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‘IM Presented by MG Motor’ Might Be The Most Ridiculous Car Brand Name Yet

  • IM Motors will debut in Australia as IM Presented by MG with high-performance EVs.
  • The brand is part of the SAIC group and offers 400V, 800V, and 900V architectures.
  • Like other Chinese EVs, there’s no chance these models will come to the United States.

IM Motors is ready to enter Australia’s rapidly growing EV market, which, let’s face it, is already dominated by Chinese cars. However, the company is making a somewhat strange move with its branding: the vehicles will be marketed under the newly named IM Presented by MG Motor brand. We’ll let that name sink in for a moment—yeah, it doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue. But despite the curious moniker, the company plans to introduce two intriguing models locally.

The IM5 and IM6, which are already on sale in China under the names L6 and LS6, will be the vehicles taking center stage. There’s no official explanation for the name change in Australia, but what we do know is that both cars will be built in right-hand drive from the factory, thanks to a collaboration between SAIC, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech.

Read: IM Motors LS6 Secures 10,000 Orders In One Week, Offered With Up To 787 HP

At this point, IM Presented by MG Motor—yes, we’re still trying to get used to that—hasn’t provided many specifics about the Australian versions of these cars. However, it’s safe to assume that they’ll likely be very similar to the models already available in China. The sleek IM5 will serve as a rival to the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, but is longer and wider than both of them, and has been tipped to start at around AU$70,000 (about $44,200 at current exchange rates) while topping out at AU$95,000 (~$60,000).

In China, IM sells the sedan and SUV with 400V, 800V, and 900V electrical architectures and 75 kWh, 83 kWh, and 100 kWh battery packs. Entry-level rear-wheel drive models pump out 290 hp (216 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm), while the flagship versions churn out a monstrous 776 hp (579 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm). The IM5 sedan can reportedly hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.74 seconds, while the SUV needs 3.48 seconds.

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Like so many other new EVs out of China, the cabins of the two cars are very tech-focused and come outfitted with plenty of plush materials. Key standouts include a large screen on the console for the climate control, much like what you’ll find in a Porsche Taycan, and then a single panoramic screen for the gauge cluster and infotainment system.

There are also twin wireless phone chargers, cupholders, and several accessories, including a table and a large wireless charging pad that can hold devices or even reading lamps.

“We’re thrilled to introduce IM Presented by MG Motor to the Australian market, setting a new benchmark for luxury electric driving,” MG Motor Australia’s chief executive Peter Ciao said, according to Drive. “With cutting-edge innovation wrapped in elegant design, both the IM5 and IM6 deliver an uncompromising blend of performance, refinement, and range – offering drivers the freedom to go further in absolute comfort. This is the future of premium electric mobility, and we’re proud to bring it to Australia and further extend our EV offering to Australian drivers.”

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Mercedes-AMG Wants You To Forget About The EQC With This New EV

  • The next-gen GLC will challenge rivals like the BMW iX3 in the electric SUV segment.
  • Sitting at the top of the range will be the GLC AMG EV pushing out over 500 horses.
  • It will ride on Mercedes’ MB.EA platform, supporting 800-volt charging for faster recharges.

Mercedes-Benz previewed the new all-electric GLC earlier this month, and now, our spy photographers have snapped a prototype of the AMG version during testing. While it’s still wrapped in that signature camo, there are some key visual differences that set this hotter GLC apart, and some intriguing updates under the skin.

This prototype is covered head-to-toe in white and black camouflage, but there are some notable differences between this AMG GLC and the regular model. The hood looks a little more muscular, and a different set of headlights, although these appear to be temporary units. The lights of the finished product should be very similar, or identical, to the standard GLC.

Read: 2027 Mercedes GLC EV Strips Away Bulky Disguise, Dons Stylish New Slimline Camo Suit

Mercedes-AMG has also fitted the electric SUV with distinctive new wheels, making the whole thing look a little meaner. Much of the rear end has been covered in snow, but there’s a large lip spoiler at the rear – but it’s clearly temporary, and won’t look like this on the finished model.

This all-new Mercedes GLC will replace the EQC and is one of the 17 new electric vehicles that Mercedes has promised to deliver in the coming years. When it hits the market, the GLC will square off with the BMW iX3, which itself is undergoing a complete overhaul for its next generation.

