IM LS8 Neo: 800V SUV With Steer-by-Wire Launches From 239,800 Yuan

The IM LS8 Neo is SAIC IM Motors’ new pure-electric mid-to-large SUV, officially launched in China on November 5, 2026. It sits on an 800V high-voltage platform, uses the brand’s “Lizard” digital chassis with steer-by-wire, and starts at 239,800 yuan for the 93 Max+ trim.

Two battery packs are on sale from day one: a 93 kWh LFP pack rated at 684 km CLTC and a 103 kWh ternary pack rated at 752 km CLTC. Both use a single Neo Hurricane motor rated at 300 kW and 500 Nm. Export timing and any India plan remain unannounced.

Here is what IM has confirmed at launch, how the two trims differ, and where the LS8 Neo sits among other Chinese premium EVs.

What is the IM LS8 Neo?

The IM LS8 Neo is the battery-electric sibling of IM’s existing range-extended LS8 family. It keeps the star-ring light strip, matrix LED headlights, hidden door handles and floating roof, but swaps the hybrid powertrain for a full 800V BEV architecture aimed at fast charging and sharp chassis response.

IM lists overall length at 5,085 mm, width at 2,000 mm, height at 1,807 mm and wheelbase at 3,060 mm. That puts the Neo firmly in the mid-to-large SUV class rather than a compact crossover. Buyers can choose five- or six-seat layouts with electric sofa-style seats that offer zero-gravity modes, massage, heating and ventilation.

Cabin tech is heavy: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip drives a 27.1-inch 5K Mini LED centre screen, a 15.6-inch passenger screen and a 21.5-inch ceiling-mounted rear screen. Roof LiDAR feeds the IM AD Zeta end-to-end stack co-developed with Momenta for high-speed and urban NOA plus automatic parking. Treat those driver-assist claims as China-market features until export software and certification are clear.

Comfort hardware matches the screen count. IM lists Le Corbusier-style electric sofa seats with zero-gravity modes, 4D mechanical massage, heating and ventilation, plus a 12.3-litre dual-door cabin refrigerator and an 18-speaker audio setup with a 25-speaker Bang & Olufsen option.

IM LS8 Neo specifications

CarNewsChina’s November 6, 2026 report covering the November 5 launch confirms pricing, 800V architecture, Neo Hurricane output, both CLTC figures, Lizard steer-by-wire, the 4.85 m turning radius and the cabin screen set. Approximate WLTP conversions are reported estimates, not a separate WLTP homologation sheet.

How much does the IM LS8 Neo cost in China?

IM lists two trims. The 93 Max+ opens at 239,800 yuan (about $35,800 / roughly ₹28.8 lakh). The 103 Max+ lists at 259,800 yuan (about $38,800 / roughly ₹31.2 lakh). Those are China MSRP figures, not India on-road prices.

Both trims share the same 300 kW motor and Lizard chassis package. The step up is mainly energy density and claimed range, plus whatever option packs dealers attach at retail. Local incentives, insurance and registration can still move the out-the-door number.

What does the Lizard steer-by-wire chassis do?

IM‘s Lizard digital chassis pairs dual-redundant steer-by-wire with large-angle rear-wheel steering. The headline number is a 4.85 m turning radius, which IM says helps the long SUV complete tight 180-degree turns in narrow urban spaces. SynVector torque control is quoted with a 20-millisecond response, and closed-loop air suspension rounds out the hardware.

Steer-by-wire removes a conventional mechanical steering column link in favour of electronic control with redundancy. That is a big engineering bet for a volume SUV, and it is also why export markets will want to see local certification before anyone assumes the same kit arrives unchanged. For China buyers, the pitch is simple: a 5-metre-class EV that can still swing around city corners without drama.

Charging claims sit next to the chassis story. Launch coverage says the pack can move from 10 to 80 percent in about 17 to 20 minutes on suitable DC hardware, which is the practical number shoppers should remember more than the headline CLTC kilometres. Public station power, ambient temperature and battery preconditioning will still decide whether owners see that window on a rainy weeknight.

How does the IM LS8 Neo compare with other Chinese premium EVs?

The LS8 Neo joins a crowded premium Chinese SUV lane. Huawei-backed Aito’s Europe-bound SUV approvals show how Chinese brands are already mapping export paths, while volume plays such as the XPeng Mona L05 delivery push prove how fast software-led EVs can scale once production is stable. Closer to the luxury SUV brief, the Lincoln Aviator EX8 PHEV with lidar underlines that even joint-venture luxury names are leaning on Chinese ADAS and electrified powertrains.

Against that backdrop, IM’s differentiators are the 800V pack, factory steer-by-wire and a dual-battery choice under 260,000 yuan. Whether that is enough depends on real charging speed, cabin software polish and aftersales reach outside the home market.

IM LS8 Neo: confirmed vs not confirmed

Will the IM LS8 Neo come to India or Europe?

IM has not announced India or Europe sales for the LS8 Neo. The confirmed story today is a China-only launch with two Max+ trims. Any overseas plan would still need crash and cyber compliance, steering-system certification for steer-by-wire, right-hand-drive engineering if required, and a dealer or partner network.

Until those appear, treat the Neo as a China product that signals where SAIC’s IM brand wants to sit on price and chassis tech. Watch for MIIT updates, export teases, and any homologation filings before assuming a right-hand-drive or European version.

CarBike Insight Analysis

The IM LS8 Neo is less about another big screen and more about putting steer-by-wire and an 800V single-motor pack under a relatively aggressive China price. Starting under 240,000 yuan for a 5,085 mm SUV with air suspension and a sub-5 m turning claim is a serious value jab at premium rivals that still ask more for less chassis theatre.

The open questions are durability of the by-wire stack, how often owners will see the quoted 17–20 minute 10–80% charge in public stations, and whether IM can take this hardware abroad without watering it down. Our view: for Chinese buyers who want a tech-heavy family EV without jumping into the absolute top price band, the Neo looks coherent on paper; for everyone else, wait for export homologation before comparing it with local luxury SUVs. The next proof points are real owner charge logs and any overseas certification filings.

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