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Another luxe Chinese SUV has the Range Rover in its sights.
The IM LS9 Hyper is a high-end six-seater SUV from the MG-owning SAIC Motor, launching in the coming days.
The LS9 Hyper is the high-performance grade of the standard flagship large SUV from IM, which has already been on sale in China for some time.
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IM (short for Intelligence in Motion) serves as a premium arm of MG in Australia with only hybrid and fully electric products.
Currently it only sells the IM5 sedan and IM6 mid-size SUV Down Under, both as EVs.
It seems unlikely the LS9 Hyper is an immediate prospect for Australia, as the flagship SUV is yet to be confirmed for our market.
MG Australia's previous CEO Peter Ciao told CarsGuide all IM models are part of its global strategy, so there is potential for the LS9 in some form in the future.
The brand has confirmed it will be expanding its IM range in Australia over the course of 2026.
The LS9 Hyper joins the BYD Great Tang and GWM Wey V9X on a growing list of lavish large SUVs from Chinese brands.
It is dimensionally similar to a long-wheelbase full-size Range Rover.
It measures up at 5279mm long, 2000mm wide, 1806mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 3160mm.
The car is powered by a range-extender hybrid set-up in line with many of its rivals.
It consists of a 1.5-litre turbo-engine responsible for charging its lithium-ion battery, producing 114kW, and three electric motors.
The front motor produces 160kW, while the two rear-mounted motors produce 195kW each, combining for a 550kW total.
It is expected to be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in around three seconds.
The car rides on a monocoque chassis so it is tuned for comfort and driving dynamics rather than the more off-road focus of some of its contemporaries.
It boasts both all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering to further enhance handling and manoeuvrability.
The car is set out in a plush 2-2-2 configuration and the interior features a combined 27.1-inch digital driver display and central touchscreen as well as a 15.6-inch passenger display.
The current LS9 starts from 346,900 yuan, which is roughly A$73,000, but expect a decent bump on that price for this range-topping Hyper variant.
Stay tuned for more on the roll-out of IM products under the MG banner in Australia soon.
