The IM L7 is the maiden mass-production model from IM Motors, positioned as an executive-sized pure electric sports flagship saloon. Jointly founded in December 2020 by SAIC Motor, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and Alibaba Group, IM Motors unveiled the L7 as its debut flagship, officially launching it in March 2022. It was initially offered in Dynamic and Pro variants priced between RM368,800 and RM408,800 to take on contenders like the NIO ET7 and ZEEKR 001, setting a new price ceiling for SAIC Motor's homegrown marques. In February 2024, the facelifted 2024 IM L7 hit the market with revised official prices ranging from RM299,900 to RM419,900 for the domestic market. As of 2026, after successive model year updates, derivative variants including the Snake Performance edition and Pro Max were added; however, its market traction has visibly diminished in the wake of higher-volume offerings like the L6 and LS6.
The exterior of the IM L7 embraces the "water drop edge" design philosophy, sporting a low-profile front fascia paired with sleek split LED headlamp units. These matrix LED headlights function like display panels to show various interactive graphics, enhancing human-vehicle engagement. The lower bumper integrates a prominent active air intake which, combined with the sloping fastback roofline and frameless doors, yields an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.21 Cd. In terms of exterior dimensions, slight variations exist across model years: the 2022-2023 models measure 5,098 mm in length, extending marginally to 5,108 mm on the 2024 and later models, while width, height, and wheelbase remain uniform at 1,960 mm, 1,485 mm, and 3,100 mm respectively. At the rear, it features full-width LED taillights with interactive capabilities that display customised text and animations. The lower rear bumper incorporates aero air channels and a diffuser, with selected higher-spec variants also gaining an active deployable rear spoiler.
Inside, the L7 adopts a minimalist high-tech aesthetic, anchored by a multi-screen dashboard comprising a 26.3-inch OLED dual-screen setup (digital instrument cluster and central infotainment display) alongside a 12.8-inch lower central console touchscreen. A 15.5-inch front passenger entertainment screen is optional on selected variants. The 2024 facelift introduced an optional yoke-style steering wheel, extended the rear seat cushions by 30 mm to 520 mm, and added power-adjustable leg rests, 25°-35° backrest recline, and zoned lumbar/shoulder massage functions. The rear cabin also gained magnetic expansion docks for clipping on lights or tablets. The cabin is trimmed with premium soft-touch padding, stitched genuine leather, and wood veneer inserts.
The IM L7 lineup is driven exclusively by permanent magnet synchronous motors, offered in single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The single-motor RWD variant produces a maximum output of 250 kW (340 PS) and 475 Nm of torque, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds. The dual-motor AWD version pushes out a combined 425 kW (578 PS) and 725 Nm, achieving a century sprint in just 3.87 seconds. Certain 2023 Snake Performance high-performance editions extract up to 445 kW (605 PS), whilst the 2025 Pro Max maintains an AWD layout with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of around 4.2 seconds. The 2025 L7 Pro Max carries a 93 kWh ternary lithium battery pack, delivering a CLTC-rated range of 615 km and supporting 800V high-voltage DC fast charging that recovers 200 km of range in 10 minutes. The 2024 RWD model achieves a CLTC range of up to 708 km, while the AWD model is rated at 625 km.
The L7 rides on a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension setup, utilising lightweight aluminium alloy control arms and links to reduce unsprung mass. Chassis tuning was co-developed with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), delivering segment-leading handling precision and dynamic agility. All variants come standard with an intelligent active rear-wheel steering system with up to 12° of rear steering angle, reducing the turning radius to just 5.4 metres—matching the agility of an A-segment hatch and significantly easing tight U-turns and urban parking. From the 2024 model year onward, it features an all-road electronically controlled adaptive damping suspension that recalibrates within 10 milliseconds, paired with standard EVD torque-vectoring AWD technology that switches between 2WD and AWD in a mere 300 milliseconds. Selected 2025 variants further gain adaptive air suspension as standard, backed by Brembo high-performance brake callipers, while certain 2023 Snake Performance models feature Öhlins high-performance dampers and Endless track-grade brake pads.
