MG Motor has debuted its new IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV at the Melbourne Motor Show, expanding its high-end electric IM line to a new global market.
Australia will be the third country to receive IM vehicles, after China and Thailand. The line is a joint venture with Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba.
“This is going to be the most advanced car in the country when it rolls out,” MG Australia’s chief commercial officer Giles Belcher told Azzet.
The IM line’s defining feature is its stability, Belcher said. The IM6 SUV passed the “moose test” — which measures how easily a car can avoid a sudden obstacle — at 82.7 kilometres per hour, the fastest speed ever.
The IM5 and IM6 also feature a small turning radius, with the IM5’s measuring just 4.99 metres. These vehicles are able to move diagonally to facilitate parallel parking.
Both vehicles can charge from 30% to 80% in 15.2 minutes. The IM6 can accelerate from 0-100 kilometres per hour in 3.48 seconds, while the IM5 can do so in 2.74 seconds with rollout time subtracted.
MG’s IM vehicles will include artificial intelligence driver assistance features developed in partnership with Alibaba. One Touch iAD, which MG refers to as an AI chauffeur, can automatically parallel park the vehicle or manoeuvre it out of tight parking spots.
The IM5 and IM6 will begin Australian deliveries later in 2025, under the IM Presented by MG Motor brand. According to Belcher, MG aims to be among the top five best-selling brands in Australia by the end of 2027.
Belcher declined to comment on future global rollout plans for MG’s IM vehicles.
MG’s other cars at the Melbourne Motor Show included three new SUVs, with the all-electric MGS5, the MG HS plug-in hybrid, and the MG QS petrol vehicle revealed at the event. It also unveiled the diesel-fuelled MG U9 ute, which boasts a 3.5 tonne towing capacity and 520 newton-metres of torque.
“Our goal is to have a vehicle for every life stage, and at every $10,000 price point,” said Belcher. “Today’s drivers want more. More connectivity. More performance. Smarter solutions. And they shouldn’t have to pay a premium for it."
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