MG Sub-Brand MG Announces Prices for IM Models

The automotive brand, which belongs to the Chinese SAIC group, is now aiming higher in this country as well. Starting in autumn, a sedan and an SUV are set to form the technological spearhead toward premium.

Success breeds confidence and sometimes increases risk appetite. This can currently be observed with MG. The once British brand—part of the Chinese car manufacturer SAIC for almost 20 years—has so far been active in the market for so-called bread-and-butter cars, and quite successfully at that. Last year, SAIC sold over 4.5 million cars. The MG4 EV, a compact model the size of a Golf, quickly became the best-selling electric car of Chinese origin in our market. Meanwhile, two rather attractive SUVs, the S5 EV and the S6 EV, are now also part of the European portfolio.

Production

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Now, the plan is to ascend into the premium class, and the "IM" sub-brand was founded over five years ago for this purpose. The letters—pronounced Eye-Em—stand for the English term "Intelligence in Motion." The premium claim is to be supported by newly developed technology. The 4.93-meter-long (approx. 16.2 ft) business sedan MG IM5 and the technically identical SUV IM6 (4.90 meters / approx. 16.1 ft) are the first electric models for Europe to be based on an 800-volt architecture, offering rear- or all-wheel drive as well as all-wheel steering.

MG Relies on an Established Dealer Network

Despite generous equipment and high-quality interiors, MG intends to keep prices at a moderate level, targeting Tesla primarily in this market, as it already does in its home country. However, competitors like Xpeng, Xiaomi, and Zeekr, a premium brand from Geely, are also likely to be part of the IM environment. On the other hand, the significantly more expensive models from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes are less in focus. The IM5 starts at a minimum of 54,000 euros (approx. $58,000), while the IM6 SUV begins at 57,000 euros (approx. $61,200). To achieve profitability with such prices, it requires both cost-effective production in China and an already established sales network in Europe. This is in place: IM will not have standalone showrooms or exclusive dealers, but will be fully integrated into the existing MG network.

The majority of customers are also likely to opt for the more practical SUV variant here. The space available is generous due to the almost three-meter-long (approx. 9.8 ft) wheelbase and is subjectively enhanced by the massive panoramic roof. Behind the rear seats, there is room for 665 liters (approx. 23.5 cu ft) of luggage, and with the backrests folded flat, it expands to up to 1,640 liters (approx. 57.9 cu ft). MG has also placed emphasis on comfort: double glazing is intended to noticeably reduce driving noise, and optional air suspension is designed to enhance travel comfort.

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High Performance, Short Charging Times

The floor houses a battery with a capacity of 100 kWh. MG specifies a WLTP range of 625 kilometers (approx. 388 miles) (rear-wheel drive) and 545 kilometers (approx. 338 miles) for the version with two electric motors (all-wheel drive). While the rear-wheel-drive variant offers a power output of 300 kW (402 hp) and torque of 500 Newton meters (approx. 369 lb-ft), the IM6 all-wheel-drive version is significantly more powerful: 553 kW (741 hp) and 802 Nm of torque (approx. 591 lb-ft). The technical specifications indicate 3.5 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) . The SUV is electronically limited to a top speed of 220 km/h (136 mph).

The Chinese IM developers are proud of the charging technology: DC fast charging stations can deliver up to nearly 400 kW. In optimal conditions, the battery could go from ten to 80 percent of its capacity in 17 minutes, providing enough energy for the next 355 kilometers  (approx. 220 miles).

MG Relies on Touch Controls

MG certainly feels ahead when it comes to connectivity, driver assistance, and infotainment. The cockpit features an elongated panoramic display, with an additional vertical screen positioned below it in the center, through which almost all controls are operated. So-called hard keys, or physical switches, are largely eliminated. With this, MG is taking the exact opposite approach to what is currently happening with German automakers—there, the trend is moving away from excessive touch controls.

New in the cockpit of both IM models is the so-called Rainy-Night Mode. It helps maintain clarity in unclear situations during rain and darkness (turning, pedestrians, cyclists, etc.). The traffic situation is displayed on the screen. Also new is the One-Touch iAD Park Assistant. A single tap on the symbol on the display is enough, and the car parks itself automatically, either parallel or perpendicular, and can even reverse up to 100 meters (approx. 328 feet) on its own if you've ended up in a tight dead end.

MG IM5 with Turbo Performance up to 268 km/h (166 mph) 

The MG IM5 is equipped with the same technical features, including battery and motors, maintaining full identity. Thanks to its superior aerodynamics compared to the SUV, the five-meter (approx. 16.4 ft) fastback sedan achieves a range of up to 710 kilometers (approx. 441 miles)(rear-wheel drive). The all-wheel-drive version reaches 575 kilometers (approx. 357 miles) and, with a power output of 553 kW (741 hp), can push its passengers into their seats at Porsche Turbo levels: the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark is reached in 3.2 seconds. The Chinese aren't shy about the top speed either, limiting the IM5 only at 268 km/h (166 mph) . It could even go faster; in this case, the limiting factor is the tires.