On July 16, the IM LS9 Hyper — a milestone model marking SAIC Motor’s 100 millionth vehicle — officially hit the market, with a special launch price of RMB 349,800.
Driven by the belief that true luxury is defined by technology, the new model brings together the pinnacle of SAIC Motor’s more than 70 years of technological expertise. Built on three core next-generation technology pillars — a next-generation fully by-wire digital chassis, a next-generation all-domain 800V high-voltage platform supporting both electric and range-extended driving, and a next-generation advanced intelligent driving system featuring high-resolution LiDAR and high-performance computing chips — the IM LS9 Hyper delivers a comprehensive leap in the driving experience. It establishes a new benchmark for the core technologies of next-generation new energy vehicles and ushers the industry into an era defined by a new trio of essential automotive technologies.
At the launch event, IM Motors also announced that steer-by-wire will come standard across the entire IM LS9 lineup, with special launch prices starting from RMB 319,800. This brings the disruptive driving experience of million-yuan-class fully by-wire steering technology to consumers at a price just above RMB 300,000, redefining the value benchmark for flagship SUVs in the segment.
On July 1, China’s national standard for steer-by-wire systems, led by SAIC Motor in its development, officially came into effect. As one of the first mass-produced models introduced under the new national standard, the IM LS9 Hyper takes the lead with a fully by-wire four-wheel steering system as standard, marking a pivotal transition for China’s automotive industry from mechanical steering to steer-by-wire technology.
By leveraging advanced technology to elevate the luxury driving experience, the IM LS9 Hyper delivers more precise steering, greater driving confidence and enhanced safety.
The new model adopts by-wire technology derived from the same fundamental principles used in civil aviation. Combining fully steer-by-wire technology with intelligent four-wheel steering, it breaks through the physical limitations of conventional mechanical systems. With an ultra-fast response time of just 20 milliseconds — four times faster than traditional steering systems — the vehicle delivers highly responsive, intuitive handling that creates a seamless connection between driver and vehicle.
The system offers an industry-leading steering ratio range of 4.5:1 to 14.2:1, along with three exclusive preset driving styles tailored to different preferences, making the vehicle intuitive and easy to drive for every member of the family.
Combined with an industry-leading bidirectional 24-degree intelligent four-wheel steering system, the IM LS9 Hyper achieves a class-leading minimum turning radius of just 4.77 meters. At low speeds, the steering can reach full lock with only half a turn of the steering wheel, enabling effortless U-turns and giving the large flagship SUV greater maneuverability than even some A0-segment compact cars.
Safety is another major advantage. By eliminating the mechanical connection found in conventional steering systems, steer-by-wire technology reduces the risk of mechanical intrusion. It also enables an aviation-grade triple-redundancy safety architecture that would be difficult to implement in a traditional mechanical steering system, achieving reliability of up to 10 FIT. Even under extreme conditions at speeds of 120 km/h, the vehicle remains controllable.
More importantly, a fully by-wire chassis serves as a critical technological foundation for advanced L3 and even L4 autonomous driving, positioning the IM LS9 Hyper to embrace the evolution of intelligent mobility over the next decade.
As the pinnacle performance flagship of the IM LS9 lineup, the IM LS9 Hyper debuts SAIC Motor’s mass-produced Gold Label Hurricane tri-motor all-wheel-drive system. Delivering peak torque of 730 N·m, the vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in the three-second range, offering performance comparable to the large-displacement twin-turbocharged V8 engines found in ultra-luxury SUVs. Whether on paved roads or challenging off-road terrain, it delivers effortless flagship performance.
Technology proves its true value under extreme conditions. Powered by the all-domain 800V Stellar Super Range-Extender system and a 66 kWh Super Xiaoyao MAX battery, the IM LS9 Hyper addresses the traditional limitations associated with range-extended electric vehicles, maintaining consistent performance even in demanding environments such as high-altitude regions and extreme cold.
Even at a low state of charge, the system can still deliver up to 275 kW of discharge power, ensuring strong performance when climbing steep gradients with a fully loaded vehicle. In northern winter conditions at minus 20 degrees Celsius, charging power can reach 170 kW from the beginning of the charging session.
Despite its formidable performance, the IM LS9 Hyper delivers a CLTC-rated pure-electric range of 390 km and a combined CLTC range of up to 1,460 km, making long-distance journeys effortless. The vehicle also supports long-term operation without external charging. Running on fuel alone, it can still achieve a range of nearly 1,000 km on a single tank, offering users the flexibility of both electric and fuel-powered mobility while maintaining a premium flagship experience throughout the journey.
IM Motors and Momenta are the industry’s only founding lighthouse strategic partners, with cross-shareholdings and deep joint R&D cooperation. As Momenta made its debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, earning recognition as “China’s first publicly listed Physical AI company," the IM AD intelligent driving system continues to build on its core advantage of being “born on Chinese roads and better understanding Chinese roads," demonstrating the technological strength to compete with leading global intelligent driving solutions such as FSD.
The IM LS9 Hyper is equipped with a 520-line ultra-long-range LiDAR capable of detecting objects at an effective distance of up to 300 meters. In intelligent focus mode, it delivers perception capability equivalent to a 1,040-line LiDAR system.
The vehicle is also powered by NVIDIA’s flagship Thor autonomous driving chip, paired with 64 GB of high-performance LPDDR5X memory and bandwidth of 273 GB/s, surpassing that of high-performance workstations and providing ample computing capability to process rapidly growing volumes of driving data.
The IM LS9 Hyper is also designed to support a future comprehensive upgrade to the IM AD ZETA high-computing-power platform, increasing its performance ceiling by up to 20 times and bringing true Physical AI models onboard the vehicle.
By combining L4-level model capabilities with L3-level hardware standards to empower L2 driver assistance, IM AD ranks among the industry’s leading intelligent driving systems. It can smoothly navigate challenging scenarios including narrow construction zones, roundabouts and ETC toll gates, handling complex driving environments with confidence while making everyday journeys easier and more reassuring.
The IM LS9 Hyper achieves a class-leading cabin utilization rate of 86%, with second-row legroom comparable to that of mainstream MPVs. Its spacious six-seat layout provides exceptional comfort for family travel.
A trio of new-luxury features — 4D mechanical massage seats, a premium Danish B&O sound system and an intelligent cabin floor-heating system — creates an immersive, multi-sensory luxury experience, with flagship refinement evident in every detail.
Safety is equally uncompromising. The vehicle is equipped with CATL’s Super Xiaoyao MAX battery, engineered to safety standards that significantly exceed China’s latest national requirements.
Its submarine-inspired safety cage features a “10 longitudinal and 11 transverse" structural architecture, with key components made from submarine-grade hot-formed boron steel, creating a robust mobile safety fortress.
The IM LS9 Hyper has also achieved a five-star C-NCAP safety rating across three key dimensions — occupant protection, pedestrian protection and active safety. Its safety performance has also received recognition in authoritative coverage by China Media Group, further reinforcing the comprehensive safety credentials expected of a luxury flagship SUV.
Built upon the milestone of SAIC Motor’s 100 millionth vehicle, the IM LS9 Hyper leverages its next-generation trio of core technologies to redefine the standards for the next generation of luxury flagship SUVs.
Designed for quality-conscious families seeking a truly technology-driven luxury experience, the IM LS9 Hyper brings disruptive innovation and next-generation intelligent mobility within reach.
Orders are now open via the official IM Motors app and mini program, with exclusive launch benefits available for a limited time. Customers are also invited to visit IM Motors Experience Centers nationwide for test drives and to experience firsthand the groundbreaking technologies of this next-generation luxury flagship SUV.
