MG has launched a new brand in the UK that will rival Tesla with a high-tech saloon and crossover in the vein of the Model 3 and Model Y.

The new IM 5 and IM 6 – revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – are the first UK-bound models from the recently established EV marque IM, which launched in China in 2022 and now has a four-strong line-up of electric cars that closely matches that of its Californian rival.

IM (standing for Intelligence in Motion) was founded in 2020 as a tie-up between MG parent company SAIC, e-commerce giant Alibaba and R&D specialist Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The brand made its debut at the Geneva motor show last year and is now confirmed to be heading to MG dealerships in the coming months - as previously reported by Autocar. 

The IM 5 (badged L6 in China) is a rakish four-door saloon with a maximum official range of 442 miles from a 100kWh lithium ion battery and its 800V charging architecture enables a 10-80% top-up in just 17 minutes, says MG.

The company has not given official specifications yet, but IM's platform – separate to that used by MG's existing electric cars – is said to support charging at up to 396kW - faster than any public charger currently installed in the UK.

MG has not confirmed whether the recently revealed IM 6 Lightyear Edition, with a 900V semi-solid-state battery and a peak charging speed of 400kW, will come to the UK.

The 5 will also be available as a shorter-range variant with a 75kWh battery – expected to give a range of around 330 miles – which will open the line-up at £39,450, thereby avoiding the Expensive Car Supplement that's applied to £40k-plus cars. The bigger battery bumps the price up to £44,995 and the more powerful Performance version comes in at £48,495, giving a line-up that closely matches the Model 3 in price and performance stats.

The technically identical IM 6 will not be offered with the smaller battery but closely rivals the mid-rung Model Y with a starting price of £47,995 for the Long Range car and £50,995 for the Performance.

Full powertrain specifications have yet to be disclosed, but MG says the most powerful variants are equipped with a new generation of motor known as 'Hurricane', with the top-rung twin-motor powertrain producing 767bhp and 591lb ft. That's enough to give the saloon a 0-62mph time of as little as 3.2sec and the SUV 3.5sec.

The two cars are largely identical inside, with a huge, 26.3in wraparound infotainment display and 10.5in central touchscreen featuring in place of a physical control interface.

Both models will be offered with a panoramic roof, a 'rainy night' driving mode, automatic park assist and rear steering that, MG says, will cut the IM 5's turning circle to just under 10m.