MG takes on Tesla for a fraction of price with its new IM range – although some of the features look VERY familiar
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
I'VE seen a telly in the back of an MG before.
At a car boot sale.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
7
The new MG IM6
Credit: Supplied
7
The fastest versions are comically fast, like 751hp with 802Nm of torques
Credit: Supplied
7
When it comes to the interior, the IM5 and IM6 are pretty much copy-and-paste
Credit: Supplied
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.
KEY FACTS: MG IM6 Price: £50,995
£50,995 Power: 751hp
751hp Battery: 96kWh
96kWh 0-62mph: 3.5 secs
3.5 secs Top speed: 149mph
149mph Range: 313 miles
313 miles Charging: 17 mins
17 mins CO2: 0g/km
0g/km Out: September
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.
7
These IM cars are still a fair chunk cheaper than a similar-spec Tesla - and there's a TV in the back
Credit: Supplied
7
MG has done an excellent job providing families with sensibly priced cars backed by a seven-year warranty
Credit: Supplied
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.
7
These IM cars take MG into new territory
Credit: Supplied
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
31 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Drivers lose up to 565 hours of their lives to pesky car admin, survey finds
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOTORISTS 'lose' a shocking 565 hours of their lives to car-related admin and maintenance planning, according to a new study. A poll of 2,000 drivers revealed that, on average, they spend a full day (24 hours) each year thinking about service schedules, MOTs, and potential issues. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Motorists lose a staggering 565 hours on admin a year Credit: Anthony Devlin/PinPep 3 BMW's new tech hopes to reduce this time Credit: Anthony Devlin/PinPep The study also found that six in 10 (63 per cent) have missed important occasions because they couldn't get there. In fact, over the past year, drivers reported having to change plans for an average of four events due to undetected car issues. The research was commissioned by BMW, whose Proactive Care service is designed to reduce time spent thinking about vehicle upkeep. It uses real-time vehicle data to alert drivers to potential issues before they become problems. To bring this to life and raise awareness of the technology affording drivers greater peace of mind, BMW created a striking clock visual, sculpted in sand using car tyres, to symbolise the precious hours that could be reclaimed. Werner Pagenstert, spokesperson for BMW Group UK, said: 'Time is the ultimate luxury and shouldn't be lost to car admin or unplanned maintenance. "Smart technology can help drivers reclaim those 565 lost hours and spend more time doing the things that matter most to them.' The study also found nearly half of drivers (46 per cent) say motoring admin takes up valuable headspace. Many still rely on traditional methods to stay organised, with more than half (52 per cent) using diaries to manage service schedules, while 37 per cent wait for a dashboard alert before taking action, and 37 per cent actively delay visits to the garage. The impact this admin has on enjoyment is significant, with two thirds (68 per cent) of motorists saying they'd enjoy driving more with greater peace of mind. Final days for Nissan drivers to claim $5k from 'defect' settlement – you can get multiple payouts by filling in form This comes as the average Brit spends only a tenth of their day doing what they actually want to do, with the rest absorbed by obligations and life admin. When asked how they'd prefer to use time reclaimed from car-related admin, a third (33 per cent) said they'd read more, 32 per cent would prioritise exercise, and a quarter (25 per cent) would book themselves a much-needed holiday. For many, getting away from it all is key - 37 per cent crave more trips and holidays to escape daily pressures and one in five (20 per cent) admit that these occasions are the only time they can switch off from everyday stress and life admin. As a quarter (24 per cent) said true relaxation only comes once they're physically away from their everyday stresses. BMW Proactive Care has partnered with the Seren Collection hotels in Wales to offer one driver a chance to win a two-night luxury stay for two, complete with a tasting menu experience and use of an all-electric car for the duration of the trip. Spokesman Werner Pagenstert added: 'With so many people valuing this quality time away, we wanted to offer drivers the chance to do exactly that. 'And we're hoping to help people make the most of those precious hours that can be reclaimed from irritating admin and car maintenance.'
