The IM LS8 is IM Motors’ full-size flagship SUV, launched in China on April 16, 2026 after pre-sales that drew more than 10,000 reservations within 45 minutes. It measures 5,085 mm long on a 3,060 mm wheelbase and is built around IM’s “Stellar Super Extended Range” system - a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that only ever drives a generator, never the wheels, backed by a 60-litre fuel tank for a combined CLTC range of up to 1,605 km.
Four trims split across two powertrains. The entry pair uses a single 230 kW (308 hp) rear motor and a 52 kWh LFP battery for 355 km of CLTC electric-only range. The two 66 Ultra trims add a second, 160 kW (215 hp) front motor for all-wheel drive, pairing a 66 kWh ternary battery with a combined 390 kW (523 hp) output, a 430 km CLTC electric range, and a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds versus 7.3 seconds for the rear-drive pair. Both battery packs sit on an 800V architecture. Each powertrain is also offered as a five-seat “Tech Flagship” or six-seat “Luxury” layout, the latter adding business-class-style captain’s chairs, a fridge and heated, power-reclining third-row seats.
Driver assistance runs on an Nvidia Thor chip paired with an optional 520-line roof-mounted LiDAR developed with Momenta, detecting obstacles out to 300 metres. The cabin centres on a 27.1-inch 5K MiniLED display and a 15.6-inch passenger screen, running on a Qualcomm 8295P chip, with an optional 25-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The chassis - IM calls it “Lingxi” - pairs standard brake-by-wire with an optional four-wheel steer-by-wire system on the top trim, plus single-chamber air suspension with continuous damping control.
Prices run from ¥249,800 to ¥299,800 (about $36,600 to $44,000), placing the LS8 against large premium EREV SUVs like the Denza N9 and AITO M9. IM has begun exporting related models under SAIC’s MG badge - the smaller IM L6 sedan sells abroad as the MG IM5, and the IM LS6 as the MG IM6 - and MG dealers in Malaysia have said a version of the LS8 is under consideration for that market, though nothing is confirmed yet.
