SAIC’s IM Motors dropped official photos of its top LS9 Hyper SUV variant today, billing it as the first production model with four-wheel fully electronic steering that aced reliability tests from China’s Catarc R&D centre, says Chinese automotive platform Yiche.
The SUV gives off a Range Rover vibe and uses SAIC’s triple-motor vectoring AWD (160kW up front, twin 195kW motors at the rear), paired with a 1.5-litre turbo range extender rated at 114kW.
A 65.9 kWh ternary lithium battery delivers 308km WLTC pure-electric range.
At 5,279mm long and 2,000mm wide, the LS9 Hyper is properly full-size. It stands 1,806mm tall and rides on a 3,160mm wheelbase, with IM Motors claiming an 86% space utilisation ratio.
The Lingxi (Lizard) 3.0 chassis enables 24° bidirectional steering for a tight 4.95 m turning radius, plus air suspension and full braking energy recovery.
Exterior cues match the LS9 family with Hyper badges on D-pillars, wide projection headlights, and full-width rear lamps.
Inside, a 27.1-inch 5K driver/centre display joins a 15.6-inch 3K passenger screen. ADAS includes 520-line LiDAR, Nvidia Thor, and Momenta’s Flywheel for urban/highway autopilot. The system is claimed to support an effective perception distance of up to 300m.
Wheel sizes available are 20-, 21- and 22-inchers.