Top Gear
an hour ago
- Top Gear
The Great Haul of China: Top Gear's 20-car Chinese megatest
The cars are improving, but is China truly destined to take over Britain's roads? It's time for TG to investigate... But first, a point of order – that opening statement needed an asterisk. Of an eight model range, we only have a single MG here. Why? Well initially MG refused to lend us cars for this story, insisting it was a British firm. The definition is interesting. After all, where do you draw the line? Volvo is owned by Chinese giant Geely, electric Minis are built not in Cowley, but Zhangjiagang. Does that make them Chinese? And what about Lotus? Owned by and built in China for a global audience wanting e-SUVs. Every Chinese car on sale in the UK right now. As in today. Tomorrow there will be more. Three years ago Chinese-built cars accounted for just three per cent of European sales, now it's 20 per cent. What of MG then? The British elements are a London design studio, a small engineering team still at Longbridge and the name. The rest is Chinese. Now, do you care about where your car comes from, who owns it? Obviously MG believes you do or it wouldn't have had an issue with lending us cars. But do you? Probably only because of scare stories you've read about your car being able to spy on you. But are the cars any good? That's what we're going to find out. Once we've identified them. Mostly these badges are unknown to us, so what's the hierarchy when there's no brand equity? Who's the BMW here, the Renault, the Bentley, the Toyota? We can't fully debunk that, only point out that every firm we spoke to is signed up to GDPR data privacy regulations. But China is more opaque to us than, say, Korea or Japan, and some of its biggest automotive firms (among them MG's parent SAIC) are state-owned. Got an issue with that? Fair enough, shop elsewhere. Design is the communicator and the MG Cyberster is our standout. Credit where it's due, MG was built on two-seater soft tops, so green-lighting only the second fully electric one ever to exist (after the Lotus offcut Tesla Roadster) gives it a certain status. The Brit-led styling team dreamt up a classically pretty shape, it's tasteful and slick, but there are issues. European Cybersters are fobbed off with a diluted, graphically neutered version of its home market's fancy screens, so the all important tech experience is pants. It also has the damping sophistication of a waterbed tumbling down a spiral staircase, so the 310bhp RWD Trophy version is too quick for comfort, let alone the twin motor 500bhp GT model. Modern MG is the brand others want to emulate though. It's been selling cars here since 2011 and last year shifted more metal than Vauxhall, Skoda or Peugeot. The rest of the range is pretty lacklustre, but the MG4 is a standout hatch and would have done well here. If there's a company likely to threaten MG's chart topping position, it's BYD. It's already the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicles (outselling Tesla) and in the space of not much more than a year now has a five strong model range in the UK. The Atto 3 and Dolphin were first to arrive and are the last to get excited about. They come across as a generation behind the other BYDs even though they're only a year or two older. The Dolphin hatch is supermini sized but at £26k is priced in line with the MG4, which it is inferior to in every way, not least its ability to demonstrate several disconnected handling traits in the same corner. The Atto 3 meanwhile made an ill advised step into a themed interior with guitar string door pockets and 1950s jukebox air vents. It's the right size for Qashqai families wanting to switch to an EV, with a 440 litre boot and 60kWh battery (for 260 miles of range). However, the plastics are cheap, the design seems to riff on a 15 year old Mitsubishi and the driving experience defines disinterested. The whole car is a little off key. And don't go rubbing your hands thinking you're going to get a bargain, either. The Atto 3 is £37,140 and residuals are crummy because BYD has yet to establish a reputation and instil consumer confidence. The same applies to many of these cars and brands. I suspect the Atto is just something BYD has thrown at us to see what sticks. Hopefully it'll slide down the wall and into oblivion. The Seal, Sealion 7 and Seal U are much more convincing. The latter chiefly because it's both bigger and cheaper than the Atto 3. It's a £33k PHEV, a 1.5-litre engine combining with either an 18.3 or 26.6kWh battery that can use the petrol as a range extender or to drive the wheels directly. It's sloshingly comfortable and surprisingly plush inside, with a drive that rewards a slower pace. The Seal saloon and Sealion 7 SUV share the same 400V architecture, but in China they get an Evo version with 800V for faster charging. Not the first nor last time it'll seem like the Chinese are keeping the best stuff to themselves. The target for both is clearly Tesla Model 3/Y. Both are aerodynamic and refined, with double laminated glass working alongside the silent powertrain to provide low noise levels. Until the inevitable active safety systems bong into life, of course. A slightly scruffy ride means the Seal falls short of delivering a proper luxurious waft about the place, while the taller Sealion 7 SUV is, as you might expect from the name, a little more blubbery to drive. There's a deceptive amount of goodness for under £45k, plus a six year warranty, but