MG has unveiled the MG 4, an electric hatchback based on an all-new EV platform, which is due to arrive in Europe late this year.
The MG 4 will sit in MG's range somewhere between the MG 3 supermini (which isn't sold in Ireland) and the MG 5 estate and, in terms of size at least, will provide a rival for electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.3. At 4,300mm long, the MG 4 is roughly the same size as the Kia e-Niro, its styling is sharp and modern, with a sloping aerodynamic front end, panoramic glass roof and a contemporary-looking light bar running across the rear.
All-new platform
Based on MG's new MSP (Modular Scalable Platform) architecture, the MG 4 will be rear-wheel drive only and will be initially available with battery capacities from 51kWh to 64kWh which should give it a range of between 350km and 452km between charges.
The new platform, MG says, is flexible and can be used across different vehicle segments from hatchbacks to SUVs to sports cars, the latter detail perhaps providing a hint that the MSP architecture could provide the basis for MG's long-discussed first electric roadster, tentatively known as the Cyberster. Although the batteries under the cabin floor give the MG 4 a slightly more high-riding appearance than a traditional petrol-powered hatchback, at 110mm the battery structure is relatively compact, something which works to the benefit of road-holding and weight distribution.
The architecture, according to the company, allows integration with potential future technologies including battery swap systems, and over-the-air updates to the powertrain software will be possible throughout the car's lifetime.
Not unexpected
Neither the MG 4's announcement nor its appearance comes as a particular surprise. The company has been teasing the design for some months and, given its numerical designation between the MG 3 and the MG 5, it was expected that the MG 4 would closely resemble the MG Mulan, an electric hatchback unveiled in China in February; indeed both the MG4 and the Mulan appear to be almost identical.
The MG 4 is due to arrive in small numbers before the end of the year, with full sales starting in early 2023. Irish pricing has yet to be announced.