The Chinese brand with British origin MG has introduced an electric car - MG4, which is the most popular electric car. And in all likelihood, one that should be in your garage. One with slightly better equipment and a very solid range will cost just over 30,000 euros. Also here?
The history of the MG brand is legendary and since 2005 it has been a Chinese property. The manufacturer is therefore young and eager to succeed on the European market. Back in style. Thus, we already have several models in Slovenia. For example, an affordable family SUV with the MG SZ label, which undercuts comparable competition by a few thousand. You are not one of the flies the MG5 electric wagon, which is already sold in neighboring Austria.
But MG is also known in our country mainly for electric cars. They were the ones who brought the first ones. Here, the Chinese have been taking really concrete steps in the last three years. And they diligently fill the segments. For example, the MG5 is the only station wagon among cars and is a real hit outside of Slovenia. But the MG4 is actually the new true flagship. The most popular among all those who want Volkswagen's European piece of cake in this segment. The price will also make it the most popular car.
The MG4 Electric will thus enter the important C segment in Europe with a choice of three variants. The entry-level model is the MG4 Electric Standard with a battery capacity of 51 kWh, a range of up to 350 km according to the WLTP cycle - i.e. a real 250 kilometers and a rear electric motor that provides 125 kW (170 hp). Prices for this version start at €28,990 with market and tax differences. The MG4 Electric Comfort and MG4 Electric Luxury boast a 64 kWh battery and a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor. This gives the Comfort model a range of up to 450 km – in real life around 320 real kilometers on a single charge. The first vehicles will be delivered to customers from the pre-order program in 2022.
The above data are extremely similar to the data of the leading European EV platform MEB, which is being developed by the Volkswagen Group and is used by all EV cars of the group (ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.Buzz, Škoda Enyaq, Cupra Born, Audi Q4 etron). But the Chinese have developed their own, which squeezes a little more out of itself - that is, exactly one horse more and 2 kWh more.
The MG4 Electric's dynamic design is the result of global development involving the SAIC Motor Design Center in Shanghai, the Advanced Design Studio in London and the Royal College of Art, also located in the British capital. With a length of 4,287 mm, a width of 1,836 mm and a height of only 1,504 mm, the five-door hatchback fits perfectly with the competition. Its long wheelbase of 2705 mm ensures attractive proportions and plenty of interior space – even for a family of five. The volume of the trunk is between 350 and 1,165 liters. It is extremely comparable in size and external dimensions to those offered by the ID.3 and Cupra Born.
So a comparably long, wide and spacious car. With comparable drive and battery characteristics. For a price that is around 10,000 euros lower than the European competition.
Depending on the model version, the drag coefficient is between cW 0.27 and 0.287, thanks to the active configuration of the cooling air intake in the front sill. When less cooling air is needed, it closes the air intake, improving aerodynamic performance by up to 30 percent and optimizing range by up to 10 percent. The design of the Tomahawk 17-inch light-alloy wheels – available in a two-tone scheme for Comfort and Luxury models – is also aerodynamically optimised, reducing energy consumption in conjunction with Continental's low-drag 215/55 R17 tyres.
The MG4 Electric is available in 9 body colors; Pebble Black, Dover White, Medal Silver, Andes Grey, Diamond Red, Brighton Blue and Fizzy Orange.
Photo: MG
The interior of the MG4 Electric has been deliberately designed to be minimalist, with an emphasis on the basic principles of simplicity, technology and quality. The cockpit maximizes available space with light, slim instrument panels and controls, using high-quality materials and careful fit. The floating design of the center console creates more space and includes useful features such as smartphone storage and wireless charging in the Luxury version. The two-spoke steering wheel is adjustable in height and position. The steering wheel is available in leather from the Comfort version and is heated in the Luxury version. It also adopts the reduced form of the MG Motor function key. The Luxury also offers heated front seats, while the driver's seat has six power configuration options.
The innovative "ONE PACK" battery is the basis for the dynamic visual appearance of the MG4 Electric. Thanks to the horizontal arrangement of the battery cells, the height is only 110 mm, making it the thinnest battery in its class - even lower than, for example, a Coca-Cola can - and allowing more interior headroom at a lower vehicle height. In a native way. The battery is really thin and therefore there is more space in the vehicle.
The base model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds, reaches a top speed of 160 km/h and offers a range of up to 350 km in the WLTP cycle. The alternating current (AC) charging capacity at the public charging point is 11 kW, while the battery can be fast charged with direct current (DC) at a rate of up to 117 kW. In the latter case, the battery is charged from 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes. The Comfort and Luxury models have a 64 kWh battery and a 150 kW motor that drives the rear wheels. The standard acceleration takes 7.9 seconds and the maximum speed of 160 km/h is also reached. The WLTP range is measured at 450 km, but in reality something over 320 kilometers can be expected. An integrated charger (AC) with a power of 11 kW is standard for both models. Meanwhile, the battery can be quickly charged (DC) from 10 to 80 percent in 35 minutes at a rate of up to 135 kW – enough power for around 300 km in 32 minutes. In addition, all three versions boast a maximum engine torque of 250 Nm.
The Chinese are knocking on Europe's door. And just as they flooded the market with smartphones and hot air ovens, they will do the same with cars. At first the prices will be really good, but with time it is logical that great things become expensive. A similar story was told by Huawei with smartphones, and the Chinese are about to do the same. At the moment, the announced price is really interesting. In Great Britain, where sales have already started, cars with full equipment are sold for a little under 30,000 euros. Which is really good for an electric car with the listed features.
