Electric car with 1000km driving range coming to Oz? 2025 IM Motors L6 debuts advanced battery tech as it firms for Australia to trump the Tesla model 3 and BYD Seal

Chinese company IM Motors, which is a stablemate of MG, has debuted a new electric car with an astounding claimed driving range.

Dubbed the IM Motors L6, the swoopy sedan is fitted with an advanced battery that the company said can deliver a driving range of more than 1000km on a single charge.

This figure was calculated via the China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC), which is much more generous than other globally recognised tests.

Even if you take 20 per cent off to compensate you’re still looking at about 800km, which beats all current electric cars on sale.

The good news for Australian buyers is MG Australia has confirmed it is in negotiations with head office to bring the L6 to Australia, where it will likely wear the MG badge, not IM Motors.

MG Australia boss Peter Ciao, told CarsGuide earlier this year it would bring the L6 sedan and LS6 SUV to Australia, with 2025 the most likely arrival date.

“The models are coming, 100 per cent. But what badge we’re still negotiating,” said Ciao.

The hi-tech model just revealed in China is fitted with the “Light Year” battery, which the company refers to as a semi solid-state battery. 

That term is confusing. It is not a solid-state battery but an advancement of current battery tech.

A solid state battery uses a solid electrolyte to transfer energy from the cathode and anode. The battery in the L6 effectively has some floating chunks in the liquid or gel electrolyte used by conventional batteries found in other electric cars.

SAIC, which owns IM Motors and MG, said it will have fully solid-state batteries in its cars in the next 12-18 months.

The L6’s astounding range is more likely due to its massive size, measuring in at 123.7kWh, which is about 50 per cent bigger than the cells found in long range vehicles such as the Kia EV6, Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal.

It is available with a dual motor set-up providing all-wheel drive, and combining for 540kW.

The L6 is a big beast, it is about the same dimensions as a VF Series Holden Commodore and weighs more than 2300kg.

Its price in China means it’ll likely wear a six-figure price tag if it arrives in Australia.

Those two measurements will likely resign it to a niche vehicle Down Under.

There are plenty of tech features to crow about.

A giant tablet central multimedia screen is poured with a continuous 26.3-inch screen for the driver display and other functions that runs half the length of the dashboard.

A yoke-style steering wheel gives the L6 a video-game like appearance.