Although acquired in 2006 by the Chinese manufacturer SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), the Morris Garage brand, which has become MG Motor, is still British with a production tool relocated to China. This very dynamic manufacturer will launch a compact MG4 sedan in Europe, which will arrive in dealerships during the fourth quarter of 2022.
The MG brand currently offers a range of five models in Europe. There are four SUVs, the 100% electric MG Marvel R, the plug-in hybrid MG EHS, the 100% electric MG ZS EV urban SUV which was restyled last year and a new one, the petrol-powered MG ZS (106 hp 1.5 VTi-Tech and 111 hp 1.0 T-GDi). This is the thermal version of the MG ZS EV, it has a very attractive price/equipment ratio: €16,990 at entry level. Finally, the brand also has in its range a 4.60 m long station wagon, the MG5 with an electric motor. The upcoming electric-powered MG4 will be the sixth MG model, which will not return to France until June 2020.
With a compact electric sedan, the MG brand will tackle the Citroën ë-C4, Nissan Leaf, Renault Mégane 5 E-Tech and Volkswagen ID.3, as well as the future Opel Astra-e and Peugeot e-308 which will arrive in 2023. Faced with such competition, the MG brand does not skimp on resources and equips its compact sedan with an unprecedented modular platform called MSP for Modular Scalable Platform, it was developed by SAIC Motor.
The MSP is a technical base that has been specially designed for electric models. Modular, it allows the design of cars with different bodies with a fairly wide wheelbase, from 2.65 meters to 3.10 meters. It also displays a weight saving compared to previous platforms, an optimization of interior space and can accommodate advanced technologies. The MG4 is therefore the first to inaugurate it, but the brand’s future models will be entitled to it.
This MSP platform allows the use of a new “One Pack” battery with an innovative design. Thanks to the lying position of the elements, the height of the assembly is reduced and does not exceed 110 mm. It would offer, according to the manufacturer, a better use of the interior space of the vehicle. Depending on the number of elements that compose it, the capacity of the batteries can display from 40 kWh to 150 kWh, which meets the energy needs of small cars such as large sedans or SUVs. The MG4 will have two batteries at launch: 54 and 64 kWh. The manufacturer indicates that the autonomy (WTLP cycle) would be 350 km with the first, 450 km with the second. Other variants of the MG4 are already planned with in particular a version equipped with all-wheel drive. At its launch, the MG4 which is a propulsion will be entitled to two power levels, 170 and 204 hp. When equipped with the most powerful electric motor, the MG4 can go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds and its top speed is 160 km/h.
The use of the new MSP platform also offers more possibilities with regard to the integration of new computing or charging technologies. Thus, charging can be increased from 400 to 800 V in the coming years. The systems present on the car use an integrated service architecture SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) which allows a remote update (OTA). This is complemented by a comprehensive environment mapping system that will later provide an autonomous driving system. In the meantime, the new MG4 with more than 120,000 km traveled on the European continent is undergoing its last endurance tests before arriving at the dealership (MG, which tripled its sales in 2021, is currently continuing to expand its network). . If on paper, this new car does not lack arguments to make its mark in the category of compact electric sedans, it will be necessary to wait for the full-scale test and the knowledge of its prices in order to get a more precise idea of this car. and find out if she can become one of the stars in this category.
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