Update: ‘Design,’ ‘Interior,’ ‘Specifications,’ and ‘Price’ sections updated.

SAIC-owned MG Motor has developed a new electric vehicle that is more advanced and premium than the MG ZS EV, despite the lower price positioning—the MG Mulan. The company plans to launch the new electric hatchback in Europe as the MG4 Electric in Q4 2022 (October-December 2022).

The MG4 Electric is one of four new MG EVs under a “Cyber” series. The other models will be the Cyberster sports car, the Cyber S SUV (codename: MG IP42), and the MG CyberX SUV (codename: MG AS34). Here’s what we know about the compact MG electric car.

Design

The MG4 (MG Mulan) is an SUV-style aggressive hatchback that could comfortably take on the VW ID.3 and Nissan Leaf in Europe. Image Source: China’s MIIT

The MG4 Electric is an aggressively designed electric hatchback. SAIC says it’s the first truly global car from the MG brand, and the design is such that it appeals the Chinese and global customers alike. At the front, the MG4 features a shark-like nose section, petal-shaped, three-eyed headlamps, a muscular bumper with vertical side air intakes, a split lower air intake, and a lip spoiler.

The MG4 Electric has a sporty appearance on the sides with a rising beltline, sharp creases on the door panels and shoulders, orange brake calipers, and two-tone black and silver alloy wheels in an EV-typical aerodynamic design. The charging port is on the quarter panel above the left wheel arch.

The MG4 Electric would be positioned below the ZS EV and closely with the MG5. Image Source: SAIC & MIIT China

At the rear, the MG4 Electric features a hunkered-down stance, a large, almost full-width tail light (featuring the SAIC Vision LED Lighting System), a clean bumper, a split rear spoiler, and an SUV-style large skid plate. Except for the low ride height, it looks like a crossover in many ways.

Colors & Accessories

As seen in the second picture in the above gallery, the MG Mulan will be available with multiple options for the wheels, roof, rear spoiler, headlamp, and more in China. MG offers the Mulan in Rong Green, Bright White, Lightspeed Silver, Flame Red, Andean Grey, and Brighton Blue colors, as per local reports. The color palette for the MG4 Electric globally may not be starkly different.

Interior

The MG4 interior has minimalist vibes and looks equally appealing as the ID.3 and the Megane E-Tech. Image Source: SAIC

The MG4 features a simplistic yet contemporary interior featuring a sleek dashboard with slim AC vents, a floating center console with the drive mode selector and electric parking brake, a compact, two-spoke steering with flattened top and bottom, and a light white and gray two-tone upholstery. The instrument cluster is a compact display attached to the dashboard. The touchscreen infotainment display sits atop the center of the dashboard.

Specifications

Nebula Platform (MSP)

While the ZS EV came off a combustion engine model (ZS), the MG4 Electric is a bespoke EV based on the Nebula platform. That’s what MG is calling its new platform back home. In Europe, the branding used is Modular Scalable Platform or MSP in short. In a report it published on June 26, 2022, autohome.com.cn called this a “super platform” developed from the ground up exclusively for electric vehicles. ‘E2’ is the internal codename as per the Chinese report, meaning it’s the successor to the MG Marvel‘s E1 platform.

The MSP’s scalable design allows developing EVs with a wheelbase of between 2,650 to 3,100 mm. It’s possible to design EVs with various body styles on the new platform: hatchback, notchback, saloon, SUV, and van. It will have a key role in the growth of MG in Europe.

MG is aiming for a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP for the MSP-based MG4 Electric. Image Source: SAIC

When the development of the Marvel X was completed, work on the Nebula platform (MSP) began immediately, according to Kang Huaping, Vice President of SAIC Innovation Research and Development Institute. SAIC spent a lot on this platform to achieve standardization, modularization, integration, and intelligence. In the future, the Roewe, Feifan (formerly called R), and Zhiji brands will also get models based on this dedicated EV platform.

Dimensions

MG’s electric model measures 4,287 mm in length, 1,836 mm in width, and 1,504 mm in height. The compact electric car has a generous 2,705 mm wheelbase, data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has revealed (for the MG Mulan). Judging by its size, it would compete with the VW ID.3, Cupra Born, Renault Megane E-Tech, and the Nissan Leaf.

Performance & Range

The MG4 will be available in two RWD configurations, one with a 125 kW (168 hp) motor and a 51 kWh battery pack and one with a 150 kW (201 hp) motor and a 64 kWh battery pack. The 51 kWh battery pack will deliver a range of 350 km (217 miles) and the 64 kWh battery pack will return a range of 450 km (280 miles). Both these range figures are according to Europe’s WLTP cycle.

