Gasgoo Munich- IM Motors kicked off pre-sales for its new SUV, the IM LS8, on March 26. The vehicle comes in large five- and six-seat configurations, with pre-sale prices ranging from 259,800 to 309,800 yuan.
Image Source: IM Motors
On the chassis front, the IM LS8 comes standard with the "Agile Lizard Digital Chassis" 3.0 and a dual-motor vector all-wheel-drive system. It pumps out 390 kW of maximum power and 670 Nm of peak torque, propelling the SUV from zero to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds. Braking from 100 km/h takes just 34.38 meters. Notably, the model is the first in its class to feature a full steer-by-wire four-wheel steering system, with bidirectional rear-wheel steering of up to 24 degrees and a turning radius of 4.85 meters.
For intelligent driving, the LS8 is powered by an Nvidia Thor chip, paired with 64 GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 520-line ultra-vision LiDAR. Its IM AD driver-assistance system operates nationwide and can recognize traffic police hand signals. The automatic emergency braking (AEB) system is capable of bringing the vehicle to a halt at 100 km/h, even in snowy, nighttime conditions. Down the road, the system will be upgradable to the L4-ready IM AD ZETA.
Inside, the cabin features an Ultra Wide³ layout with second-row seats that recline to 132 degrees and include spa-level massage functions. The trunk can accommodate six 28-inch suitcases. In the six-seater, the third row is fully functional; when switched to a four-seat mode, the second row gains a 21.5-inch ceiling-mounted entertainment screen. Other amenities include a B&O sound system, 4D mechanical massage seats, and an intelligent floor heating system.
Regarding power and range, the IM LS8 utilizes the Stellar Super EREV system, delivering a CLTC combined range of 1,605 km. The combined fuel consumption equivalent is 2.54 L per 100 km. The pure electric range hits 430 km, supported by 800V ultra-fast charging that takes the battery from 30% to 80% in just 12 minutes. An integrated thermal management architecture ensures a charging start-up power of 170 kW, even in extreme cold.
As a strategic model for SAIC Motor's high-end push, the IM LS8 incorporates the brand's latest technology across chassis handling, intelligent driving, cabin features, and powertrain. With its entry, the competitive landscape of the 300,000-yuan large SUV segment is poised for a shake-up.
