Car Showers are Now a Luxury
The very definition of luxury is also evolving, like the rest of the automotive industry. From the ideals of soft leather, plush materials, and stately rides, we now live in a world where “gimmickry” and technology define how luxurious your car is.
Enter IM Motors (joint venture with SAIC, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech), a Chinese automaker that specializes in luxury mobility. The latest model to enter the lineup is the LS9, an SUV that not only comes with 937 miles of range (thanks to an 800-volt hybrid powertrain), but also, amongst the sea of luxury goodies we expect from vehicles these days, the LS9 tops it off with a built-in car shower.
IM Motors
Other Premium Amenities Come Standard Too
Apart from the built-in shower, the LS9 is actually a decently equipped SUV; it has a huge 27.1-inch 5K display complemented by a 15.6-inch passenger screen, which completes the cockpit. The passengers also enjoy a 21.5-inch ceiling screen that can be viewed by all 6 passengers. Your tunes will be belted out by a Bang and Olufsen system, and your wellness will be taken care of by a 4D massage feature.
Back to the shower, this ingenious hygiene feature is found at the rear, where, upon opening the trunk, you can attach a small shower tent. The shower system features a 10-liter tank capacity and can even heat the water to 113°F for those chilly days outdoors.
However, it is worth noting that the system can only accommodate around a minute’s worth of shower time, best used to wash off dirt, sand, or simply clean up your pet before they return to the car. Or yes, a full-blown clean-up – just make it a really quick one.
Honda
The LS9 isn’t the First
Back in the late ’90s, when Honda first launched the CR-V, buyers could have it spec’d with a shower feature that was powered by the 12-volt socket in the trunk. This was something unique, but quite fitting for the CR-V, as it was an active lifestyle model.
The IM LS9 makes for an interesting choice of vehicle, a blend of rugged luxury for those who seek refinement, while also offering the ability to enjoy the great outdoors. It appears that this is something people want – at least in its home market in China – because during the official pre-order phase on November 4, the company claimed to have received 8,000 reservations within the first 30 minutes. That’s an achievement, considering the IM LS9 costs $51,000 when directly converted.
IM Motors
