Best Interior Design Award in the Premium Car Category at the 2026 Torino Automotive Design Award. ³

The UK will also get the brand in early 2027, led by the five-seat V27 flagship. The Independent reports the V27 will be refined for UK roads at Chery's new R&D Centre of Excellence at UTAC Millbrook in Bedfordshire, sold through a dedicated iCAUR team and a separate route to market from Chery's other UK brands, with full UK specifications and prices due closer to launch. Earlier Chery materials for Europe cite a combined range of over 1,000km, 224mm ground clearance and a 2900mm wheelbase for the V27 — overseas specifications that do not automatically apply to Australia. ⁷⁵