The IM L7 runs the proprietary IMOS smart cockpit operating system (ranging from version 2.7.0 to 3.x across model years), supporting multi-screen linkage, gesture controls, AR navigation, and responsive "see-and-speak" voice recognition. The 2024 and later models are powered by an NVIDIA Drive Orin X processor, boosting computing power by nearly eight times over its predecessor. Display hardware includes a standard 26.3-inch panoramic digital cockpit display and a 12.8-inch central screen (upgraded to 21.5 inches on flagship trims) with a 10% higher screen-to-body ratio, along with a dedicated Rainy Night Mode to sharpen driver visibility during severe downpours. The cabin is equipped with an energy-efficient heat pump air conditioning system, 256-colour ambient lighting, a smart fragrance dispenser, and four-zone automatic climate control, alongside a 21-speaker sound system (with Bose audio standard on the 2025 Pro Max). The front seats feature heating, ventilation, and massage functions, as do the rear outer seats, while the front passenger seat includes an electric ottoman leg rest. 5G connectivity, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and smartphone remote app controls are standard across the board.
All IM L7 variants are equipped with Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, covering full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centring Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, and Automated Parking Assist. Hardware capabilities have evolved progressively: the 2022 model used the NVIDIA Xavier chip (with Orin as an option), whereas from the 2024 model year, the NVIDIA Drive Orin X chip and dual LiDAR sensors became standard, with the dual front sensing cameras upgraded from 5 MP to 8 MP to support mapless Urban NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) and Highway NOA features. The 2024 model introduced the "One-Touch AI Valet" function to simplify narrow-street manoeuvres and tricky parking scenarios. Active safety systems comprise Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Collision Warning, Door Opening Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Fatigue Monitoring, and Rollover Mitigation. Passive safety is reinforced by 6 airbags (including driver's knee and front-centre airbags), earning a 5-star C-NCAP safety rating.
Armed with a 5.1-metre footprint, Williams chassis tuning, and cutting-edge tech, the IM L7 initially garnered widespread acclaim from automotive journalists. However, hampered by early supply constraints (only 200 units were delivered in the initial Angel Edition batch, with volume deliveries commencing in June 2022) and a steep price tag nearing the RM400,000 threshold, sales lost momentum after a brief initial buzz. Official figures indicate deliveries of 4,576 units in 2022 (its launch year), slipping to 1,305 units in 2023, 889 units in 2024, and plunging to just 201 units in 2025, before registering a dismal 11 units in January 2026, leaving it sidelined in the market.
Several factors account for the L7's lackluster market performance. Chief among them was insufficient brand equity; IM Motors co-founder Liu Tao conceded that the team "underestimated the immense challenge of building a brand-new RM400,000 premium EV marque and capturing the mindset of mainstream luxury buyers". Secondly, the chassis setup favoured firm, track-ready sportiness with sharp road feedback; its damping refinement over scarred tarmac fell short of traditional German luxury benchmarks, alienating executive buyers who prioritise plush ride comfort and whisper-quiet refinement. Thirdly, by its second year, it was caught in an aggressive EV price war and outflanked by high-value rivals, while early adopters voiced complaints over minor electronic niggles and unrefined semi-autonomous driving logic.
On the owner front, praise has centered on its sleek styling, generous equipment levels, spacious interior, and composed high-speed handling. Conversely, criticisms have frequently highlighted the awkward ergonomics of the yoke steering wheel, hesitant autonomous lane-change logic, elevated wind noise at highway speeds, and noticeable real-world range drop-off. Strategically, following the debut of mass-market volume drivers like the L6 and LS6, IM Motors has channelled its core resources towards newer nameplates, largely pushing the L7 to the fringes of its lineup. Ultimately, while the IM L7 served as the technological vanguard that established the brand's hallmarks in dynamic handling and smart cockpit tech, product positioning dilemmas, weak brand equity, and shifting internal priorities prevented it from translating its engineering merits into sustained showroom success.
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