MG has given us an early glimpse at its upcoming electric hatchback – the MG 4 EV. It’ll be pitched as an affordable alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3, Cupra Born, Peugeot e-308 and Nissan Leaf with a maximum range of 281 miles.
Prices and specifications for the car are yet to be confirmed, but MG has promised us that the 4 EV will have plenty of interior space and a well-sized boot. Even the cabin is a step up over current MGs, with an infotainment layout closer to that of its Volkswagen Group sparring partners.
It’ll be built on MG’s all-new dedicated electric underpinnings, which the brand has dubbed its Modular Scalable Platform (MSP). The chassis can support batteries sized between 51kWh and 64kWh – which means even the most affordable version of the 4 EV will be able to cover 218 miles on a single charge.
Like its main rivals, the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, the MG 4 EV features rear-wheel drive thanks to an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The company’s engineers say this decision, along with a 50:50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, will make it engaging to drive.
Specifications for the MG 4 EV are still sparse, but we can glean some information about the car’s equipment from MG’s teaser images (pictured above). Inside, buyers will get part-leather upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, a widescreen infotainment system and a small digital gauge cluster.
The “floating” centre console is a new addition to MG’s design language. On the MG 4, it’ll house the car’s gear selector, electronic parking brake and a storage tray which, on more expensive versions of the car, will likely feature a wireless smartphone charger. The rest of the car’s interior styling appears to have been inspired by Cupra and Skoda.
More MG EVs in the pipeline
The MG 4 EV will be the first car to use the company’s new MSP electric architecture (pictured below), but it won’t be the last. MG has a whole host of next-generation electric vehicles in the works, including a new SUV and even a sports car. The brand has already previewed the latter car with the Cyberster concept.
To allow for such flexibility, MG’s engineers have designed to platform to fit under cars with wheelbases measuring between 2,650mm and 3,100mm. The brand has also tried to futureproof the chassis wherever possible. MG has already made plans to introduce a battery swap system further down the track – and every car built on the platform will have access to over-the-air updates.
David Allison, head of product & planning at MG Motor UK, said: “The MG 4 EV is a key part of the next phase of growth for MG. 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.”
Read our review of the MG ZS EV
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