MG’s parent company, the SAIC group, is preparing to launch its IM brand in Europe. No less than two electric cars are then planned, namely the LS6 SUV as well as the L6 sedan, the marketing of which will soon begin in China. Enough to give Tesla a cold sweat? Without a doubt…
If Tesla was the market leader in electric cars for several years, specialists have been warning of the massive arrival of Chinese competition. And they were not wrong, since the American firm was finally overtaken by BYD, which became world number 1 since the start of the year. And the American manufacturer will not be spared, because other brands are also determined to offer themselves a place of choice on the Old Continent.
An imminent arrival
Among them, we can notably cite the Chinese group SAIC. If you think you’ve never heard of it, it’s a safe bet that you know MG, which belongs to him and which is a hit with its MG4. But the firm also has other brands, which should also soon enter the European market. In addition to Maxus, which has already arrived with its utilities, this will also be the case forIM, acronym for Intelligent Motors. The latter is in fact born in 2020 from the association between SAIC and the Alibaba group.
Still little known in our region, the manufacturer already has a fairly complete range, including the L7 and LS7, which take the form of a sedan and an SUV. high-end positioning. But that’s not all, because last July, IM also lifted the veil on its LS6, rival of the Tesla Model Y as well as on its L6 sedan, which hunts in the lands of the Model 3. And good news, these the last two will soon make their way to Europe.
This is what the manufacturer suggests, which now wishes to develop outside its native market. As the site indicates Car News ChinaSAIC Motors plans to sell no less than 1.35 million cars around the world during the year 2024. And it particularly wishes to focus on its high-end brands which are IM and Feifan, also known as Rising Auto. The latter unveiled its R7 electric SUV last September.
To say that SAIC Motors does not intend to rest on its laurels is an understatement. Because the group subsequently plans toexport 1.5 million cars worldwide in 2025, and will launch 14 NEV models (hybrid and electric) over the next two years as indicated CNEVPost. For the moment, the name of these cars has not been confirmed, but they could be vehicles that already exist in China.
A sedan to thrill Tesla
It is entirely probable that the IM L6 is part of the journey, since the electric sedan has all the cards on paper to achieve great success. It should directly compete with the Tesla Model 3, of course, but also with the BYD Han EV and other Xpeng P5s, among others. Especially since it displays a refined and rather desirable style, inspired by the LS6 SUV.
This new arrival on the market measures 4.93 m long and 1.96 m wide, but it has not yet revealed its Cx (drag coefficient). The latter should, however, be lower than the 0.237 of the electric SUV, while the driving position should also remain very close. We should find a large digital panel which takes place on the top of the dashboard. However, we will have to wait for the official photos to have confirmation.
Unsurprisingly, the IM L6 will take over the technical sheet of the LS6, with no less than two versions, with two or four-wheel drive. The first claims 250 kW, or 340 horsepower and the second reaches 787 horsepower with its two electric motors. Although the capacity of the batteries has not been confirmed, journalists fromClean Automotive expect 71, 90 or 100 kWh depending on the version for charging power reaching 396 kW.
The range should be around 800 kilometers according to the Chinese CLTC cycle, which gives around 680 kilometers with WLTP approval. It now remains to be known its price, while the LS6 starts from 229,900 yuan, i.e. approximately 31,480 euross. A price which should be significantly higher when it arrives in Europe, especially since it will not be eligible for the ecological bonus. Note that Audi recently formed a partnership with IM to design its future electric cars.