The petrol-assisted iCaur 03T REEV will help alleviate range anxiety should it be green-lit for our market. Here’s what we know so far.
New-energy vehicles continue to hit South African showroom floors at an impressive rate. Thanks to a combination of the price of fuel increasing substantially in 2026 and a few more affordable models to go on sale, the new-energy segment is showing rates of impressive growth.
Battery technology has improved substantially too and yet, there will still be hesitation thanks to range anxiety; the fear of being stranded due to a flat battery. Thankfully the car companies have a potential solution. Enter the range-extender powertrain, or as they’re commonly known: REEV.
The premise is fairly straightforward with the vehicle operating primarily as a battery-electric vehicle, but once those batteries run low, the petrol engine in the car switches on to power the electric motors and top up the battery. It’s important to point out this engine does not directly power the wheels but rather acts as an onboard generator.
iCaur 03T REEV powertrain specifications
iCaur is one such brand to embrace such technology. Sure, the retro-styled V23 and 03T EVs have their novelty factor, but restricted to urban runabouts. Enter the iCaur 03T REEV which has gone on sale in the Middle East. It pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine to a dual-power setup and the result is 315 kW and 505 Nm, giving it a claimed 0-100 kph in under 5 seconds making it the quickest 03T yet.
Of more relevance and importance is the range. Whereas the BEV V23 and 03T versions muster between 300-450 km in the real world, the iCaur 03T REEV is claimed to have a total driving range of 800 km which is more usable. It has a fuel tank capacity of 45 litres and a battery capacity of 34.31 kWh, which can support 6.6 kW AC and 60 kW DC fast charging.
Prospects for a South African market introduction? We reached out for clarity to iCaur South Africa who have said the vehicle is under consideration for our market, subject to pricing and specification. Watch this space. That said, if you like the REEV concept and a bigger family SUV, the new iCaur V27 should be touching down before the end of 2026.
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