New SAIC IM L6 Boasts 800 KM Range Thanks To Solid State Batteries

Following its debut at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this week, new details about the IM L6 have emerged, thanks to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) disclosures. SAIC's IM Motors fourth model will go on sale in South America and Europe in 2025, with an official launch scheduled for May.

The IM L6 is 4,931 MM long, 1,960 MM wide, and 1,474 MM tall, with a wheelbase of 2,950 MM. Weight ranges between 2,040 KG for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version and 2,250 KG for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) performance variant.

The RWD model has a 250 kW (340 HP) electric motor, while the AWD performance version has a twin motor setup producing 579 kW (787 HP).

When launched, buyers will have the option of purchasing the IM L6 either with a 90 kWh or 100 kWh ternary lithium (NMC) battery pack from CATL. The smaller pack provides a CLTC range of 720 KM for the RWD variant and 700 KM for the AWD version, whilst the 100 kWh battery increases the range to 770 KM and 750 KM, respectively.

IM Motors also hinted that a version with a solid-state battery will be also made available, with a claimed range of over 800 KM (WLTP) or 1,000 KM (CLTC).

The IM L6 features a upturned ducktail rear, similar to the Aston Martin Vantage, but with a hatchback design rather than a traditional sedan. MIIT's listings also confirm that the IM L6 will be equipped with a yoke-style steering wheel similar to Tesla. Buyers would also have the option between four different alloy wheel designs.

According to CarNewsChina, Liu Tao, CEO of IM Motors, hinted at the L6's driving capabilities as a key selling point. Users can expect self-adjusting damping, rear-wheel steering, and tank turns similar to the BYD YangWang U8.

Speculation also surrounds the car's self-driving capabilities following IM Motors obtaining L3 autonomous driving test permits in Shanghai. Higher-end models may come equipped with roof-mounted Lidar.

CariCarz.com has previously reported that IM as a brand is underperforming in the Chinese market. IM cars currently sold in Mainland China only achieved 38,253 units in sales last year. 2023. That’s relatively low compared to competitors such as Tesla (over 645,000 units) and Xpeng (121,000 units).

To address the lack of demand, IM's parent company SAIC, which also owns the MG brand, intends to rebrand IM models for European and South American markets as MG models.

Presently, MG stands as the best-selling Chinese brand outside of China, with sales totalling 840,000 units in 2023. As a result, there is a strong possibility of the IM L3  being rebranded as the MG L3 for the global market.