could you bring yourself to spend that on a brand you hadn't heard of last week whose products are as slippery to grasp as their namesakes? This is the issue here. A decade or more back many Chinese firms were building knockoffs of European cars such as the Evoque. Now they're designing their own cars and they're neat, but bland, forgettable. Hyundai went through this stage, of course, and is now firmly out the other side. But Hyundai needed to respond to global tastes because its Korean domestic market is small. The Chinese market is the world's largest, so there's less incentive for BYD et al to adjust for us. Let's look at the ones that have: Lotus, Smart and Volvo. There's a sliding scale here. Volvo is doing what it's always done, but now with background Chinese support. Lotus has been entirely repositioned, no longer a lightweight sports car company, now a luxury sports brand aiming to rival Porsche, and Smart is now a joint project between Mercedes and Geely, so the 1 and 3 (we reject the appalling hashtags) use Zeekr underpinnings also shared with the Volvo EX30. It's all rather confusing. 26 minutes 31 seconds All three feel European. Yes, the Emeya lacks the last bit of chassis polish, the Smart's blobby design is an acquired taste and Volvo's insistence on burying everything in the central touchscreen is infuriating for a company that makes such a song and dance about safety. They're good cars though. No Lotus has ever been as well made as the Emeya, the EX90 is the pinnacle of Volvo's family focus and the Smarts are creative, bold, well packaged and attractively priced. OK, the lower roofed 3 is a car of indeterminate purpose, but you just know the words 'urban style' are featured somewhere in the literature. They're all recommendable. But some really aren't. With that in mind let's have a look at the Omoda 5, Skywell BE11 and GWM Haval Jolion Pro. They're crossovers, but that's no surprise because so is everything else right now. What we have here are cars that bunked off their development programmes. The £25,915 Omoda's engine and gearbox (you were expecting electricity? That'll be along shortly with the £33k Omoda E5) aren't on speaking terms, the Skywell's suspension is so easily overwhelmed occupants resemble one of those novelty bobbleheads and we remain utterly mystified by how the Haval manages to combine so little performance with so much noise. Redeeming features are actually quite tricky to find. The Omoda has a seven year warranty and five star Euro NCAP score, but you'll likely use both given the way it drives. Ever get the feeling no one's actually done any chassis development? That all they've done is get the electronic safety systems to work, established it won't flip over no matter how ham-fisted and panicky the driver, and booted it out the door? Yeah, that. The Haval's packaging is bizarre, the boot tiny, the wheels buried so deep in the arches it's as if they've gone off to hibernate. Skywell? That's a marriage between the Golden Dragon Bus Company and electronics firm Skyworth, only it got the wrong one to do the infotainment. You're thinking they'll be cheap, but they're not. And here's the thing about the Chinese cars. They're not coming in with Dacia-busting price tags. At best they're just a couple of grand cheaper than their equivalent mainstream rivals, and watch the lease costs because residuals aren't likely to be pretty. And it's not like the prices are affected by import duties because the UK – unlike the EU – doesn't currently penalise Chinese marques. The Leapmotor T03 is the exception to the above. It does have a Dacia-busting price tag – just £15,995 for 94bhp and a 165 mile range. Like Smart it's a partnership deal, this time with Stellantis, that sees the T03 built on the old Fiat 500 line in Poland. And it's... OK. Apart from the way it looks. You forgive a lot for a price tag that low. Until you remember you could buy something secondhand. There's diversity in the products and brands, but as yet little character. That's what we love and where we differ The other Leapmotor, the C10, has zero in common with its sibling, but a lot with the Xpeng (pronounced chow-pung) G6. Both are aimed directly at Tesla. They're not alone, but they're the most shameless. Check out the C10's cabin, which appears to have been stolen wholesale down to the exact shade of grey and material textures. It's uncanny. You don't even have to stray inside the Xpeng. The high roof profile is so similar to the Model Y's that it's somewhat straining copyright laws. Both are sub-£40k with unwrinkled, featureless lines and flush fit doorhandles. The C10's a lollopy pudding, the G6 more tempting. It's our favourite Chinese newcomer, the best car this side of the Euro influenced machines. Jaecoo, Omoda's luxury wing in the Chery universe (it's easier to plot the family tree in a rabbit warren), claims to compete at that level but cars that sell chiefly on badge need that intangible, impossible to bottle 'want one' factor. Not a failed team name off The Apprentice and an XXL touchscreen. And there's no parking brake switch. Aren't they compulsory? The car formerly known as Funky Cat has lost its single USP. It's now the Ora 03. Built by GWM, it actually has a fair amount in common with the electric Mini thanks to a joint venture with BMW, but drive both back to back and you'll soon discover that's a little like Danny Dyer's relation to King Edward III. Priced from £24,995, it's neither that cheap