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MG is pushing further upmarket with its IM8 large SUV confirmed for a Australia next year, taking on big players in the segment.
IM, MG’s premium sub-brand, will field its largest and most expensive model yet in early 2027 with the introduction of the IM8 SUV – known as the LS8 in overseas markets.
Revealed to the public at the 2026 Beijing motor show, the IM8 measures 5085mm long, 2000mm wide, 1807mm tall, and with a 3060mm wheelbase, and crucially differs from the already-on sale IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV by offering a range extender powertrain.
Fitted with a 1.5-litre petrol engine – which is rated to take 91RON petrol – to act as a generator for the 66kWh battery, the IM8 has a claimed combined driving range of over 1600km.
Fuel economy is pegged at a claimed 2.5L/100km, and without using the petrol engine, IM still boasts an electric-only range of 430km for the IM8 – both measured on China’s CLTC standard.
With two electric motors – each driving an axle – IM claims a combined 390kW/670Nm output from the powertrain, accompanied by a reported 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4 seconds.
Built on 800-volt electrical architecture, the IM8 can recoup 30-80 per cent of its battery in just 12 minutes with an appropriate DC fast-charger.
As a large SUV, the IM8 boasts three-row seating, with a six-seater version shown alongside a five-seat model.
It is expected a seven-seater will be revealed at a later date and made available to Australia.
Features in the production car include soft-touch materials throughout, a suede-like headliner, roof-mounted second-row entertainment screen, 25-speaker B&O sound system, and powered side steps.
Up front, the front passengers are treated to a single 27.1-inch 5K widescreen display that incorporates the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen, while there is also a 15.6-inch 3K passenger display shown in Chinese models.
However, to up the luxury, IM has also fitted heated, cooled, and massaging seats for front and rear outboard passengers.
IM has turned to home ‘Shiatsu’ massaging machines for inspiration, and fitted large mechanical rollers for the massaging function.
Final Australian specifications will be locked in closer to the IM8’s first half of 2027 launch, but expect overseas-market features such as the roof-mounted lidar sensor for advanced self-driving to be omitted in local cars.
In terms of positioning, the IM8 will sit above the IM6 not only in terms of size, but also price, IM Motor regional general manager for Asia Pacific Steven Xu told Drive.
“[The IM8] should be positioning above [IM6] for the features and the tech,” Xu said.
“The positioning, for reference in China, the LS8 is more premium and flagship than IM5 and IM6, so I think the price should be higher.”
For reference, the IM6 is priced from $60,990 drive-away for the base Premium RWD grade and extends to $80,990 for the Performance AWD.
As such, the IM8 is expected to be positioned competitively against high-end large hybrid SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade (from $89,900 before on-road costs), BYD Sealion 8 Premium (from $70,990), Kia Sorento PHEV (from $71,130), and Mazda CX-80 PHEV (from $75,750).
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