The MG4 Electric can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). An AWD variant with an additional motor powering the front wheels is in the pipeline. It could be a performance-focused variant with a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint time of under 4 seconds, to challenge the VW ID.3 GTX.

DP-EPS

The MG4 Electric has a 50:50 weight distribution, which should make it better at handling. Plus, at least in China, it gets a Dual Pinion-Assist Electric Power Steering (DP-EPS) instead of a conventional Rack-Assist Electric Power Steering (REPS). The new technology has come to the auto industry just in time when customers around the world have started increasingly preferring the SUV body style and electric powertrains. Steering loads are higher in EVs compared to ICE vehicles because of the weight of heavy batteries. They require a different steering system to handle the additional weight. In DP-EPS, the primary pinion is optimized for vehicle dynamics and performance and the secondary pinion is optimized for assist.

One Pack battery

MG says it was able to keep the car’s height so low because of its exceptionally flat battery, which belongs to the “One Pack” battery system (called Rubik’s Cube battery system in China). This is the flattest battery that parent company SAIC has developed.

One Pack battery system, with its recumbent cell arrangement, allows an industry-leading 110 mm minimum battery height. The battery’s length and width are 1,690 mm and 1,300 mm, respectively. SAIC has used the new cell-to-pack or CTP technology, which makes the MG4 Electric one of the brand’s most advanced EVs to date.

With the One Pack battery system, it’s possible to design battery packs with energy storage capacities ranging from 40 kWh to 150 kWh. Battery swapping is also possible, meaning SAIC will be able to sell MSP-based EVs with BaaS (Battery as a Service). Zhu Jun, Deputy Chief Engineer, SAIC, says that users can upgrade and even shift to a smaller battery when needed. Ningde E-CON Power System, a Shanghai E-CON Power System company, in which SAIC has a 30% ownership through Ningde Jiaocheng SAIC Industry Upgrade Equity Investment Partnership (LP), makes the battery pack of the MG4 Electric (MG Mulan).

MG4 Electric (MG Mulan) specifications with some inputs from China’s MIIT and carnewschina.com. Complete specifications yet to be released by the manufacturer.

Charging

The MSP platform enables 800-volt charging technology as well. The models equipped with 800-volt charging technology will get a range of 200 km (124 miles) with just five minutes of charging and take only 15 minutes for charging to 80% level. The models equipped with the regular 400-volt charging technology will get a range of 100 km (62 miles) with five minutes of charging and take 30 minutes for charging to 80% level. The Autohome report suggests that bidirectional charging will also be possible in the Nebula platform (MSP)-based models. MG should reveal the charging specifications for the Mulan/MG4 in a couple of months.

Price

Positioned between the MG3 and MG5, expect the base price of the MG4 Electric in Europe at well under EUR 30,000. The new electric hatchback could become the best-selling MG model in European countries. According to MG Motor UK Commercial Director Guy Pigounakis, the MG4 Electric will beat the ZS EV “on a pound/mile” basis, as per an Autocar report. It will be cheaper to run than the ZS EV, which consumes 17.3 kWh/100 km (WLTP) in the standard-range variant and 17.8 kWh/100 km (WLTP) in the long-range variant.

The MG4 Electric is a model designed as per the preferences of global customers. Image Source: SAIC

Production takes place at SAIC’s Ningde factory in China, suggests images circulating in the local media (view on d1ev.com). The facility is Asia’s largest automobile plant. In the domestic market, the launch could take place in Q3 2022, and MG has confirmed the base price won’t be above CNY 200,000 (USD 29,870).

MG triples its sales in Europe

2021 was an excellent year for MG in Europe, where it is an emerging brand. The company sold 52,546 vehicles across the continent last year. That may be a small, five-digit sales figure, but compared to 2020, MG tripled its sales in the region. The UK was its biggest market there in 2021, accounting for 30,600 units of the total sales. Another significant achievement for MG in 2021 was the growth of sales and service locations from 150 to 400 points.

In Q1 2022, MG delivered 22,135 vehicles in Europe, marking a whopping 158% year-over-year growth (Q1 2021: 8,580 units).

MG Mulan FAQs

What is the MG4 Electric release date?

The MG4 Electric will be launched in Europe in Q4 2022.

What will be the MG4 Electric price?

Expect the base price in Europe at well under EUR 30,000. In the UK, it could cost around £25,000.

Which models will be MG4 Electric rivals?

Alternatives will include the likes of Opel Astra-e, VW ID.3, Cupra Born, and Nissan Leaf.

Featured Image Source: SAIC

Source