- The IM L6 is several thousand dollars cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 in China but packs more features and performance.
- It can crab walk, has a Tesla-FSD-like advanced driver assistance system with lidar and is equipped with one of the most advanced Qualcomm processors and Nvidia chips.
Chinese car buyers have a dizzying variety of affordable electric models to choose from. The industry producing those is not just reshaping the automotive world order but is also engaged in a Darwinian-style evolution to survive brutal competition.
As a result, Chinese EVs are far cheaper than what we get here in the U.S. and still offer more value. One case in point is the IM L6, a Tesla Model 3-sized fastback with an extensive features list and supercar levels of performance.
Photo by: IM Motors
IM Motors is a joint venture between China’s state-owned SAIC Corporation, Alibaba Group and investment firm ZJ High-Tech. The JV was formed in 2020 to compete with Tesla, Nio and other emerging new Chinese brands.
What makes the L6 special is it’s one of the earliest vehicles, even in China, to feature a semi-solid-state battery (SSB) pack. IM Motors claims the L6’s top variant features a 133 kilowatt-hour SSB with 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of range on the China Light-Duty Test Cycle (CLTC).
Kyle Conner, InsideEVs’ pal and the host of the YouTube channel Out of Spec Reviews, recently had the chance to drive the L6 in China. He seems to have driven the Performance variant, a direct competitor to the Model 3 Performance in China.
Conner claimed the software was incredible, performance ludicrous and it’s packed with features like crab walk and lidar, which is unheard of in the Model 3 price range in the U.S. The IM L6’s Performance version costs 305,900 yuan, or $42,300. The Model 3 Performance costs 335,900 yuan, or about $46,000 in China.
Conner initially wasn’t impressed with the packaging of the L6. Despite being built on a dedicated EV architecture, the L6 has a tiny frunk and the boot space isn’t all that great compared to the Model 3. But from behind the wheel, things are radically different.
Photo by: IM Motors
The L6 comes with an optional aircraft-style steering yoke. Three screens span the width of the dashboard and they’re all super smooth and easy to use with a high refresh rate. The vehicle software is powered by some of the most advanced automotive processors and chips: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 and Nvidia Orin X.
The cabin quality isn’t top-notch. The Xiaomi SU7 is far more premium inside, as per Conner. But in terms of software and driving dynamics, the L6 is special.
For starters, the Performance version rides on a 900-volt architecture, has all-wheel drive and its motors produce 776 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It gets a Track mode, allowing adjustable front-rear power split. The traction control and dampers are adjustable, too.
Photo by: IM Motors
The ride is supremely comfortable, as per Conner. But it can switch personalities at the press of a button, transforming from a comfy sedan to a hooligan.
Through the video-game-like UI, you can engage launch mode and it’s definitely faster than the Tesla, Conner said. (The Model 3 Performance has a claimed 0-60 miles per hour time of 2.9 seconds. The L6 races to 62 mph from a standstill in a claimed 2.74 seconds.)
I highly recommend watching the video above. It highlights broader (and frankly enviable) trends in China’s EV market, showcasing how far ahead they are in producing software-defined vehicles that are both affordable and highly advanced.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
