Unveiled a few weeks earlier, the new IM LS6 gives us new information about it, including its price. And the least we can say is that this one should do a lot of damage to the Tesla Model Y on paper. Because things would be a little different if the Chinese SUV arrived in France.
As we know, Chinese manufacturers are becoming increasingly important in the world, and particularly in Europe. We are of course thinking of MG, which is a hit with its MG 4 to the point of gradually catching up with the Tesla Model 3, but also of Nio, Xpeng or even BYD which are coming to us. The latter even plans to build factories on the Old Continent.
An affordable price
This large-scale offensive does not necessarily please Brussels, while the Middle Kingdom is now the world’s largest exporter, ahead of Japan and Germany. But if measures will be put in place to protect European industry, Chinese brands are not ready to slow down. And another still unknown manufacturer could also make its arrival on our market.
This is’IM Motors, a brand founded in 2020 born from the joint venture created by SAIC Motor and Alibaba. For the time being, it has not yet made its way to us, but this could be considered in the future. Anyway, the firm recently lifted the veil on its latest model, which bears the name of LS6. This is unsurprisingly an SUV, which hunts in Tesla Model Y land.
This one arrives in the range alongside the LS7 as well as the L7 sedan rivaling the Tesla Model S. If IM had revealed some technical information about its newcomer, the brand had still remained mysterious about its price. But now the journalists of the Chinese site It Home tell us a little more about the SUV, which will make its debut at the Chengdu show.
The latter will start from 189,900 yuan, which is equivalent to approximately 24,196 euros according to the current exchange rate. A very affordable price for this type of car, while the Tesla Model Y currently has an entry ticket of 45,990 euros. But beware: European customers will not pay this price if this IM LS6 arrives here.
An impressive technical sheet
Indeed, Chinese cars sold in Europe generally cost much more, in particular because of the taxes in force on the Old Continent. The SUV would thus be closer to its rival and the Renault Mégane E-Tech which starts at 33,000 euros, ecological bonus of 5,000 euros deducted.
The LS6 could also be eligible for this aid, unless the government reserves it only for cars manufactured in Europe. We know a lot of other information about this newcomer, who will also hunt on the lands of the Nio ES6. The most efficient version displays a power of 271 horsepower front and 515 rearcompared to 485 horses in total for the Model Y.
But what should thrill the latter the most is the maximum charging power, displayed at 396 kW. Combined with an 800-volt architecture, this can fill the 100 kWh battery up to 80% in just 18 minutes. Autonomy is announced at 706 kilometers according to the Chinese cycle CLTC, which corresponds to approximately 600 kilometers WLTP.
It now remains to be seen when this IM LS6, which is also equipped with autonomous driving, probably up to level 3, will arrive in Europe. As a reminder, the firm has just entered into a partnership with Audi in order to provide its platform for future models of the German brand.
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