Imagined, the electric-vehicle brand backed by SAIC, has started pre-sales for its LS8 NEO, a large five-seat SUV that aims to challenge the premium home EV segment with a CATL battery pack and a fully steer-by-wire chassis. According to NetEase Auto, the model is available in two trims with pre-sale prices of 249,800 yuan and 269,800 yuan (about $35,200 and $38,000), before taxes and incentives.
The LS8 NEO is positioned as a flagship SUV with a length of 5,085 mm, width of 2,000 mm, and height of 1,807 mm, riding on a 3,060-mm wheelbase. It offers both five- and six-seat layouts, with Nappa leather upholstery and a 27.1-inch 5K MiniLED central touchscreen paired with a 15.6-inch 3K passenger display. A 21.5-inch 4K ceiling screen is optional for the second row, and the infotainment system runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8295P chip with over-the-air update support.
Chassis and powertrain
The SUV comes standard with Imagined's full steer-by-wire chassis, integrating four-wheel steering with a rear-wheel angle of up to 24 degrees. This reduces the turning radius to 4.85 meters, making the large vehicle easier to maneuver in tight urban spaces. The system also includes brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire, enhancing response and safety.
Power comes from a single rear-mounted electric motor rated at 300 kW (about 402 hp), paired with CATL ternary lithium batteries in two capacities: 93.1 kWh for a CLTC range of 684 km and 103 kWh for 752 km. The CLTC figures are roughly 15-20% more optimistic than WLTP, so the WLTP estimates would be around 580 km and 640 km respectively. The LS8 NEO supports 800-volt fast charging, with a peak rate of 396 kW, allowing a 529-km range replenishment in 15 minutes. It also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) for powering external devices.
ADAS and comfort
For driver assistance, the LS8 NEO is equipped with a 520-line lidar, 11 cameras, and radar sensors, backed by Nvidia's Thor chip with 700 TOPS of computing power. The system runs Imagined's IM AD ZETA end-to-end model, co-developed with Momenta, enabling highway NOA, city NOA (navigation on autopilot), and automated parking. The cabin includes zero-gravity front seats with massage, ventilation, and heating, plus multi-layer acoustic glass and active noise cancellation.
The LS8 NEO is part of Imagined's push to blend comfort, advanced chassis technology, and efficient electric drivetrains in the premium home SUV segment. The pre-sale period includes seven promotional gifts, such as cash discounts and upgrade offers, according to NetEase Auto.
