A third model is planned, but its identity is still open

MG’s technology-focused IM range will add a third model to the UK line-up in 2027. David Allison, MG UK’s director of product and planning, confirmed the plan in an interview with Auto Express. The company has not yet named the vehicle or published its body style, dimensions, battery, power output or launch price.

The comments point towards a larger vehicle than the two IM products already sold in Britain. Auto Express asked whether the new model could enter the seven-seat electric SUV space occupied by cars such as the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. Allison said the question was in the right area, but he did not confirm a seven-seat SUV. That distinction matters: a large electric SUV is a possible direction, not an announced specification.

What IM means within MG

IM stands for Intelligence in Motion. MG UK describes the range as a technology showcase, meaning that it is intended to bring features that are not offered across the core MG line-up. This is the manufacturer’s positioning for the sub-brand. It is not an independent assessment of the cars’ automated-driving capability or of their competitive standing.

The UK range currently consists of the IM5 saloon and IM6 SUV. MG Motor Europe describes both as fully electric models using the IM Digital Chassis and an 800-volt electrical architecture. The European press material also presents the cars as products combining driver-assistance technology, fast charging and high outputs.

MG Motor Europe says the range first launched in the UK, Norway and Switzerland in 2025, before expanding into other European markets in 2026. That expansion is separate from the UK third-model announcement. MG has not said that the future product will launch simultaneously in Romania, France, Germany or any other market.

The technology already offered by IM5 and IM6

MG’s European technical release says that the IM5 can use a 100 kWh battery and an 800-volt platform. The rear-wheel-drive version is quoted at 300 kW, 500 Nm, up to 710 km of WLTP range and a 0–100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds. The all-wheel-drive version is quoted at 572 kW, 802 Nm, 575 km of WLTP range and 3.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

The IM6 is listed with the same nominal battery capacity in the European release. Its rear-wheel-drive version is rated at 625 km WLTP and 5.4 seconds to 100 km/h, while the all-wheel-drive car is rated at 505 km WLTP and 3.5 seconds. These are official manufacturer figures. Carboratory has not independently measured them, and they should not be transferred to the third model.

MG also quotes DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent in 17 minutes for the IM5, with a maximum charging power of 396 kW in the French release. Actual charging performance depends on the vehicle version, battery temperature, charger and state of charge. The figure provides context for the IM technology claim, but it does not tell us how the future vehicle will charge.

The existing IM cars use additional technology to distinguish the range. Depending on model and specification, MG lists four-wheel steering, One-Touch iAD precision parking and, for the IM6, air suspension. Auto Express expects the third car to receive a similar equipment suite. That is an editorial expectation, not a confirmed equipment list from MG.

Why a larger seven-seat SUV is being discussed

The question of a seven-seat model is connected to the gap in the current UK range. The IM5 is a large electric saloon, while the IM6 is a smaller SUV proposition. A vehicle above them could address a different type of buyer and compete with large electric SUVs. Allison told Auto Express that the new product would operate in an area where MG does not currently sell a car.

IM already has larger vehicles in some other markets. Auto Express refers to the LS8 and LS9, which are large six-seat SUVs with range-extending hybrid powertrains. Those drivetrains do not directly match the pure-electric direction described for IM in Britain. The LS7 is another larger electric SUV, but it has five seats and has not been confirmed as the UK third model.

These examples show why the name and specification matter. A vehicle sold in one market may use a different powertrain, equipment package or model designation in Europe. It is not safe to identify the future British car as an LS8, LS9 or LS7 until MG publishes a product announcement.

The technology showcase claim

Allison cited an 800-volt platform, charging capability of up to 375 kW, a 0–62 mph time of 3.5 seconds, 750 bhp and extensive autonomous-driving technology as features associated with IM. Converted to the metric convention used here, 0–62 mph is broadly equivalent to 0–100 km/h, but the quoted performance description is a general account of the technology already available within the range. It is not a specification for the unnamed 2027 vehicle.

Driver assistance also needs careful wording. MG’s official releases mention AI-based driver monitoring, peripheral-vision support and automated parking functions. These systems assist a driver; they do not remove the driver’s legal responsibility. The exact automation level, sensors and approvals for the future model have not been announced.

The same applies to pricing. Allison said the new model would reflect MG’s historical approach of undercutting comparable competitors, despite IM’s premium positioning. No UK price was provided. The current IM5 and IM6 prices in other European markets cannot be used as an official guide to the future product.

Sales context and buyer implications

Auto Express reports an expectation of about 6,500 IM sales in the UK in 2026, compared with MG’s predicted total of around 100,000 vehicles. These are forecasts, not final registration results. They indicate why MG wants to broaden the range, but they do not predict the third model’s eventual demand.

For UK buyers, the confirmed information is limited but useful: MG plans a third IM model for 2027, and the vehicle will be positioned above or outside the existing IM5 and IM6 space. For buyers elsewhere in Europe, there is no confirmed launch date, price or market availability. The UK announcement should not be presented as a Romanian sales announcement.

MG’s next step will have to answer the practical questions: how many seats the car has, whether it is fully electric, how large its battery is, what charging performance it offers, and how it will be priced. Until then, the prospect of a seven-seat SUV remains a well-supported possibility, while the only confirmed facts are the third-model plan and the 2027 UK timing.

Sources

Image: official MG IM5 product photograph from the MG Motor configurator. Local WebP asset: /resources/blog/mg-im-third-uk-model-2027.webp. Attribution: MG Motor; use is based on the manufacturer’s official media material.