- The LS9 will rank among China's longest-range hybrid vehicles as competition shifts toward addressing pure-electric range anxiety.
- The LS9 will feature a 520-channel LiDAR system and achieve fuel consumption of 2.81 liters per 100 kilometers.
IM Motors, the electric vehicle (EV) unit of SAIC Motor (SHA: 600104), will soon begin pre-sales of the LS9, another large extended-range SUV (sport utility vehicle) with long battery range for the Chinese market.
The LS9 will debut on November 4 with pre-sales commencing that same day, during an event starting at 7:00 pm Beijing time, IM Motors announced today.
The extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) will be a full-size SUV boasting a 402-kilometer CLTC battery range, according to a poster released by IM Motors.
The LS9 will also feature a 520-channel LiDAR sensor and achieve the segment's lowest fuel consumption at 2.81 liters per 100 kilometers, the EV maker said.
This model will rank among China's longest-range hybrid vehicles, as competition intensifies to address pure-electric range anxiety.
Eleven days prior, Leapmotor (HKG: 9863) debuted its flagship D19 SUV on October 16, with its EREV variant utilizing an 80.3-kWh battery pack delivering up to 500 kilometers of battery range.
On September 29, Zeekr (NYSE: ZK) launched the 9X luxury hybrid SUV, offering 55-kWh and 70-kWh battery pack options with CLTC ranges of 300 to 380 kilometers.
The IM LS9 measures 5,279 mm in length, 2,000 mm in width, and 1,806 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,160 mm, according to its regulatory filing.
It features a 1.5L SAIC engine serving as a range extender, delivering a maximum power output of 114 kW.
The vehicle employs dual motors: the front motor peaks at 160 kW, while the rear motor reaches 230 kW.
The IM LS9 utilizes ternary lithium-ion batteries supplied by CATL (SHE: 300750).
IM Motors' current lineup in China includes the IM L6 and IM L7 sedans, along with the IM LS6 and IM LS7 SUVs -- all battery electric vehicles (BEVs) initially.
In February 2024, IM Motors co-CEO Liu Tao said that the company's fifth model would adopt extended-range technology, addressing the limitations of conventional EREVs -- typically offering only 200 km of battery range and lacking fast-charging capability.
On August 1, IM Motors unveiled its Hengxing extended-range system, designed to deliver longer battery ranges for EREVs.
On September 11, the EV maker launched the updated LS6 SUV, adding an EREV option to its existing BEV lineup and formally entering this segment.
