MG takes on Tesla for a fraction of price with its new IM range – although some of the features look VERY familiar

The Sun

5 days ago

I'VE seen a telly in the back of an MG before.
At a car boot sale.
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Never have I seen an MG with it's own flip-down widescreen TV.
Or driven an MG with supercar acceleration and air suspension.
Until today.
You see MG is going all fancy with a new sub-brand called IM, which stands for Intelligence in Motion. Probably more in keeping with today's world than Morris Garages.
The value-packed superminis and SUVs are here to stay — and there's more to come. But MG wants a slice of the lucrative corporate market too.
So IM5 is a fully loaded electric saloon (cough, Tesla Model 3) and IM6 is the SUV version (cough, Tesla Model Y).
Let's now run through the headlines . . .
The fastest versions are comically fast, like 751hp with 802Nm of torques. Like, see-ya-later Lando-fast.
Major car brand reveals compact £20k supermini EV will be released in UK in just two years
The IM5 Long Range version has an official WLTP range of 441 miles. London to Edinburgh in one go. But it's less powerful at 407 horses. Which is still rapido.
Recharging to 80 per cent takes just 17 minutes thanks to the industry-leading 800v battery tech. Like Porsche. And Kia.
The cheapest? That's the IM5 Standard Range with a 304-mile battery costing £39,450. Crucially, dipping below £40k will save owners £2k in road tax in the years ahead.
Both IM5 and IM6 get four-wheel steering as standard. So they'll outturn an MG4 in town. And they can self-park.
Press a button and the boot lowers for the dog to jump in. But that's only on the top-spec SUV with air suspension for now.
IM6 is also the first MG with massaging seats. And that optional flip-down TV.
From here on out, the cabins are pretty much copy-and-paste.
The dash is crowned by a 26in widescreen display and there's a second control panel in the centre console with hard controls for the things we use most.
It's quiet in here. It's comfy. It's roomy. There are lots of details which remind me of other brands. But, hey, these are Chinese cars. That's what they do. I've done a checklist of familiar features elsewhere on this page.
The bottom line is, MG has done an excellent job providing families with sensibly priced cars backed by a seven-year warranty. It is now a top ten manufacturer.
These IM cars take MG into new territory, yet they're still a fair chunk cheaper than a similar-spec Tesla, BYD Seal or Polestar 2.
Even with a TV in the back.
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NOW I'M SEEING DOUBLE
HERR are ten features on the IM cars which look familiar:
Flip-down TV. Like a BMW i7. Just a bit smaller. Watch Netflix or YouTube. Play video games.
That car-shaped key's pretty cool. Been in a Porsche recently?
Steering wheel controls to adjust the wing mirror. Like a Tesla.
Merc-inspired gear selector and 'cheese-grater' speakers in the doors.
No door handles. Oh yeah, Fiat 500. They've got a button.
Proper deep and soft carpet mats. Like a Rolls-Royce. What, what.
Indicate to turn left or right and a blindspot camera pops up on the dash. You can thank Hyundai for that.
Autonomous reversing tech, a la BMW. The car remembers the last 100 metres before you pulled up – then retraces it for you. Like pressing rewind on a movie.
Widescreen dash. Like, er, everyone else, really.
Finally, looks. Tesla vibes at the front and sides. Shades of Aston Martin at the rear with that ducktail spoiler and integrated lightbar.
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