The EV hatch wars are heating up across the Atlantic, with new challengers arriving.
- MG4 EV hatchback is headed to the UK and several European markets, as MG works to cater to rapidly growing demand for small electric cars.
- The hatch will offer a choice of two batteries, promising ranges of 218 and 281 miles in the WLTP cycle.
- MG is owned by China’s SAIC Motor, which purchased parts of the automaker in the mid 2000s amid the MG-Rover financial collapse.
Americans may still remember MG for its popular MGB roadster, but over a decade after becoming part of China’s SAIC Motor the brand is more about crossovers and hatchbacks. And some of them are now electric.
A few days ago MG took the wraps off its MG4 electric hatch that will be offered in the UK and a number of European countries, in what is becoming a very hot segment across the Atlantic.
Promising perfect 50:50 weight distribution as well as the thinnest battery in its lineup with a height of 4.3 inches, the MG4 will be offered with a choice of 51- and 64-kWh batteries. This will buy it WLTP ranges of 218 and 281 miles, respectively.
Images of the cabin reveal a minimalist, tidy interior design, complete with a widescreen infotainment system, an instrument cluster consisting of a similarly boxy-edged screen, and a drive mode selector wheel positioned on a center stack shelf.
The interior is perhaps minimalist, but appears inviting enough, with most functions relegated to the two screens.
MG
The MG4 will be based on the company’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), which will underpin a whole range of upcoming electric models that the automaker will offer at home and in export markets in Europe, where MG has made some progress even before the debut of its electric models. MG is not positioned as a premium marque in the UK, and generally competes with affordable Korean, Japanese, and European brands.
The EV hatch is expected to be the brand’s most important model launches since arriving in Europe under SAIC Motor ownership.
The MG4’s specifications will allow it to compete against the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Nissan Leaf, to name a couple. The smaller of the two batteries will be paired with a 168-hp electric motor, while the larger will permit it to produce 201 hp, with power sent to the rear wheels in both cases. A dual-motor version is on the way as well.
The long wheelbase buys the MG4 plenty of space for the battery and plenty of room inside. The non-luxury EV hatch segment is very hot in Europe at the moment and is expected to grow.
MG
Demand for electric hatchbacks of this type is very high at the moment across the Atlantic, which should allow MG to make some long-awaited gains in market share, including in its historic home country.
“The MG4 EV is a key part of the next phase of growth for MG,” said David Allison, head of product and planning at MG Motor UK. “Our new MSP architecture will enable us to offer multiple options for the rapidly expanding UK electric car market, with all choices reinforcing our reputation for outstanding design, market-leading technology, and excellent value for money.”
Keyword: The MG4 EV Will Battle Electric Hatches in Europe