By ThatCar.co.za
We’ve seen this movie before, right around the turn of the century.
Let me guess — your mind took you back to 1900, right?
Well, 2000 was also the turn of the century, and guess what? Some of us were already adults! 😂
That gets my kids’ heads spinning every time I tell them.
Anyway, around 1998 or 1999, a friend of mine — let’s call him Tom — had a father who was summoned by a neighbour who had just bought a brand-new car.
The neighbour was absolutely elated as he showed off his new Hyundai.
Mind you, in those days, you could get a Hyundai fridge!
This car was packed with features, but man, it looked NYAFF.
For those who don’t know kasiNEES, that means nasty.
The design was just off. Looking at the car, you’d swear the front and the back weren’t even aligned. It must have been a Sonata.
Fast-forward 26 years, and Hyundai has become one of the most recognisable names in the automotive world, with desirable designs and models that have built strong reputations for reliability. Some of its vehicles are now priced aggressively enough to cost more than their German counterparts.
Why am I giving you a history lesson?
Because we’re watching this movie again.
A wise man once said, “Give me your history, and I’ll tell you about your future.” (That wise man is me if you didn’t guess that already 😂)
Enter the Chinese car brands.
They arrived in South Africa, and boy, did they come!
(Get your head out of the gutter.) 😂
When some of these brands first arrived, the cars were more than just NYAFF.
But in less than 20 years, look where we are.
TADA!!!(get it? 😂 😂 😂)
The iCAUR V27 has been named Best Interior Design in the Premium Car category at the 2026 Torino Automotive Design Award (TADA).
Now, that’s something worth talking about.
WHAT IS THE TORINO AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN AWARD?
The Torino Automotive Design Award is an international award dedicated to contemporary automotive design.
And the iCAUR V27 has taken home the Best Interior Design award in the Premium Car category, marking another achievement for the growing iCAUR V Series.
So, what impressed the judges?
According to the brand, it’s the way the V27 combines its rugged, boxy SUV styling with a refined, modern cabin.
In other words, it looks like it could tackle a dirt road but welcomes you inside with a premium interior.
THE INTERIOR: DEFINITELY NOT NYAFF!
The V27’s cabin includes what iCAUR calls an “Interstellar Porthole” dual panoramic sunroof, designed to flood the interior with natural light. The laminated glass is claimed to block 99.9% of UV rays.
Technology is handled by a 15.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor. This runs the vehicle’s infotainment functions, including navigation, media and climate-control interfaces.
What does all this mean?
Well, the interior sounds anything but NYAFF.
In fact, I dare say it has a Range Rover-like feel to it.
And that’s a compliment!
It’s like someone coming up to me and saying I look like Denzel Washington.
I’d be grinning from ear to ear for the rest of the year. 😂
BEAUTY WITH BRAINS
But it’s not all about looks.
The iCAUR V27 also has some interesting hardware under the skin.
It uses an electric motor on each axle, while a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine acts as a generator rather than directly driving the wheels.
The combined system produces a claimed 339 kW and 505 Nm of torque.
Basically, you have a car with Eskom and a generator to power Eskom when loadshedding happens.
Make sense?
No?
OK, the petrol engine generates electricity to support the battery and electric motors rather than driving the wheels directly.
The claimed driving range is up to 1,000 km, giving the V27 the potential to combine electric driving characteristics with the convenience of a petrol-powered generator for extended journeys.
Beauty with brains.
OUR VERDICT
If you thought Chinese brands — particularly those associated with the Chery Group — were here simply to provide us with cheap and nasty cars, think again, my friend.
Think again.
Because you’re wrong.
The automotive industry is changing rapidly, and the iCAUR V27 is another example of how Chinese manufacturers are putting serious effort into design, technology and premium positioning.
Winning an international design award doesn’t automatically mean a car is brilliant to drive, of course. We’ll need to spend time behind the wheel to judge its comfort, handling, build quality and real-world performance.
So, iCAUR, if you’re listening, loan us the V27!
We’ll bring you a more in-depth review and tell you what we really think.
Until then…
