MG IM5

crl84

Interesting SAIC car under the MG name launching in UK, Norway and Sweden at the moment. IM is the SAIC luxury brand in China, they seem to have just tacked on the MG name in Europe for visibility/familiarity.
First customer deliveries due in September.

Saloon-ish shape with hatchback boot. 800v charging architecture (capable of up to 396kW charging), with the long range version getting a WLTP of 709km from a 100kWh battery. AutoExpress were getting approx 660kms from a full charge in real world use.

Performance model comes with 742bhp (0-100kmh in 3.2s), or 402bhp for the Long Range version.

There's also a 75kWh battery / 291bhp / 489km entry level version with 400V charging architecture (capable of 152kW charging).

Mixed/faintly positive reviews on it so far. Positives appear to be the range/charging, soundproofing (double glazed windows, double glazed pano roof, thick carpets and door deadening), lots of front space, great as a motorway cruiser. Main bugbears appear to be the tiny rear window and soft/disengaged driving, although I think car reviewers make too much of this for the average consumer.

With the long range and charging speed of the LR version, this could be an affordable possibility for company sales reps and people who need to cover long distances daily.

It will be interesting to see if they launch it in other markets, possibly with tweaked driving dynamics, given the grumbles about its responsiveness.

UK prices:

Standard Range £39,450 - RWD / 75kWh battery / 291bhp / 489km WLTP / 152kW peak charging

Long Range £44,995 - RWD / 100kWh battery / 402bhp / 709km WLTP / 396kW peak charging

Performance £48,495 - AWD - dual motor / 100kWh battery / 742bhp / 574km WLTP / 396kW peak charging

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mg-motor/im-5

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mg/im5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD9gxUSD6K8

MojoMaker

Is that a hatchback MG Seal?

SeanaciousD

Been keeping an eye on this one, currently a BYD Seal Performance owner, and I could be tempted….. Some stats pages:

Chinese model spec:

SeanaciousD

Hmm, something went horribly wrong with my comment above and I can't seem to finish nor edit it. Anyway Chinese spec here:
https://www.immotors.com/global/en/vehicle_config/l6
Aussie spec:
https://shop.mgmotor.com.au/brochures/MG_IM5_Brochure.pdf
MG UK configurator (no brochure that I can find yet)
https://im.mg.co.uk/configurator

Some notable differences. The Chinese model has some features that have been cut for the international model: LiDAR, Nivida Orin X ADAS chip vs. Orin N, massaging seats are available on the IM5 (only available on IM6 internationally). Performance 0-100 is different, but that's just down to the measurement method I'd say.

The Aussie IM5 performance gets fully active adaptive dampers and air suspension, but the UK performance does not. Why? And by that I mean why would they have bothered even making a different variant at all, given the UK and Aus cars would be practically the same. Air suspension is almost guaranteed to break at some point though, so not a total loss.

I'm the odd customer who's most interested in the performance variant, for reference I'm the kind of wacko who would have bought a Model S Plaid had they made it in right hand drive. The BYD Seal Performance I have is quite good, but it's relatively weak acceleration past 100km/h leaves me hungry for more. Performance stats here: https://fastestlaps.com/models/im-l6-super-performance - 10.9 quarter mile and 6.8s 100-200km/h, Model 3 Perf beats it off the line and then this quickly hunts it down after 100, interesting.

Price wise the Perf is priced to compete with the Seal Perf overall, which makes it ~€15,000 cheaper than the Model 3 Perf once you pic a colour you actually want, which is notable. Has some other odd quirks like no HUD and no glove box (seriously, what?), but I'll be down for a look if/when it lands in Ireland. Haven't heard anything on the tariffs front, so presumably they're only waiting for Euro NCAP at the moment.

John arse

Been following this car recently (have a 251 Tesla M3),what do the paddles on the back of the steering wheel do- I assume regen?ps they're meant to be coming in at or slightly under Tesla comparable model prices is what I'm reading.

stainlesssteel

Had a chat with an MG salesman; the official word from head office is that they aren't planning to bring this to Ireland at this stage due to EU tariffs so unfortunately it doesn't sound like it will be available for a while at least. It's a shame too because it looks impressive

John arse

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697692#Comment_123697692

Pity that,had one eyed up for 2027(a bit away yet)- have a 251 Tesla M3 which is a fantastic car Imo and could possibly go for another one.Will see where we are this time next year maybe.👍

stainlesssteel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123701624#Comment_123701624

Yeah, was keeping an eye on it myself for 2026. To be fair, the messaging was "not this year and no plans" but if they come to some sort of European assembly arrangement that could change in time for your 2027 timeline. The Xpeng dealer I was speaking to was optimistic that the new P7 could land here in early 2026 so that could be an option too (definitely a different aesthetic though)

John arse

Yeah might arrive next year alright.The P7 won't be cheap I gather- was hoping we'd see Xiaomi coming here personally.

crl84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697692#Comment_123697692

While it may very well not end up here, I wouldn't put any trust in something an MG salesman says, as salesmen in general know absolutely zero about what plans at head offices are. Most are full of sh1te. Most of them don't even know the features of the cars they are selling in their own showrooms, especially if they have multiple car brands. It's like asking someone behind the till in your local Centra what Musgraves' plans are for next year.

MG have launched/relaunched a number of models here since tariffs came in, and haven't stopped selling existing models.
The IM5 is also being sold in Sweden, which is part of the EU, so tariffs aren't affecting it going on sale there…..

stainlesssteel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123701924#Comment_123701924

Fair enough, I've definitely encountered a few salesmen in the past bluffing their way through conversations in the past. Having said that, when I spoke with this guy he initially said he didn't know but would check with MG's head office. He called me back and said the above; feel free to disregard if it sounds inconsistent though

September1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123701924#Comment_123701924

Are they selling them in Sweden? I think only UK, Switzerland and Norway.

MojoMaker

Perhaps Switzerland was meant.

Non-EU countries possibly.

MarkN

tariffs will determine whether they import this car into Ireland, I don’t think the sales guy is too far wrong.

John arse

How are MG managing to do business so, aren't they SAIC as well?

September1

I think SAIC tariff in EU is 45.3%, 10% standard EU and 35.3% due to lack of cooperation during investigations. Tesla is only 7.8% (+10% standard).