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Platform and Charging Power

All new GLC models will ride on Mercedes’ MB.EA platform, a modular electric architecture that can handle 800-volt charging, with a max charge rate of up to 320 kW. This means quicker charging times and more efficiency across the board.

Unlike the outgoing EQC, which never got a full-fledged AMG version, the upcoming GLC EV AMG will bring the power in spades. The EQC’s AMG Line model topped out at 402 hp, but this new AMG variant will likely push over 500 hp, possibly even cresting the 600 hp mark with a pair of potent electric motors.

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New MG4 Electric Hatch Draws Inspiration From Cyberster

  • The first-gen MG4 was a success, but its replacement is a significantly updated car.
  • The new EV is larger in all dimensions than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase.
  • Power comes from a 161 hp electric motor, allowing for a top speed of 99 mph.

The MG4 was one of the first modern Chinese EVs to achieve international success. Not resting on its laurels, MG has been hard at work developing a new generation, and these photos provide us with our first look at it. The brand could have been excused for simply updating the hatch’s lights and bumpers before calling it a day, but it’s actually redesigned the whole car.

Local data reveals the new 4 is slightly larger than the model it replaces. It measures 4,395 mm (173 inches) long, 1,842 mm (72.5 inches) wide, and 1,551 mm (61 inches) tall, and has a 2,750 mm (108.2-inch) wheelbase. This makes it 108 mm (4.2 inches) longer, 6 mm (0.2 inches) wider, and 35 mm (1.3 inches) taller than the first-gen, while the wheelbase has grown by 45 mm (1.7 inches).

Read: MG Teases 4-Based MGS5 EV, European Brands Reach For The Xanax

The front of the new MG4 is nothing like the model it replaces. Whereas the current car favors sharp lines and aggressive edges, the new one is dominated by creases, curves, and has far fewer straight lines than the old one. There are new headlights, a different grille, new quarter panels, and a different hood.

MG’s designers have also crafted new door skins for the electric hatchback and, in these photos, it’s showcased with new 16- and 17-inch wheels. The rear end has also been transformed, and key highlights include a light bar, unique taillights, and a different bumper. The MG4’s taillights appear to have taken inspiration from the Cyberster and have lighting signatures in the shape of an arrow.

 New MG4 Electric Hatch Draws Inspiration From Cyberster

Powering the new MG4 is a single electric motor with 161 hp (120 kW), enough to propel it to a 99 mph (160 km/h) top speed. By comparison, the old EV came with a 168 hp (125 kW) motor in base guise, but weighed 3,617 lbs (1,641 kg), whereas the new one tips the scales at just 3,237 lbs (1,485 kg). It seems likely that a dual-motor XPower version will also be introduced shortly.

While the current MG4 has become a common sight on roads in many countries, it’s fallen out of favor in China. Shortly after its launch in mid-2022, MG initially delivered more than 5,000 units each month, but sales have crashed since the start of 2023. In February, just 13 examples were sold in its home market.

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Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Could Be A 500+ HP EV With Fake V8 Sounds

  • The redesigned Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 could be a high-performance EV.
  • Report suggests it could have a tri-motor powertrain with more than 500 hp.
  • The four-door coupe is slated to have active aerodynamics and a “V8 Mode.”

Mercedes unveiled the redesigned CLA yesterday and new details are starting to emerge about the upcoming AMG variants. In particular, the CLA 45 could return as an electric vehicle packing more than 500 ponies.

While officials were understandably tight-lipped about the upcoming model, Mercedes Chief Technical Officer, Markus Schäfer, told Autocar that they have “established a second pillar when it comes to powertrains – keyword Yasa.” That’s a not so subtle reference to axial flux motors developed by their Yasa subsidiary.

More: Starry But Soulless 2026 Mercedes CLA Leans On AI And Electric Power

Axial flux motors were expected to be used in high-end models, such as the AMG SUV, but they won’t be limited to the crème de la crème. Quite the opposite as Schäfer said they’ll  be “available to us across all model lines.”

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Additional details are limited, but the publication suggested the CLA 45 EV could have a tri-motor powertrain with “advanced torque-vectoring properties.” Insiders have also indicated the car could have more than 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS), which would be a significant increase over the current model’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that develops 416 hp (310 kW / 422 PS). This enables the CLA 45 S to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in four seconds flat.

While the standard model has an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the AMG version will reportedly use an “oil-cooled battery that features unique cylindrical cells and chemistry for greater energy density.” We can also expect an active rear wing as well as a so-called “V8 Mode,” which could replicate the sound of a roaring V8.

