MG Motor will be launching the MG IM6, a fully electric (EV) SUV in Thailand on March 24th, according to HeadLight Magazine. You’ll find the MG IM6 priced from THB 1,399,900 (approx. RM184k) for the Premium RWD variant and THB 1,799,900 (approx. RM237k) for the Performance AWD variant in the kingdom.
Back home in China, the MG IM6 is sold as the IM LS6 under IM Motors, which is a joint venture between SAIC Motors, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-tech. In some international markers like in Thailand, the IM LS6 is sold under the more established MG marque, as it’s one of the brands under SAIC Motors umbrella. The facelift model of the IM LS6 was unveiled in September 2024, and that is the car you’re seeing here.
The MG IM6 is built on IM Motor’s “Lizard Digital Chassis” (don’t worry, we’re just as confused about the naming), which boasts four-wheel steering. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the MG IM6 is the overall bigger car, measuring 4,904 mm long, 1,988 mm wide, 1,669 mm tall, and with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm.
Along the same lines, the MG IM6 boasts an exterior with headlights that’s reminiscent of a lizard’s eye in its design. Towards the rear, there’s a full-width light bar integrated into the ducktail spoiler, giving it a rear end that looks a bit like an Aston Martin. A set of 20-inch alloy wheels are standard on the Premium RWD, with the Performance AWD variant getting bigger 21-inch alloy wheels with different designs.
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Following the trend of Chinese minimalism, the interior of the MG IM6 is characterised by a massive 26.3-inch freestanding screen on the dashboard. This is divided into a 15.5-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.5-inch digital gauge cluster for the driver.
Crucially, both displays are actually formed from one giant panel, with no divider in between. a separate screen on the centre console serves as the control panel for most vehicular functions. Powering the infotainment system on the MG IM6 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip, running the IM OS intelligent interaction system.
Other interior features of the IM6 are synthetic leather upholstery with what IM Motors calls the “POPO Sofa style”, which makes the seats look like a loaf of bread. In China, the MG IM6 is offered with a yoke-styled steering wheel, but for Thailand, it is equipped with a traditional steering wheel instead.
For powertrains, the Premium RWD variant features a rear-mounted electric motor making 295 hp (217 kW) and 450 Nm. This translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h.
The onboard 75 kWh lithium-ion nickel manganese (MNC) battery pack provides a range of 550 km, according to the optimistic NEDC test cycle. Charging is supported with AC charging at 11 kW and DC charging at 153 kW. There’s also vehicle-to-load (V2L) supported at 6.6 kWh.
As for the Performance AWD variant, it has a dual-motor setup delivering 787 hp (572 kW) and 802 Nm, which shortens the 0-100 km/h time to 3.48 seconds and a higher top speed of 240 km/h.
It’ll also come with a larger 100 kWh battery of the same chemistry as the Premium RWD variant, increasing the range to 634 km (NEDC). Thanks to its 900V architecture, it can support charging with AC charging at 22 kWh and DC charging upwards of 396 kWh which allows for a 10% to 80% charge in 20 minutes. It also has V2L at 6.6 kWh.
Features unique to the Performance AWD variant include five driving modes which are Super Eco, Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom. There’s also Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) deceleration mode with two levels of adjustment.
The Performance AWD variant also gets intelligent air suspension, which adjusts the car’s height depending on the driving modes, which can increase by 20 mm and lower it to 50 mm on the lowest setting.
For safety features, the MG IM6 is equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance (ADAS) which includes features like adaptive cruise control (ACC) with traffic jam assist (TJA), lane departure warning (LDW), blind spot monitors (BSM), automatic parking assistance (APA), and automatic reverse escape system.
Given that Thailand is also a right-hand drive country, could the MG IM6’s arrival in Thailand mean that we would also be seeing the EV SUV here in Malaysia soon? Well, the answer to that question is only available in SAIC Motor Malaysia’s boardrooms. That said, we do expect a handful of models to make their way onto our shores soon, including the MG3 Hybrid+ and MG7 – both of which were displayed at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show last year.
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