IM Motors, the electric vehicle unit of SAIC Motor, has begun pre-sales of an updated LS6 mid-to-large-size SUV, introducing extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions alongside its existing battery electric vehicle (BEV) lineup. The refreshed model is scheduled for an official launch on September 10.
The latest LS6 measures 4,937 mm in length, 1,988 mm in width, and 1,671 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,960 mm. Two BEV configurations are available during pre-sales: the Pro, starting at RMB 209,900 ($29,230), and the Ultra, priced from RMB 279,900.
The Pro variant uses a 76-kWh battery pack for a CLTC-rated range of 650 km and is rear-wheel drive, while the Ultra employs a 103-kWh battery for a range of 750 km, paired with all-wheel drive. Performance differs sharply between the two, with the Pro reaching 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and the Ultra in 3.48 seconds.
The newly introduced EREV range comprises the Pro and Max trims, priced from RMB 214,900 and RMB 239,900, respectively. Both adopt IM Motors’ Hengxing extended-range system, first unveiled earlier this month, designed to boost battery range beyond typical EREV standards through the use of larger battery packs. The LS6 is the first vehicle to feature the system, with CATL (SHE: 300750) supplying the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery packs.
The EREV Pro variant is equipped with a 52-kWh battery, delivering 370 km of CLTC-rated electric range and 1,400 km when combined with a full fuel tank. The Max model has a 66-kWh battery with 450 km of electric range and a total combined range of 1,502 km. Both EREV versions are rear-wheel drive with a 0–100 km/h time of 6.4 seconds.
The LS6’s EREV battery capacities exceed those found in many BEVs sold in China, including the entry-level Tesla Model Y, which carries a 62.5-kWh pack and offers a CLTC range of 593 km. IM Motors first introduced the LS6 to the Chinese market in October 2023 and last updated it in September 2024, when it was offered exclusively as a BEV.
The addition of the EREV variants reflects the brand’s strategy to broaden consumer choice and enhance long-distance travel capabilities in the competitive mid-to-large SUV segment.
