The sub-brand of SAIC, IM Motor, launched LS8, an extended-range electric vehicle in five-seater and six-seater layouts. The launch happened in four trims, including the 52 Max+ Tech Flagship Big 5S, 66 Ultra Tech Flagship Big 5S, 52 Max+ Luxury Big 6S and 66 Ultra Luxury Big 6S, with prices of 249,800 yuan, 279,800 yuan, 269,800 yuan and 299,800 yuan.
Dimensions in length, width, height and wheelbase are 5085 mm, 2000 mm, 1807 mm and 3060 mm, respectively; these measurements make its cabin quite spacious. The 52 Max+ variant has a kerb weight of 2540 kg, and the same for the 66 Ultra trims is 2620 kg. The standard wheel size for all versions is 20-inch, but options of 21-inch and 22-inch are also available.
Engine & Motor
It comes with a 1.5L turbo petrol engine and is available with both single-motor and double-motor setups. The drivetrain for the first is rear-wheel drive, and the latter is all-wheel drive, but the transmission for both is single-speed automatic. Their specifications:
- The RWD version is available with a 52 kWh LFP battery, whose CLTC range is 355 km. Its power output is 230 kW (≈308 hp), and peak torque is 430 Nm. The acceleration timing for the 0-100 km/h is 7.3 seconds, and top speed goes up to 190 km/h.
- The AWD variant is equipped with a 66 kWh NMC battery, giving a CLTC range of 430 km. It generates the power of 390 kW (≈523 hp) and torque of 670 Nm and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The top speed is 220 km/h.
The engine acts to power the motor(s), which moves the wheels. The combined range for the AWD drivetrain is 1605 km. Its electrical architecture is 800-volt and supports up to a 180 kW DC charger; it takes only 12 minutes from 0 to 80 per cent charging.
Interior
The cabin is equipped with a 27.1-inch 5K mini-LED main display and a 15.6-inch passenger screen. There’s also an option for a 21.5-inch rear entertainment screen. They all are powered by the Qualcomm 8295P chip, which is not only super but also smooth.
Its cockpit runs on an IM AIOS system that includes voice commands, facial recognition and multi-screen interaction. It comes with a cabin floor heating system that keeps the whole cabin warm.
Zero-gravity seats are available with heating, ventilation and massage functions to ensure better comfort for all. Inside the cabin, there’s a 12.3-litre smart fridge for cooling, heating and freezing, and for the immersive sound experience it gets a 25-speaker B&O sound system.
Other notable interiors are panoramic sunroof, electric sunshade, active noise cancellation, double-layer soundproof glass, and 256-colour ambient lighting.
Exterior
The front-end looks futuristic with a full-width LED light bar, closed-off grille, sleek bumper and slim vertical DRLs. On the sides, it features a boxy stance with smooth curves, and a sloping roofline gives it a sporty look, flush-type door handles for better aerodynamics and large alloy wheels that enhance stance and luxury appeal.
The rear gets a connected LED tail light bar, a wide and flat tailgate for a simple appearance and minimalistic bumper for a wider look, and a wide stance with horizontal emphasis that gives a planted look. It is available in five colour options that are Pamir Grey, Olympus Black, Chogori Silver, Alps White and Bled Green.
Driving Assistant
It gets IM AD, an intelligent driving assistant. IM Motors has developed it in partnership with Momenta. It is equipped with 64GB LPDDR5x RAM and powered by an Nvidia Thor chip. It includes a roof-mounted LiDAR-based sensing system, which includes multiple cameras and radar sensors that can detect objects up to 300 metres ahead.
The system also features map-free navigation on Autopilot, which works in cities and highways. Basically, it follows lanes, takes turns and handles traffic. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Automatic Lane Change, Traffic Jam Assist and Smart Parking Assist are notable, as they play crucial roles in making the driving safe.
Explore More Electric Vehicles From the World.