MG like you've never seen it before: 2025 IM5 electric sedan and IM6 SUV detailed for Australia as luxury sub-brand mounts fierce challenge against Tesla, BYD, BMW and Mercedes-Benz

Chinese carmaker MG has marked the launch of its luxury IM sub-brand in Australia with the all-new IM5 sedan and IM6 SUV models.

Staging their reveals at the Melbourne Motor Show this weekend, both cars will arrive “in the coming months” to bring the fight against Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, as well as the Tesla Model Y and XPeng G6.

They will offer similar technology and powertrains, though there will be marked differences in design, performance and price, the latter of which remains unconfirmed for both models.

Starting with the IM5, it will be offered in two guises: Platinum RWD and Platinum AWD. Both variants will shape up at 4931mm long, 1960mm wide, 1474mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2950mm.

Design-wise, the IM5 is largely unlike anything MG has offered before, with rounded, almost Porsche Panamera-like proportions that give it a luxurious but sporty look. Additionally, there are multi-spoke black alloy wheels, orange Continental brake callipers, a small rear spoiler and a rear LED tail-light bar.

Despite MG’s budget-friendly bent, the IM5’s large body and more premium positioning suggests it could even rival the likes of the BMW i5 or Mercedes-Benz EQE. It would likely carry a heavily-discounted starting price compared to the BMW’s $155,900 and the Mercedes’ $135,200 (both at before on-road costs), should this be the case, though.

Underpinning the Platinum RWD is a single, rear-axle-mounted electric motor that delivers a total output of 300kW/500Nm. The Platinum AWD benefits from a performance tune that adds an additional 72kW, while an extra front motor delivers a combined output of 572kW/802Nm.

The Platinum RWD sprints from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds as the Platinum AWD achieves the feat in a blistering 2.74 seconds, MG claims.

Power from both variants is sourced for a 100kWh battery pack that delivers 755km of electric range on the lighter Platinum RWD, which falls to 625km on the Platinum AWD. Both figures are claimed under the more lenient NEDC test cycle.

Charging time from 30 per cent to 80 per cent capacity is claimed at 15.2 minutes, with a monster maximum DC charging rate of 396kW.

Moving over to the IM6, it is not as long as its sedan sibling, although it adopts a wider body and taller roofline. It lines up at 4904mm long, 1988mm wide, 1669mm tall and with an equal wheelbase of 2950mm.

The inevitably more popular SUV body shape has implored MG to offer an additional entry-level grade on the IM6; namely, the RWD. It carries a smaller 75kWh battery pack and a less powerful rear-axle-mounted electric motor that delivers 217kW/450Nm. Driving range, meanwhile, is clocked at 505km under the NEDC cycle.

Higher-grade Platinum RWD and AWD variants return to normality with a 100kWh unit, along with the same electric motor configuration as their IM5 equivalents. Driving range, however, is slightly lower at 670km and 600km, respectively, which is once again claimed under the more lenient NEDC cycle.

Charging times are fractionally slower, too, with the time it takes to power from 20 to 80 per cent taking 20 minutes, while peak 0-100km/h sprint time is clocked at 3.48 seconds on the Platinum AWD. MG claims to have hit a top-speed of 305km/h during the IM6's testing, although both the IM6 and IM5 have been electronically limited to a maximum speed of 240km/h.

MG is trumpeting the IM5 and IM6’s turning circles, which are rated at just 4.99m and 5.1m, respectively, despite both models being nearly five metres in length. MG says this is a product of 12-degree bi-directional four-wheel-drive steering system, which includes a feature called ‘Crab Mode’ to enable diagonal driving, allowing for swifter manoeuvring in tight roads and parking spots.

Rainy Night Mode, meanwhile, works by automatically detecting blind spots, pedestrians and obstacles on the road while visibility is low.

Real-time images are displayed on the IM5 and IM6’s huge 23.6-inch digital driver’s display, which also comes paired to a 10.5-inch central display for multimedia functions. A 20-speaker intelligent sound system enables voice commands on both models, while each benefit from soft-touch synthetic leather trims and a large panoramic glass roof.

Expect more information, including pricing, to be announced closer to the IM5 and IM6’s official Australian launch later this year.