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Mercedes-AMG Super SUV: What We Know About The 1,000 HP EV

  • Mercedes-AMG’s electric SUV draws design inspiration from the Vision AMG concept.
  • Built on the AMG-EA platform, it will offer up to 1,000 hp from three axial-flux motors.
  • Expected to debut in 2026, it will directly compete with the upcoming Porsche K1.

Last month, Mercedes-AMG previewed the all-electric super SUV it’s currently working on. This new model is being developed alongside AMG’s first in-house electric sedan, and much like that car, is bound to court controversy. After all, many enthusiasts are accustomed to AMG models with thumping V8 engines, and this is partly why the four-cylinder hybrid C 63 has been a flop. However, the German brand believes electric is the future, and it’s cooking up something rather special.

Prototypes spotted by our spy photographers, along with official images released by Mercedes, were heavily covered in body cladding and camouflage, obscuring most of the design details. However, there’s a chance the EV, which is rumored to receive the GT SUV moniker, will have many similarities to its sedan counterpart that’s tipped to draw inspiration from the 2022 Mercedes Vision AMG Concept.

Read: First Look At Mercedes-AMG’s 1,000 HP Electric SUV Flagship

With this in mind, artist Nikita Chuyko created illustrations for Kolesa based on the test mules and recent renderings of AMG’s Taycan fighter, offering a preview of what the new SUV might look like. If it ends up resembling these images, it will certainly stand out in the Mercedes lineup, though we’re not entirely convinced it’ll be for all the right reasons.

The front of the SUV showcased here is dominated by a faux grille, which is to be expected in an EV, while the headlights are connected by a light bar. They also sport the Three-Pointed Star DRLs coming to a slew of new Mercedes models.

 Mercedes-AMG Super SUV: What We Know About The 1,000 HP EV
Illustrations Kolesa / Nikita Chuyko
 Mercedes-AMG Super SUV: What We Know About The 1,000 HP EV

For as interesting as the front of this rendering is, the rear end is even more so. Taking cues from the Vision AMG Concept’s styling, it sports a wraparound LED taillight design, which brings to mind the Kia EV6 – an interesting choice, though one that works better on the Mercedes.

Power, Performance, and Ambition

Moving away from the design, the GT SUV is expected to mirror the size of the 2022 Vision AMG concept, stretching about 5.1 meters (200 inches) in length, with a wheelbase pushing over 3 meters (118 inches). That’s a bigger footprint than the gas-guzzling AMG GLE 63, putting it in the same league as the fully electric EQS SUV flagship.

Under the skin, the new AMG electric SUV will be built on the brand’s proprietary AMG.EA platform, featuring an 800-volt electrical system for faster charging and greater efficiency. It will also sport newly developed axial-flux electric motors from the British company Yasa, potentially delivering more than 1,000 hp. That kind of power will make it a serious contender against other electric crossovers like the Lotus Eletre R, which puts out 905 hp.

A release date hasn’t been announced yet, however it’s likely that the production version will debut in 2026, with sales kicking off later that year or early 2027, depending on the market, just ahead of its Porsche K1 rival. In theory, it’s a serious competitor for any luxury electric crossover, but its commercial success depends largely not just on its tech or power figures, but its design as well.

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Baldauf for Carscoops

Mercedes-AMG Electric Super-SUV Will Beat Porsche’s K1 To The Punch

  • Mercedes’s AMG’s all-electric SUV flagship has been spied during winter tests.
  • The EV will battle the Lotus Eletre, Porsche K1 and Bentley’s upcoming crossover.
  • Under the skin is an AMG.EA platform that’ll also form the base for the next 4dr GT.

Slower than expected EV sales have forced both Porsche and Mercedes to renew their commitment to combustion powertrains, but that strategy shift won’t prevent the two companies delivering a couple of new electric flagships. And our spy photo team has just snapped AMG’s contender taking part in winter tests ahead of next year’s debut.

AMG released a ‘spy’ shot of its own and a brief video last December, both taken at the company’s test track. But this latest set of images show the electric super-SUV testing for real in northern Europe and give us a better chance to see the EV from multiple angles.

