Chinese car maker MG was one of the first EV makers to take a bite out of Tesla’s dominance of Australia’s electric vehicle market when it launched its MG ZS EV and followed that up with the MG4, both pitched at the lower price brackets.
Now MG is back with the launch of a new luxury performance brand, the IM (Intellegence in Motion or Intelligent Mobility), with two offerings – the IM5 electric sedan and the IM6 electric SUV – that are pitched directly at the Tesla price points, with driveway pricing of between $60,990 and $80,990.
The brand was first unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show in April, but formally launched in Sydney this week at the White Bay Cruise Ship terminal, in pouring rain, with models and influencers draped over the bonnets and front doors and seats of the new EVs, and even in the boot, along with fireworks, and a special appearance from the global MG CEO Liu Tao.
The new models promise a range of around 500 kms, and hopefully do better than the catering service at the cruise ship terminal which had to restock its supply of bowls on several occasions as it served noodles, pork belly and other dishes to the crowd of more than 200. Even the influencers found time to queue, and eat, and then queue again.
The launch of IM is a big step for the MG brand, which built its product line up on affordability in the Australian market and is now rolling out multiple new products in premium segments. The IM5 and IM6 bear more than a passing resemblance to the Model 3 and Model Y, but they have their own dynamic features of which MG is particularly proud.
“We know local drivers will appreciate our carefully crafted balance of exceptional performance, premium finishes and technology,” Liu Tao said. “Whether an IM5 or IM6, Australian cities and roads are some of the best places in the world to explore what IM has on offer, and I’m proud to say this is just the beginning of the IM journey in this fantastic country.”
The IM5 & IM6 prices were announced in June, and are at the lower end for the luxury and performance market.
- IM5 Premium and IM6 Premium (75 kWh RWD) – $60,990
- IM5 Platinum and IM6 Platinum (100 kWh RWD) – $69,990
- IM5 Performance and IM6 Performance (100 kWh AWD) – $80,990
The variants with the 75 kWh battery deliver a 550 km NEDC range or 490 km on the WLTP cycle on the IM5 sedan while the IM6 sees that WLTP figure drop to around 450 km.
The larger 100 kWh packs deliver more range on both models. For the IM5 sedan, it’s 575 km on the Performance variant, while the Platinum gets up to 655 km of WLTP range.
These batteries feed RWD and AWD powertrains, which can deliver up to 572 kW of power in the Performance AWD variants, while the entry-level cars come with a rear-mounted 217 kW motor.
From a performance point of view, the IM cars will be some of the fastest that MG sells in Australia with the IM5 sedan doing the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.2 seconds in the Performance variant.
What makes the IM brand different from MG’s standard offering is a whole suite of tech and driving features that are not found in too many other models.
This includes a four-wheel steering system, helping lower the turning radius of the mid-sized cars to one seen in smaller cars like the hatchbacks.
On top of that, they feature other intelligent driving features not found in any local models, including “One Touch Reverse”. This helps guide drivers out of tricky spots by retracing the last 100 metres.
There are also several intelligent parking features designed to make inner-city parking easier for all drivers.
Both IM models come with premium finishes and a large 26.3-inch screen, as well as a secondary 10.5-inch screen. There is also a premium sound system on offer with up to 20 speakers strategically placed around the cabin to deliver high-quality acoustics.
Two interior options and five exterior paint colours will be offered across the lineup, and both cars come with a seven-year warranty when serviced within the IM dealer network across the country.
Both models can be ordered from MG’s dealers or configured online.