- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He
IM L7. Another threat to Tesla
The IM L7 is a large electric sedan from IM Auto, a division of the Chinese company, SAIC, unveiled at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show. And although a production version has not been on the Chinese market for that long (it appeared in the summer of 2022), the car has already managed to gain popularity and show quite high sales rates. And this is despite the fact that the new L7 belongs is a luxury car that costs from 51,000 to 80,000 dollars, which is very expensive by Chinese standards. With a high degree of probability, we can assume that it closest competitor, the Tesla Model S, partly ensured its success, as it has become the IM L7’s prototype and costs much more. Well, let’s get acquainted with the next threat to Tesla.
The Chinese company IM Motors positions itself as a manufacturer of high-tech luxury electric vehicles, therefore, in fact, it is another Chinese competitor to Tesla.
Standard version
Exterior
Even the entry-level IM L7 looks very impressive, featuring matrix optics made up of 5,000 LEDs: this solution allows not only to flexibly change the shape of the light beam, but also to display navigation prompts for the driver on the roadway. The car is equipped with the power doors and cameras instead of mirrors. The large sedan is 5,098 mm long, 1,960 mm wide and 1,485 mm high. The wheelbase is 3,100 mm. The body is almost perfect in terms of aerodynamics (cx = 0.21) and is equipped with numerous devices necessary for the operation of a full-fledged level 2 autopilot (five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 26 cameras). So far, all systems only assist the driver.
Interior
The interior is distinguished by a huge 39-inch touch screen that stretches along the entire front panel. There is another 12.3-inch screen in the center console, which is responsible for the multimedia system, which is endowed with luxurious sound capabilities thanks to 22 speakers located throughout the passenger compartment.
Powertrains
The entry-level IM L7 is powered by two electric motors (578 hp and 725 Nm), one for each axle, making the sedan all-wheel drive. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.87 seconds. There are two battery options to choose from: with a capacity of 93 kWh (range 615 km according to the CLTC cycle) or 115 kWh (874 km according to the same cycle). The energy density in the battery is 300 W/kg. In addition, the sedan received a fully controlled chassis with adaptive suspension, developed with the participation of specialists from Williams Advanced Engineering (UK). The sedan features a double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension.
Snake Performance version
In November 2022, the manufacturer released the Snake Performance sports version of the IM L7, named after the snake, one of the 12 sacred animals in China. It received two configurations: the initial Lite and the advanced one (without this compromise prefix). Both versions are equipped with powerful electric motors (605 hp, 730 Nm), a ‘ship’s wheel’ instead of a conventional steering wheel (just like Tesla) and suede seats. It takes the IM L7 Snake Performance 3.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.
The advanced version has received a modified chassis and other driving electronics settings: new driving modes, more powerful brakes lightweight wheels, and the matte body colors. The new IM L7 Snake Performance has already become famous: the sedan has set a lap record among mass-produced electric vehicles at the Zhejiang Circuit. It topped the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ and Porsche Taycan Turbo S. Well, it remains to be seen what the ‘snake’ will show on the famous Nürburgring loop…
