MG Philippines previewed on Wednesday its IM L7 luxury electric vehicle (EV) at the inauguration of the MG Gallery in Quezon City.
The high-performance, battery-electric sedan is among the vehicles being showcased at the expansive 10-car showroom located on Quezon Avenue. Its crossover sibling, the LS7, debuted at the 2024 Manila International Auto Show last April and has yet to officially go on sale.
IM Motors is a Chinese joint venture between SAIC Motor, MG’s mother company, the Alibaba Group and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The firm offers four luxury EVs globally, as of press time.
Meanwhile, MG Philippines offers three EVs – the MG4 hatchback, the ZS EV crossover and the larger Marvel R crossover.
Sleek styling with a twist
The L7 is looking to ride the local wave of popularity in premium EVs, which is being spearheaded by the likes of Audi and Porsche.
This EV sedan looks striking, especially with the sharp LED daytime running lights that run along the hoodline and extend into the lower bumper. The LED headlights form a triangular shape, similar to the Nissan GT-R.
Down the side, the fairly low beltline accentuates a tall roof that elegantly leads to the high decklid. The doors are all frameless and electrically operated, closing automatically with just the touch of a button.
Out back, the full-length LED taillights are reminiscent of contemporary Aston Martins, while the two-tone, 20inch alloy wheels and orange Brembo brake calipers discreetly show the L7’s immense performance potential.
But what is bound to catch everybody’s attention are the three protrusions above the windshield. These are part of the IM AD intelligent driving system that includes LIDAR, 12 cameras, 5-millimeter wave radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
All these allow the L7 to have Level 3 autonomous functions that can enable it to be driven autonomously on expressways and semi-autonomously on city streets. Nonetheless, the vehicle cannot totally drive itself, as the driver is still required to take over at any time.
Plush, futuristic cabin
Inside, the L7 has a cabin lined with beautifully soft leather and wood trim from Lake Como in Italy – but it’s the crisp design that makes it look like it’s from the year 2050.
A 39-inch screen covers nearly the entire span of the dashboard, incorporating the digital gauges and touchscreen infotainment system with 22-speaker surround-sound system. This is augmented by a portrait-style 12-3-inch center touchscreen and a half-moon steering wheel, reminiscent of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider.
Other luxury touches include the Star Dome panoramic glass roof that gives the cabin a truly airy feel, while the front and rear outboard seats are all electrically adjustable for maximum comfort.
Rapid performance
Although the specifications of the Philippine-market L7 have yet to be finalized, the unit on display at the MG Gallery packs a huge punch.
Its 100-kWh battery pack is mated to two electric motors (one on each axle), making this EV all-wheel drive. Combined output is 571 horsepower and 725 Newton-meters of torque, with a claimed maximum WLTP range of 615 kilometers.
Beside the aforementioned 4-piston Brembo front brakes, the L7 has Active Kinematics Control that uses four-wheel steering and electronically-controlled dampers to help this heavy sedan corner with composure. British firm WAE Technologies, which provides battery technology for Formula E and Extreme E, helped develop the chassis.
There is no word yet on when the L7 will officially be sold in the country or how much it would be. But given that its closest rival would be the BYD Han, priced at P3,113,000, MG Philippines’ upcoming EV could be under the P3.5 million mark.
