MG Australia wants 579kW IM LS6 electric SUV

Look out Tesla Model Y Performance and Kia EV6 GT. Chinese brand MG is threatening to invade your $100,000 electric super-SUV domain.

The vehicle that MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao has set his sights on to do that is called the IM Motors LS6.

If you haven’t heard of it, don’t worry. While there’s been some pre-launch teasing in China, it’s not actually scheduled to launch until the Chengdu auto show on August 25.

But in flagship form it claims outputs of 579kW/800Nm from its dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, a 252km/h top speed and a 3.5-second 0-100km/h dash.

The LS6 is the smaller sibling of the IM Motors LS7 large electric SUV that you may have heard of, because MG has previously said that was a vehicle it wanted to bring to Australia.

As we reported during a recent trip to the Shanghai headquarters of MG’s parent SAIC, the Tesla Model X-sized LS7 was one of three high-end EVs under consideration by MG Motor Australia.

The others were the Tesla Model S-sized IM Motors L7 and the Rising Auto F7 sedans.

But all three have now been surpassed by the LS6, which Ciao described as a “luxury vehicle”.

“I plan to import one middle-sized SUV to Australia – not the LS7, the LS6,” he said.

“I have three options, but I aim at the 6 first… that’s the one I want.”

While the LS7 and L7 are still on Ciao’s wishlist, the F7 no longer appears to be under consideration for local release.

IM Motors is a joint-venture between SAIC and two other partners including the Chinese online trading giant Alibaba, while Rising Auto is a subsidiary of SAIC.

Ciao showed no concern that the LS6 flagship could be priced in $100,000 territory when it arrives in Australia as soon as 2024, although nothing is confirmed as yet.

Pricing for four different variants has been announced in China, starting at 189,900 yuan ($A40,220), then rising to 209,900 yuan ($44,450), 249,900 yuan ($52,900) and 269,900 yuan ($57,175).

The MG Cyberster electric sports car is scheduled to launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2024 with a starting price expected beyond $100,000.

“MG brand is premium brand, this is a very good sport brand, so the price range I trust very, very wide. It is very easy to get over $100,000,” Ciao said.

“I don’t think that’s our challenge.”

One challenge for Ciao will be convincing SAIC top brass to allow MG to replace the IM Motors badge in Australia.

“Still negotiating with the factory,” conceded Ciao. “But I trust under MG brand this [LS6] very successful.”

Ciao didn’t confirm intended local launch timing for the LS6, but his stated list of new MG models in Australia in 2024 included an unidentified SUV alongside the new MG3 light-car replacement, a new-generation HS medium SUV and the Cyberster.

It is understood one factor prompting the shift of focus from the LS7, L6 and F7 was a need to be certain any high-priced MG electric entrant achieved top marks in safety tests such as ANCAP.

But clearly, Australian consideration had progressed a long way for these models as a contingent of Australian media recently had brief drives of all three models in Shanghai.

The LS6 measures up at 4904mm long, 1988mm wide and 1669mm high. It has a 2950mm wheelbase.

Spy shots have presented the interior of the LS6 with a yoke steering wheel and a combined digital instrument panel and infotainment touch-screen stretching the full width of the dashboard.

It also comes with a ternary lithium battery pack from CATL and an 800V electrical system for super-fast charging.

Another model from IM Motors that could be of interest to MG Motor Australia in the future is a Model 3-sized sedan called the L5, which is currently in development.

The flagship Tesla Model Y Performance is priced from $91,400 and offers a 3.7sec 0-100km/h time, a 250km/h top speed and outputs from its dual-motor all-wheel drive system rated at 393kW and 690Nm.

The Kia EV6 GT makes 430kW/740Nm from its dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up, claims a 3.5sec 0-100km/h time, a 260km/h top speed and is priced from $99,590 plus on-road costs.

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