By the end of February 2022, IM L7 test cars will begin to be available in sales stores, and interested consumers will be able to take a test drive in early March.
(Image credit: SAIC)
SAIC Group's premium electric vehicle (EV) brand IM Motors saw the first 200 Beta Experience units of its first model, the L7 sedan, roll off the assembly line on December 26, signaling that Chinese consumers will soon have a new choice in premium EVs.
The vehicles, which meet legal and regulatory requirements for driving on the open road, will be delivered to system test users and will tour nine cities, including Shanghai, SAIC said Sunday.
SAIC did not explain exactly what the system test users are, nor did it announce which of the nine cities are included in addition to Shanghai.
By the end of February 2022, IM L7 test cars will start being available in sales stores, and interested consumers will be able to take a test drive in early March, it said.
IM Motors is an EV brand co-invested by SAIC, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech and Alibaba, and has developed the IM AD autonomous driving system in partnership with autonomous driving company Momenta.
The IM L7 was available for pre-order during the Shanghai Auto Show in April, and the first 3,000 people who pre-ordered it were called angel round users.
At the end of April, IM Motors announced a pre-sale price of RMB 408,800 ($62,800) for the angel version of the L7.
The model is 5,098 mm long, 1,960 mm wide and has a wheelbase of 3,100 mm, with a wind resistance of 0.21 Cd.
The IM L7 is equipped with 12 cameras, 5 millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars and high precision maps, with a reserved LIDAR interface.
The vehicle is equipped with an electric motor with a maximum power of 400kW and a peak torque of 700 Nm, accelerating from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds.
The IM L7 is equipped with a 93 kWh battery with a range of 615 km, while the premium version is equipped with a 118 kWh battery with an energy density of 300 Wh/kg and an NEDC range of nearly 1,000 km.
The IM L7 is equipped with 11KW wireless charging, which can charge 10.5 degrees in an hour, equivalent to a range of 70-80km in NEDC conditions.
SAIC says it respects and appreciates the long wait for the L7 and will start receiving official deposits from users after the open test drive.
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