IM Motors (智己) names Liu Xiang (刘翔) as brand ambassador; LS8 to debut April 16

Headline news

IM Motors (智己) announced that Olympic champion Liu Xiang (刘翔) will be the brand’s new ambassador, and that its new LS8 flagship SUV will be officially launched on April 16. The company said the LS8 is positioned as a “cross‑era technological flagship SUV,” and it has been reported that presales began at the end of March.

Product and pricing

It has been reported that IM Motors opened presales for four LS8 trims with pre‑sale prices ranging from 259,800–309,800 yuan. The LS8 measures 5,085/2,000/1,807 mm (L/W/H) with a 3,060 mm wheelbase. IM Motors said the model will sit below the larger LS9 in length and wheelbase to create clear product-tier differentiation. Buyers can choose 5‑seat or 6‑seat layouts; the 5‑seat second row offers a 132° reclining “sofa” seat, while the 6‑seat version has two independent second‑row seats with mechanical massage and a 21.5‑inch rear entertainment screen.

Powertrain, batteries and range

IM Motors said the LS8 uses a 1.5T “Hengxing” (恒星) super‑range‑extender system with the generator rated at up to 114 kW. The single‑motor rear‑drive version delivers a combined 230 kW and 430 N·m; the dual‑motor all‑wheel‑drive variant is rated at 390 kW and 670 N·m. Built on an 800V ultra‑fast charging architecture, the rear‑drive LS8 pairs a 52 kWh lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery for a CLTC pure‑electric range of 355 km and a CLTC combined range of 1,573 km; the AWD model uses a 66 kWh ternary‑lithium pack for 430 km pure EV CLTC and 1,605 km combined CLTC range. All variants support up to 6 kW vehicle‑to‑load power output.

Why it matters

IM Motors is pitching the LS8 at buyers seeking tech‑heavy, long‑range premium SUVs in China’s crowded EV market. Why sign a sports star? Celebrity endorsements are a common tactic in China to boost brand recognition quickly. For Western readers: CLTC is China’s test cycle and typically reports higher range figures than WLTP or EPA cycles. As Chinese EV makers scale and look beyond domestic sales amid geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain scrutiny, product differentiation and strong local branding remain central to gaining consumer trust at home.