Engineering:IM LS9
| IM LS9 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | IM Motors |
| Also called | IM LS9 Hyper (tri-motor) |
| Production | 2025–present |
| Assembly | China: Shanghai |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury SUV |
| Body style | 5-door SUV |
| Layout | Front-engine, dual or triple-motor, all-wheel-drive |
| Chassis | Unibody |
| Related | Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Power output |
|
| Hybrid drivetrain | Series hybrid |
| Battery | 69.5 kWh CATL Freevoy |
| Electric range |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,160 mm (124.4 in) |
| Length | 5,279 mm (207.8 in) |
| Width | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) |
| Height | 1,806 mm (71.1 in) |
| us|uk|Kerb|Curb}} weight | 2,695 kg (5,941 lb) |
The IM LS9 is a range-extended full-size luxury SUV produced by SAIC Motor under the IM Motors brand. It is IM's first EREV-only model.
Overview
The LS9 will be the brand's second range extended electric vehicle. It will also be one of China's longest-range hybrids, although the range of the LS9 is not yet known. The LS9 was set to debut on November 4, 2025, with pre-sales starting on the same day. However, the debut was moved to November 12th.[1][2] The LS9 is positioned as the brand's flagship model.[3]
The LS9 was first shown during the 2025 China International Industry Fair on September 23, 2025 with no prior announcement.[4]
The official launch of the LS9 took place on November 12, 2025.[5]
Design
The LS9 uses a front end design similar to that of the facelifted LS6 with its Y-shaped headlights. Full-width light bars are present at both the front and back. The front end is closed and has a small air intake on the bottom. Retractable door handles, a slightly slanted roofline, and 5-spoke wheels are also present in the LS9's design. The interior uses an oval-shaped 2-spoke steering wheel.[6]
Features
A LiDAR system will be available on the LS9 with it being part of an ADAS system expected to be supplied by Momenta.[7]
At launch, it was announced that customers can choose between a half-spoke or full-spoke steering wheel. Regardless of what steering model is optioned, sliding rotary controls are used on both sides of the wheel. The LS9's interior adopts a similar layout to the IM LS6, featuring a 27.1-inch 5K MiniLED dual central control screen and a 15.6-inch 3K MiniLED passenger entertainment screen. The LS9 has a four-wheel steering system that allows the rear wheels to turn up to 24 degrees. It also features a refrigerator in the interior as standard.[5]
Also equipped on the LS9 are "outdoor luxury" features such as a tent hanging from tailgate, water heater, a water tank with a ten litre capacity, shower, and graphene-based underfloor heating.[8]
IM LS9 Hyper
The IM LS9 Hyper is the high-performance version of the LS9 and is IM Motors flagship model. It was unveiled on January 28, 2026 and is the first production car to use an electronic four-wheel steering system. Compared to the regular LS9 it uses a tri-motor system. Hyper models also receive exclusive badging on the D-pillar and on the tailgate.[9]
Powertrain
The total power output is 523 horsepower (390 kW; 530 PS) from a 160 kW (215 hp; 218 PS) front motor and a 230 kW (308 hp; 313 PS) rear motor. A 153 horsepower (114 kW; 155 PS) 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine will be used as a generator, and is not mechanically connected to the wheels.[3]
The battery range of the LS9 was originally 450 kilometres (280 mi). This figure was changed to 402 kilometres (250 mi) when the launch date was announced.[1] The battery was confirmed to be CATL's Freevoy on the same day, with a capacity of 65.9 kWh.[10]
The LS9 Hyper uses the same battery as the regular LS9, but gets a smaller electric range of 308 kilometres (191 mi) and has a power output of 737 horsepower (550 kW; 747 PS) with the front motor still producing 215 hp (160 kW; 218 PS) while the two rear motors produce 261 horsepower (195 kW; 265 PS) each.[9]
Sales
| Year | China |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,228[11] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zhang, Phate (October 27, 2025). "IM Motors to begin pre-sales of large extended-range SUV LS9 on Nov 4, featuring 402-km battery range". https://cnevpost.com/2025/10/27/im-motors-pre-sales-ls9-nov-4/.
- ↑ Miao, Liu (November 4, 2025). "SAIC’s IM Motors starts pre-sales for its LS9 EREV: new flagship SUV almost 5.3-meters long". https://carnewschina.com/2025/11/04/saics-im-motors-starts-pre-sales-for-its-ls9-erev-new-flagship-suv-almost-5-3-meters-long/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kang, Lei (July 17, 2025). "IM Motors files for LS9 to target large extended-range SUV market". https://cnevpost.com/2025/07/17/im-motors-files-for-ls9/.
- ↑ "智己LS9实车亮相，四季度发布!". September 23, 2025. https://www.bitauto.com/article/1003103848921/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Miao, Liu (November 12, 2025). "IM Motors launched its flagship LS9 EREV SUV with 66 kWh battery and 1,500 km range". https://carnewschina.com/2025/11/12/im-motors-launched-its-flagship-ls9-erev-suv-with-66-kwh-battery-and-1500-km-range/.
- ↑ Bobylev, Denis (July 30, 2025). "SAIC & Alibaba to launch a full-size SUV to rival Li Auto L9 – the IM LS9". https://carnewschina.com/2025/06/30/saic-alibaba-to-launch-a-full-size-suv-to-rival-li-auto-l9-the-im-ls9/.
- ↑ Chen, Dong Yi (July 17, 2025). "SAIC-Alibaba's IM LS9 EREV with 673hp revealed in China, launch in Q4". https://carnewschina.com/2025/07/17/saic-alibabas-im-ls9-erev-with-673hp-revealed-launch-in-q4/.
- ↑ Leung, Adrian (2025-11-26). "CTO defends IM LS9 SUV controversy with in-car shower and heated floor" (in en-US). https://carnewschina.com/2025/11/26/cto-defends-im-ls9-suv-controversy-with-in-car-shower-and-heated-floor/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Miao, Liu (January 28, 2026). "IM Motors reveals LS9 Hyper as world’s first production SUV with four-wheel electronic steering". https://carnewschina.com/2026/01/28/im-motors-reveals-ls9-hyper-as-worlds-first-production-suv-with-four-wheel-electronic-steering/.
- ↑ Chen, Dong Yi (October 27, 2025). "SAIC’s IM LS9 EREV will start pre-sale on November 4: 402 km electric range, 520-line lidar, Lizard Digital Chassis 3.0". https://carnewschina.com/2025/10/27/saics-im-ls9-erev-will-start-pre-sale-on-november-4-402-km-electric-range-520-line-lidar-lizard-digital-chassis-3-0/.
- ↑ "【易车销量榜】全国2025年智己汽车终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". https://car.yiche.com/newcar/salesrank/?brandId=439&saleType=2&flag=2025.
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