SAIC‑backed premium brand IM opened pre‑orders for its 2026 LS6 SUV facelift on 15 August 2025, revealing a significant redesign and new powertrains ahead of a scheduled launch on 10 September.

Pre‑sale pricing reflects the range of options. The all‑electric Pro starts at 209,900 yuan (c. $29,200), the EREV 52 Pro at 214,900 yuan (c. $29,900), the EREV 66 Max at 239,900 yuan (c. $33,400), and the flagship all‑electric Ultra at 279,900 yuan (c. $39,000).

Source: IM Auto

Pre‑order benefits include a refundable deposit convertible into a larger discount, lifetime battery warranty for trade‑ins, and early delivery priority.

Orders will lock in on 10 September, with deliveries expected to begin shortly after the model’s formal launch. For context, the outgoing 2025 LS6’s entry-level model started at a price of 239,900 yuan (c. $33,400), meaning the new Pro trim is 30,000 yuan cheaper despite offering more technology and power.

Consumers who pay a 2,000 yuan deposit can convert it into a 12,000 yuan discount at purchase and receive a lifetime battery warranty when trading in an older IM vehicle.

The pre‑order window marks the first major update to the LS6 since the 2025 model, promising more power, longer range and a fresh design, particularly the headlights that draw comparisons to the XPeng Mona M03 and upcoming Deepal L06.

The redesigned IM LS6 is a very important upgrade for the company given that the mid-size SUV is its best-selling car with 18,261 units sold year-to-date as of July 2025. The second best seller is its sedan sibling, the IM L6 with 11,886 units sold. The more premium LS7 and L7 have not sold well, combining for just over 1,000 units delivered in 7 months this year.

Since inception, IM has only managed to sell over 10,000 vehicles in a single month in December 2023, but has since seen sales stagnate. In July, IM delivered 6,052 vehicles, of which 2,630 were the LS6.

Source: IM Auto

So far, IM has only sold all-electric vehicles and hopes to achieve a breakthrough with the upgraded LS6 that will for the first time offer an extended-range variant. EREVs have been extremely popular in the Chinese market thanks to its versatility with comprehensive driving ranges that typically double or triple those of pure EVs.

The LS6 was originally introduced as a fastback mid‑size SUV with a focus on performance and style. The outgoing 2025 long‑range edition measured 4,910 mm long and delivered 5.4‑second 0–100 km/h acceleration with a single 248 kW motor and 83 kWh battery.

Its 0–100 km/h time and range were competitive but not class‑leading, and monthly sales averaged a few hundred units, trailing rivals like the AVATR 07 and XPeng G6.

IM’s redesign aims to close the gap. The new LS6 stretches to 4,937 mm in length and retains the 2,988 mm wheelbase while lowering its roofline slightly for a sportier profile.

Source: IM Auto

The vehicle adopts T‑shaped headlights reminiscent of XPeng’s Mona M03 or Deepal’s upcoming L06, a recent design trend in the Chinese auto industry.

Along the sides, a sloping roof and segmented waistline replace the previous blunt silhouette, and hidden door handles contribute to a clean aesthetic. The rear features a layered bumper and full‑width light bar with a digital display panel.

The LS6 introduces a digital chassis 2.0 that combines a wire‑controlled MKC2 brake system, four‑wheel steering, blowout‑stability control and active anti‑roll 2.0.

This hardware allows the SUV to achieve a 4.79 m turning radius and reduces side‑tilt risk by 45 % in emergency manoeuvres.

The vehicle also rides on an 800‑volt electrical platform and uses Continental’s MKC2 brake‑by‑wire technology for shorter stopping distances.

IM’s IMAD 3.0 driver‑assistance suite integrates Nvidia Thor computing and a 520‑line LiDAR with 4D imaging radar to deliver map‑free city navigation, automated parking and a one‑click valet function.

The new electronic architecture reportedly supports computing performance beyond a petaflop, positioning the LS6 among the most advanced autonomous‑ready vehicles in its segment.

Two powertrain families are available. The Hengxing super range‑extender combines a 1.5‑litre turbo‑charged engine with an 800 V SiC electric motor.

The 52 Pro and 66 Max trims comes with a 52 kWh or 66 kWh battery, respectively, 230 kW rear motor and a 114 kW engine, enabling a claimed 0–100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and up to 1,502 km of comprehensive range on China’s CLTC test cycle.

The 66 Max can achieve all-electric range of 450 km (c. 280 miles), and fast‑charging yields 310 km (c. 193 miles) of range in 15 minutes. Fuel consumption for the range‑extender is listed at 2.07 L/100 km when the battery is depleted.

The pure‑electric versions—Pro and Ultra—offer rear‑wheel‑drive (245 kW) or dual‑motor all‑wheel‑drive (500 kW) configurations. Acceleration on the Ultra model can achieve a 100km sprint in 3.48 second.

Inside, the LS6 abandons the rising dual‑screen layout of its predecessor in favour of a 27.1‑inch 5K central display paired with a 15.6‑inch 3K passenger screen.

Source: IM Auto

These screens run on IMOS 3.0 powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 chip, enabling AI‑driven navigation, facial recognition and voice control.

The instrument cluster is replaced by a head‑up display and a digital strip across the dash, while the steering wheel is available in full or half‑width designs.

Cabin amenities include an 11‑litre refrigerator, 50 W wireless charging, electric sunshades, ambient lighting, noise‑cancellation technology and a 21‑speaker 7.1.4 audio system with an external speaker for outdoor music.

Source: IM Auto

The front passenger seat reclines to a 121° zero‑gravity mode, and the rear seats offer heating, ventilation, massage and ten‑step adjustment.

IM—the abbreviation for “Intelligent Mobility”—is a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Zhangjiang Hi‑Tech and Alibaba Group.

The brand positions itself as a technology pioneer within SAIC’s portfolio, and the LS6 sits below the larger LS7 SUV. By partnering with CATL on the “Hengxing” range‑extender, IM is hoping to expand its addressable auto market, similar to XPeng’s strategy to offer EREV options, such as the XPeng X9 MPV.

Conversion rate: 1 USD = 7.18 CNY as of August 15 2025