2023 MG4 Electric detailed ahead of expected local launch
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Just as Mulan took on a different identity to fight in a war, the MG Mulan takes another name outside China.
MG has released more information about the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born rival ahead of the launch, confirming the export market’s name and revealing the interior.
The electric hatchback will be sold in Europe as the MG4 Electric, where it will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2022. This name may also be used in Australia, with an expected launch in the first half of 2023.
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“We are currently assessing the MG Mulan for the Australian market and exploring different variants,” a spokesperson for MG Australia told CarExpert earlier this month.
“We are unlikely to see this model before H1 2023.”
The MG4 Electric, reportedly in the final stages of its European testing, offers a choice of two batteries.
The 51 kWh battery offers 350 km of range under the stricter WLTP cycle, while the 64 kWh battery offers 450 km.
The smaller battery is offered with a 125 kW rear-mounted electric motor, while the larger battery is paired with a 150 kW electric motor.
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MG claims a 0-100 km/h time of under eight seconds and says more variants are planned, including a twin-engine four-wheel drive option.
The company boasts that the car’s battery is the flattest of the parent company SAIC Motor, with a height of only 110 mm.
MG touts the long life of its One Pack battery system, plus its “zero thermal runaway” safety protection.
MG4 Electric introduces a new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) developed by parent company SAIC Motor, called Nebula architecture in China.
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The modular architecture can support wheelbases from 2650 to 3100mm and will keep everything from hatches to SUVs and vans. SAIC Motor’s Pack battery system can theoretically support batteries from 40 kWh to 150 kWh.
The MG4 Electric has a 400V electrical system, although MG says this could be upgraded to 800V.
The car is also designed to support future BaaS (Battery as a Service) batteries, as currently offered by Chinese co-brand Nio. MG also says buyers can buy a small battery first and upgrade to a larger one.
The MG4 Electric can support wireless updates and is also equipped for Pixel Point Cloud Comprehensive Environment Mapping required for autonomous driving.
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MG has unveiled the interior of the MG4 Electric, which it says is “comfortable and spacious…with enough room for a family of five”.
It features a free-standing digital instrument panel and a large tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system.
Below the latter is a row of buttons, but most functions are controlled via the screen itself.
Beneath the vents is a shelf protruding from the dash, with a geared dial, electronic parking brake, and a large cushion that may hold a cordless phone charger.
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As previously confirmed, the Mulan and MG4 Electric measure 4287mm long, 1836mm wide, and 1504mm high on a 2705mm wheelbase.
In contrast, a Cupra Born – expected here in early 2023 – measures 4322mm long on a 2765mm wheelbase.
MG says the rear-wheel drive hatch has a 50:50 weight distribution and is designed for “optimal driving pleasure”.
It was previously confirmed that the hatchback would have a five-arm rear suspension and is designed for a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
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In addition to the MG4 Electric, MG is reportedly working on a few electric SUVs plus a production version of the Cyberster concept, the latest of which was unveiled this month in a patent application.
The Cyberster is reportedly set for a 2024 launch.
Although MG only sells one electric vehicle in Australia – the ZS EV – the Chinese brand was the second largest EV seller locally in 2021, after only Tesla.