Game-changing 1000km driving range electric car spotted in Australia: MG's IM Motors L6 spied testing in Sydney ahead of Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal and Hyundai Ioniq 6 rival's release

The game-changing electric car from MG that would allow you to drive from Sydney to Melbourne on a single charge is moving closer to Australia. 

This black IM L6, wearing minimal camouflage, was spotted in a Sydney carpark by a CarsGuide reader. 

Aside from a few badge covers and a piece of equipment taped to the boot lid, it is plain to see this is the flagship L6 sedan from MG’s luxury cousin IM Motors.

Local boss Peter Ciao has previously confirmed the L6 sedan and its LS6 SUV sibling are “100 per cent” coming to Australia. The only questions that remain are when — likely this year — how much and what badge will it wear? 

Ciao has confirmed he wants the car to wear an MG badge, but it could be tricky. In China, IM Motors is a joint venture between SAIC (MG’s parent company) and online sales giant Alibaba, so the MG part might not be simple. 

IM Motors has been trademarked in Australia, but not yet the associated L6 nameplate. 

The car is wearing a NSW number plate which reveals it is an evaluation vehicle registered last month. To the RMS, it’s known as a ‘Black MG P12L Sedan’ — not exactly a catchy name. This will certainly change prior to launch. 

An interior image reveals this is a right-hand drive evaluation vehicle that looks pretty much finished — no ungrained plastics here. 

The upholstery appears to be quilted leather, there’s a flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel and what looks like a portrait-oriented touchscreen with a Tesla Model Y-like twin wireless smartphone charging dock. 

The headline figure of the L6 is the available ‘Lightyear’ semi-solid state battery. As it’s more energy dense than your average lithium-ion pack, MG’s able to fit a huge 123.7kWh (useable) battery in a car roughly the size of a BMW 5 Series. 

That’s about 50 per cent more energy capacity than you’d see in a Tesla Model 3 or BYD Seal. 

The technology is also thought to be safer and the L6 charges mighty fast, able to recuperate 400km of range in just 12 minutes of charging.

Twin motors in some L6 models provide all-wheel drive and up to 540kW while trick ‘Digital Lizard’ active suspension and roll technology promises crisp road holding. 

The IM L6 is no Toyota Camry rival in its home market. If it arrives in Australia, we expect the flagship sedan to be priced as MG has the Cyberster, likely with a price tag starting north of $100,000. 

If the cabin quality, technology levels and driving experience are there, combined with the 1000km CLTC — more like about 800km real world — driving range, the L6 will be a unique and tantalising offering.