MG’s premium brand will represent nationally in a single large SUV configured to three trim levels.

CONFIRMATION has come from MG today that it will soon add in a product from the Sino-Brit brand’s IM premium car family, across three grades.

The IM6, a large hatchback styled SUV, will be available from November and sold from MG dealerships, which are understood to have committed to creating a bespoke space for the marque, whose name is short hand for “intelligence in Motion.’

The car will start at $66,900 for a rear-drive with a 75kWh lithium phosphate battery enabling 217kW and 450Nm and 450 kilometres’ range (using the WLTP scale).

It will also avail in $77,900 Platinum and $89,900 Performance grades, the first in rear drive and the range topper in all-wheel-drive, both using a 100kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery.

The rear drive is offering 300kW/500Nm and 555km range, the latter having 572kW/802Nm, 505kms’ range and 0-100 kilometres’ per hour in 3.4s - so half the time the base car takes and 2s ahead of the Platinum.

MG is also publishing range estimates to the NEDC scale, which NZ buyers should consider to highly dubious, as while that scale is still recognised in Australia, it has had no standing here since 2022 and will be redundant here from from year-end.

NZ Transport Agency has determined NEDC to be far less accurate than WLTP, to point it becomes misleading. The NEDC range estimates provided by MG for IM6 are much higher than the WLTP figures.

DC charge times across the 30-80 percent span 20 minutes for the LFP, which peaks at 153kW, and 15 minutes for the NCM, though the latter is notional as its 396kW peak replenishment is beyond the optimal for any public recharger in NZ.

The IM product has MG Motors badges on the tailgate in addition to IM logos from and rear.

In measuring 4904mm long, 1988mm wide, and 1669mm tall, with a 2950mm wheelbase, the IM6 is categorised by some as being a relevant competitor for the much more expensive Cadillac Lyriq and BMW iX.

In provided comment today, MG Motor NZ and Australia chief executive Peter Ciao said the car’s release was due to an outstanding response from the New Zealand dealer group who viewed it in Australia recently.

“The dealers expressed a strong desire to offer the new IM6 as part of the MG portfolio, so based on their keen interest we are making the bold step to introduce the stunning new SUV.

“We’re proud to bring IM Presented by MG Motor to New Zealand, one of our first global markets. The IM6 set a new benchmark in attainable dream cars, combining AI enhanced engineering, exhilarating performance, and elegant design.”

A disguised IM6 has been regularly spotted touring New Zealand for the past few months; it has been carrying what appears to be a camera and sensor array on the roof.

These are believed to have been utilised to validate the aptitude of the car’s advanced driver assist systems, which label as Momenta, which appears to allow up to level two autonomy. Tesla’s Full Self Driving also has this ability.

All models have a premium cabin, with a 10.5 inch central touchscreen and a 26 inch infotainment display.

The cars also take four-wheel steering and ‘crab mode’ allows them to travel diagonally by rotating the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts at low speed. Automated parking, one touch reverse (where the car will remember the pathway into a parking space and retrace its steps), and a Rainy Night mode to improve safety in low-light situations also seem to avail.

There is no word if the IM5 sister sedan is also being contemplated for NZ, though it would be an easy reach as it sells in Australia under a common distributor.