Related: First Look At Mercedes-AMG’s 1,000 HP Electric SUV Flagship

Like Ferrari’s V12-powered Purosangue, the unnamed electric AMG is more of a crossover than an SUV. It has a relatively low roofline, modest ground clearance, narrow glasshouse and a sporty rake to its rear window. Unlike the AMG-badged GLS63, the most expensive SUV in the company’s current lineup, the EV should only have room for two rows of seats.

Every one of the AMG SUVs you can buy today is a pumped-up version of a regular Mercedes product, but this one will be unique to AMG and was developed in-house at Affalterbach. It should measure around 5.1 meters (200 inches) in length, and offer plenty of room thanks to a circa-3 m (118 inches) wheelbase.

 Mercedes-AMG Electric Super-SUV Will Beat Porsche’s K1 To The Punch

This prototype has placeholder lights at the rear and the fronts are shielded by camouflage but still give us a glimpse of the star motif DRLs below. It’s possible that rather than being built into a traditional cluster the individual light elements could be set directly into the bodywork, as seen on 2022’s Mercedes Vision AMG concept.

That concept previewed a Porsche Taycan-rivalling successor to the four-door AMG GT which will be built on the same AMG.EA platform as the SUV and share battery and motor tech. Fast charging courtesy of 800-volt electrics means fill-ups will be brief, as will zero to 60 mph (97 kmh) runs if the rumours of more than 1,000 hp (1,014 PS / 746 kW) are true. And we’re sure they are.

Mercedes-AMG could debut the SUV in 2026 with sales starting in 2027, which would potentially put it on the street fractionally ahead of its Porsche K1 rival.

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Images: Baldauf

MG Teases 4-Based MGS5 EV, European Brands Reach For The Xanax

  • China’s MG has released two teaser images of its new MGS5 EV.
  • The SUV uses the modular scalable platform (MSP) from the MG4.
  • Debuting in the coming weeks, it should up MG’s cabin quality game.

MG is twisting the thumbscrews on Europe’s carmakers again. The British-badged, Chinese-owned company has teased its latest model, an electric SUV called the MGS5 EV that debuts this spring, and it’s not good news for the likes of VW and Stellantis.

The replacement for the MGZS EV uses the same modular scalable platform (MSP) as the MG4 hatch, a car that’s been met with rave reviews and is racking up huge sales in countries like the UK thanks to its temptingly low price. And at around 4,480 mm (176.5 inches) long, the new SUV is a significant 162 mm (6.4 inches) longer than the outgoing ZS EV.

Related: MG ES5 Electric SUV Breaks Cover, Replaces ZS EV

MG released the Chinese version of this model, the ES5, in its home market last October, so we already know far more about than could be gleaned from looking at the two teaser images and scant details published as part of this week’s European teaser campaign.

Two darkened images (which we’ve lightened) have been released, one showing the new utility from the back where we can see a fat transverse LED light bar containing an illuminated MG logo that blends into a pair of taillights that wrap around the rear quarter panels.

The rear hatch door has a spoiler at the top and appears to have a tiny sedan-style notchback lip above the light bar with an integral molded spoiler. A second image showing the rear part of the car from the side reveals that the taillights form a Y shape and the door handles are the traditional pull kind, rather than the fashionable flush type.

 MG Teases 4-Based MGS5 EV, European Brands Reach For The Xanax

And maybe it’s just us, but those alloy wheels look like they’re taking design cues from the classic Rostyle rims fitted to MGBs and Midgets in the 1970s. We’ve dropped the images of the Chinese ES5 in the gallery at the bottom of the page to give you a better idea of what to expect when the new EV debuts in Europe in the coming weeks.

MG didn’t release any spec numbers for the MGS5 EV this week, but for some context the MG4 range kicks off with a 168 hp (170 PS / 125 kW) single-motor powertrain driving the front wheels. That’s the same kit MG confirmed for the ES5 in China last fall. In Europe the MG4 is also available with a single 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) motor or in dual-motor, all-wheel drive XPower form with 429 hp (435 PS / 320 kW), and we’d expect MG to also one or both of those options in the SUV in the West.

If the MG4 falls down in any one area, it’s the interior, whose cabin design and materials, as well as its infotainment, still lag behind most European, Japanese and Korean rivals. But the automaker says the MGS5 EV will feature a ‘premium’ cabin, while still offering MG value. Given that the smaller ZS EV this model replaces starts at £30,495, we’d expect the MGS5 EV to start at around £32-34k.

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Images: MG/SAIC

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