Author: GeekCar
Last night, the IM LS7 officially started pre-sales with a price range of 350,000 to 500,000 yuan.
We have talked about many topics related to “IM” before. In this press conference, IM gave LS7 multiple labels, including: the best panoramic view, a five-seater for all scenarios, comprehensive driving control and safety…
So, let’s analyze the IM LS7 product feature by feature.
What is the best panoramic view?
This “best panoramic view” sounds like it would scare any advertising law officer. What does it mean?
IM’s description mentions:
LS7 uses the stunning “Star Fall panoramic sunroof” to provide users with a 106-degree panoramic view, pushing the SUV category’s vision experience to the limit.
The so-called “panoramic view” refers to the ability of the IM LS7 to provide a larger driving view for users.
However, those who frequently keep track of car models will notice a problem: Isn’t this just “paying tribute” to Tesla Model X?
And this also applies to the XPeng G3/G3i.
When it comes to the “Star Fall Ice Feeling Front Dome”, there is inevitably a question: heat. Although the word “ice feeling” was used when naming it and no matter what material or film it is coated with, there is no way to avoid heat.
Frequent drivers must have encountered a situation where they feel like opening the windows or turning on the air conditioning despite the relatively low temperature outside in autumn when they are facing the scorching sun.
After all, the matter of heat radiation cannot be avoided just by blocking a certain amount of ultraviolet rays.
But there is no doubt that this “front dome” can indeed provide a better view, but I still have doubts about whether it can achieve an “ice feeling”.
In addition, in order to better match the term “all-view”, the LS7 also comes with the “YAT Cruise-Style Semi-Armrest Steering Wheel”, which can be simply understood as an irregular-shaped steering wheel. It is accompanied by the “Large-Format Immersive Adjustable Smart Scene Screen”.
At present, this steering wheel design has appeared in Tesla Model S/X Plaid, Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Jidu ROBO-01.
We have briefly experienced the unique steering wheels in Tesla Model S Plaid, JiDU ROBO-01, and Lexus RZ. Especially after experiencing Lexus RZ, we suddenly realized a truth:
If there is no wire-controlled steering or variable steering ratio, the unique steering wheel is not very easy to use, especially in U-turns, large curvature bends, and other scenarios.
When I experienced the Tesla Model S Plaid statically before, I also talked with Tesla staff. He had driven this car briefly and mentioned:
There is no problem with normal straight driving and turning, but when making a U-turn, I always want to grab the upper edge of the steering wheel, but can’t…
And one of the reasons why Lexus RZ has not yet been launched in China is because relevant departments are reviewing wire-controlled steering technology.
Lexus RZ’s wire-controlled steering technology, in conjunction with the unique steering wheel, can “lock” the direction of the wheels directly within 150 degrees on the left and right sides of the steering wheel.
That is to say, your hands don’t need to leave the steering wheel or do hand-over-hand maneuvering in any scenario. And this should be the true essence of a unique steering wheel.
The other meaning of a unique steering wheel is actually to prepare for a future foldable and storable steering wheel for fully autonomous driving, and to make a transitional period for users.
Of course, wire-controlled steering technology cannot be ignored here.
Therefore, a unique steering wheel and wire-controlled steering are the perfect match. If you simply want to use a unique steering wheel to improve visibility, it is not significant, and this applies not only to the IM LS7 but also to the Tesla Model S Plaid and JiDU ROBO-01.
What am I doing lying in the car?
Today’s cars need a definition: Who are they going to be sold to? What are their needs? What kind of configuration and function should be installed?
Just like the LI L9, some people may find it strange to have a refrigerator and a TV on board. But thinking of the following just now:
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L9 is designed for people who need to travel with their family;
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They need more seats and bigger space;
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A “refrigerator” is installed to take care of the baby;
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A “TV” is installed to take care of the child.
Therefore, user portraits are the first priority.
The Zhi Ji LS7 calls itself a “super large five-seater for all scenarios”, and the term “all scenarios” refers to its ability to be used in any scenario, including intelligentization and driving performance.
But what Zhi Ji LS7 means by “all scenarios” is “the flexibility of all-scenario space”.
The right side of the Zhi Ji LS7’s cabin is equipped with a 1955mm electric slide rail that runs through the front and rear rows. The passenger seat uses the “smart-controlled fully flat-folding co-pilot seat”, which can be completely folded and stored under the center console.
And the right rear seat also uses a “zero-gravity floating seat”.
Based on the folding and unfolding of the car seats, users can have various interior space scenes, including “large reclining and comfortable mode”, “zero gravity floating mode”, and so on.
This reminds me of the three-seat honor edition of the Volvo S90/XC90.
Zhi Ji commented: Better to meet the needs of one to five people for car scenes.
In the seat layout diagram provided by Zhi Ji LS7, we can see that the “zero gravity floating seat” cannot be tilted forward, that is, it cannot expand the volume of the trunk to the maximum.
And when I discussed this seat layout with a friend, he gave a different answer:
Another friend also mentioned: What am I doing lying in the car without a television or refrigerator?
Then let’s talk about the basics
The Zhi Ji LS7 pre-sale price is 350,000 to 500,000 yuan. Compared with the starting price of 338,800 yuan of Zhi Ji’s first model L7, the price is about 10,000 yuan higher. As an SUV model, this pre-sale price is actually expected.Below is the translated English Markdown text while keeping the HTML tags in place:
The IM LS7 will provide advanced intelligent driving assistance with its double lidar and Nvidia ORIN chip combination, which is the reason for the model’s highest presale price of up to 500,000 yuan.
However, due to the “Star Fall Ice Feeling Front Dome” adopted by the IM LS7, the sensors on the roof are arranged above the B-pillar, resulting in a somewhat strange overall visual effect.
Expectantly, the IM LS7’s driving should balance more like the L7, as the chassis also features front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension, along with:
It uses German Continental air springs, German Benteler’s DampTronic electromagnetic dynamic damping adjustment system, German Bosch’s electronic steering system, French Michelin / Japanese Bridgestone’s high-performance tires, Italian Brembo’s braking system, and has also undergone Williams Advanced Engineering’s master tuning…
Finally
Last night, the IM LS7 received more than 3,000 preorders in an hour, but I still didn’t find the impulse to place an order as it did not have a standout feature to attract me.
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Similarly, they are all big five-seaters. NIO ES7 has a battery-swapping system and related services, Avatar 11 has intelligent driving and intelligent cabin with support from Huawei, XPeng G9 has an 800V architecture, Li Xiang L8 has everything it should have and Cadillac LYRIQ has an American luxury atmosphere…
Apart from the hardware and tuning of the chassis, I haven’t seen any practical functions and configurations that are really outstanding in the IM LS7.
If we rely solely on a “dome”, a lifting screen, a unique-shaped steering wheel, and a zero-gravity seat, it is difficult for IM LS7 to fundamentally distinguish itself from existing products.
Or I would ask: what is the core highlight of IM LS7?
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This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.