A small but growing number of automakers are figuring out how to make EVs weird in all the right ways. Among them is Chery’s iCar brand, which has a few unconventional offerings, but none more intriguing than the V23. This chunky SUV looks like someone merged a Land Rover Defender with a Suzuki Jimny in a design studio that really loves straight lines. And now, it’s gotten even more eccentric with a retro-styled body kit.

The standard V23 already plays the retro card well, thanks to its squared-off profile, upright front and rear ends, and pronounced fender flares that give it a solid presence. But the new ‘Retro Emotion Package’ takes it further with a matte green wrap that feels perfectly suited to its aesthetic. It might look slightly out of place in a downtown traffic jam, but out in the wild, it fits right in.

Read: Chery’s iCar Expands Its Lineup With Rugged Minivans And Tougher SUVs

Complementing the special wrap is a unique front grille and a blacked-out front bumper. iCar has then added a large spotlight on the hood. Admittedly, it looks a little cheap, and the brand perhaps would have been better to add a set of more traditional circular spotlights to the front end.

Adding to the visual makeover are black rocker panels, side steps, and a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. So yes, it’s dressed to look like it could leave the pavement behind, whether or not it ever will.

Apparently, iCar was quite serious about developing an upgrade kit that doesn’t just look the part but serves some purpose. According to a report from China’s Ithome, that the matte green wrap has a special anti-glare treatment to meet military vehicle concealment standards. Additionally, the front grille can be quickly and easily removed and replaced by owners.

Considering how affordable most EVs are in China, it’s no shock that this upgrade kit follows suit. Depending on the configuration, it’s priced between 4,000 and 10,500 yuan, or roughly $550 to $1,450 at current exchange rates. As for the V23 itself, pricing starts at 109,800 yuan (about $15,000) and tops out at 149,800 yuan (around $20,500), which keeps the whole setup firmly planted in the budget EV bracket.

To put that in perspective, the base version costs about the same as a used 2021 Nissan Versa with 65,000 miles on the clock – and considerably less personality, if we’re being honest.

Performance-wise, entry-level models come with a 136-horsepower motor driving the rear axle. Higher trims get a dual-motor setup with a total output of 211 horsepower, both modest numbers, but likely enough to keep this small SUV feeling sprightly on back roads and city streets alike.

The Middle East is home to an impressive array of supercars and exotic vehicles, which, unsurprisingly, sometimes meet unfortunate fates. These damaged cars often end up in junkyards, where they are dismantled for spare parts. Hagerty recently explored some of the vast automotive graveyards of Dubai and unearthed a few noteworthy discoveries, most notably, a wrecked example of the brand-new Lotus Eletre.

More: This Japanese Shop Is The World’s Top Destination For Restoring Nissan GT-Rs

Lotus introduced its first fully electric SUV, the Eletre, in 2022, though deliveries didn’t officially begin until 2024. The example found in the junkyard doesn’t appear to have any obvious cosmetic damage, so those shiny yellow body panels might still be good for salvage. However, the air suspension has failed, causing the car to sit lower than usual, and the door handles are popped out, likely due to some internal issues.

While the specific details of the Lotus Eletre’s condition are unclear, it’s possible that it was involved in one of the flash floods reported in the refion, which could easily spell the end for any car, especially one with so much advanced electronics inside. Depending on how high the water reached, the electronics could be toast, and the cabin could have taken on some serious damage.

An Unexpected Collection of Exotics

This yellow Eletre is just one of many sporty and luxury vehicles that keep piling up in Dubai’s junkyards. Well-known automotive photographer Larry Chen, based in Los Angeles, recently toured one of these vast yards, showcasing a variety of damaged vehicles from brands like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Maserati.

According to Chen, it was likely one of the most colorful junkyards he’s ever visited, thanks to the eye-catching color palettes found in high-end cars.

The video, shared on Hagerty’s YouTube channe, offers a closer look at the incredible variety of vehicles and their varying degrees of damage. As Chen pointed out, the junkyard is well-organized, with specific rooms dedicated to various car parts.

That’s good news for anyone hoping to salvage some components, because, as he noted, some parts can be eye-wateringly expensive. A set of carbon ceramic brakes, for example, could cost up to $50k when purchased new. The same applies for body panels, accessories, and mechanical components from high-end cars like the V12-powered Ferrari 812 Superfast.

More: LA Junkyard Hides Treasure Trove Of Million-Dollar Classics Left To Rot

A nearby junkyard also focuses on American muscle cars, from brands like Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge, providing spare parts to meet the demand in that market.

Overall, Chen was impressed by the range of enthusiast vehicles found in the junkyard, a rare sight in many US-based yards. These types of cars, often worth far more than a standard junkyard find, tell an interesting story of how some of the world’s most coveted machines can end up discarded. You can watch the full 30-minute video of Chen’s tour above.

It’s no secret that Chinese automakers have been stepping up their design game, but sometimes, their inspiration tends to come from, let’s just say, more familiar places than they’d probably admit. Chery’s fairly new iCar brand already offers a few intriguing models, and now it’s working on a 4×4 that looks suspiciously like a Land Rover Defender.

However, unlike the British icon, this one comes without the history or prestige, meaning it’ll be far more affordable. It’s also expected to launch as a range-extender EV, which, if you haven’t noticed, is the current industry fallback for “We wanted to go fully electric but weren’t quite ready.”

Read: Chery’s iCar Expands Its Lineup With Rugged Minivans And Tougher SUVs

While the name iCar might bring to mind Apple’s long-abandoned EV project, it has no connection whatsoever to the tech giant. That said, the Chery-owned brand hasn’t just borrowed Apple’s naming vibe, as it also seems eager to echo the design of another Western staple, the current Land Rover Defender, all while keeping some visual ties to its own lineup, like the X23.

Spy photos from China’s Autohome reveal a front fascia that closely mirrors the Land Rover Defender, featuring headlights and a grille design that look nearly identical. The prototype also sports a blacked-out bumper, black fender flares, and matching rocker panels, all contributing to its deliberately rugged appearance.

The similarities keep piling up along the sides. There are small black vents on the quarter panel and chunky door handles. One notable difference is the fact that the iCar’s side windows appear much larger than those of the Defender and they seem to sit slightly below the line of the windshield. So there’s that.

At the rear, the prototype sports four square LED taillights. The third brake light has been positioned where you’d usually expect to find a spare wheel carrier, although for the iCar, it will likely serve as a small storage box.

Limited technical specifications are known about the model. However, Chery already has an impressive range-extender powertrain in its line-up that drives the Exlantix ET crossover and consists of a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric motors.

Familiar Face for a Fraction of the Cost

As for price, Chinese media outlets suggest a starting range between 200,000 yuan (around $27,600 at current exchange rates) and 250,000 yuan (roughly $34,500), making it significantly cheaper than anything coming out of Solihull. For comparison, the current Defender, the real one, starts from 688,000 yuan ($95,000), or more than three times the rumored price of the still-unnamed iCar SUV.

Autohome

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