or cheerful when you consider it against cars such as the Renault 5 or Fiat Grande Panda. So this is where we are now. A handful of new firms have arrived bearing cars of mixed quality. Some are passable, other risible. It won't be that way for long. If one thing has taken European marques by surprise, it's the astonishing rate of development the Chinese brands are capable of – some designers we've spoken to reckon they can go from sketch to production in 18 months or less. In Europe it's four to six years. Competition is at the core. The Chinese state funded firms to get them off the ground, then let them fight it out. The failure rate has been savage. Three years ago it's thought there were 652 car firms in China – today, through collapse, takeover and merger, they're down to 150. UK buyers currently have a choice of about 57 brands. Getting them all together proved there's diversity in the products and brands, but as yet little character. That's what we love and where we differ. China has no historic car culture, it instead celebrates and promotes technology and autonomous driving – whether it can or even wants to adapt to create cars to interest us remains to be seen. But we, the people who love cars, are a minority and despite tariffs Europe's mainstream marques look vulnerable to a product onslaught. It's coming fast.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Major update on future of River Island as 33 shops earmarked for closure with hundreds of jobs at risk
We reveal the full list of 33 branches that could close below RISKY BUSINESS Major update on future of River Island as 33 shops earmarked for closure with hundreds of jobs at risk Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE future of 33 River Island shops earmarked for closure hangs in the balance after a major update. The fate of the branches and whether rents are cut at 71 shops will now have to be decided later this week after the retailer failed to secure enough support from landlords and lenders. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The future of 33 River Island branches hangs in the balance Credit: Alamy The chain is currently going through a major restructuring plan looking at balancing its books, which also includes writing off debts. The plan was put to creditors on Friday, but did not reach a high enough backing to be approved. The plans will now be put before the High Court on Thursday for a formal decision on whether they can go ahead. A River Island spokesperson said: "River Island circulated its proposals for a Restructuring Plan to creditors on June 20. "In combination with the company's ongoing Transformation Strategy, the Plan is a proactive measure to place the company on a firm footing. "We have been having positive conversations with key stakeholders and are confident that we will achieve approval of the Plan in the coming days." It comes just days after River Island was said to be on the "brink of collapse" with hundreds of jobs at risk. The formal restructuring plan put in place by PwC states the chain will not be able to continue trading and would be "subject to administration or other insolvency proceedings if not approved. Insolvency is when a company cannot afford to pay off its debts. River Island stores and its online website remain open and trading as usual as the restructuring plan waits to be approved. River Island confirms which 33 stores are shutting as a further 70 at risk in huge shake-up – is your local going? It comes amid a challenging time for the brand, as a rise in ultra-cheap fast fashion and low consumer spending has hit retail businesses hard. In a statement issued in June, Ben Lewis, chief executive officer, said: "River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street. "However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers' needs. "The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden." Trouble at the fashion firm Accounts for River Island Clothing Co for the year ending December 30, 2023, showed the firm made a £33.2 million pre-tax loss. Then the turnover during the following 12 months fell by more than 19% to £578.1 million. The retailer's most recent accounts on Companies House also warned of worsening financial and operational risks. They said: "The key business risks for the group are the pressures of a highly competitive and changing retail environment combined with increased economic uncertainty. "A number of geopolitical events have resulted in continuing supply chain disruption as well as energy, labour and food price increases, driving inflation and interest rates higher and resulting in weaker disposable income and lower consumer confidence." In recent months, a number of stores have closed including in Corby, Banbury and Chesterfield. Which River Island stores face closure? River Island has already named the 33 stores that it plans to close as part of its restructuring This is the full list here: Beckton Bangor Bloomfield Wrexham Edinburgh Princes Street Hereford Surrey Quays Didcot Sutton Coldfield Aylesbury Burton-Upon-Trent Northwich Taunton Workington Falkirk Cumbernauld Kirkcaldy Gloucester Hartlepool Brighton Lisburn Norwich Oxford Poole Kilmarnock Hanley Barnstaple Grimsby Leeds Birstall Park Rochdale Great Yarmouth St Helens Stockton-on-Tees Perth Even if the plan to close these 33 stores are approved, they will stay open until January 2026 to make the most of peak trading. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
