From back to front
We have written a lot about the new MG 4 Electric. Today we do it again. The new MG 4 Electric has now been fully released, and it promises to be considerably cheaper than the model it replaces!
Not every model is granted a career as long as that of, for example, the Volvo XC90. Where the XC90 is now eleven years old, the MG 4 Electric has only been allowed to run for about three years. In March, it was announced that the electric hatchback, exuberantly overloaded with a multitude of angular shapes and diagonal lines, would soon be replaced by a completely new generation. The new MG 4 Electric exchanges the busyness of its predecessor for a body with round shapes and a friendlier appearance. The new model is therefore less susceptible to taste. But there is more, much more. For example, the new MG 4 Electric is larger, has a completely new platform and promises to be considerably cheaper.
In China, the new MG 4 Electric has gone on pre-sale, which means that we can report interesting news about the model. For those who missed it: the second generation MG 4 Electric is 4.4 meters long, making it about eleven centimeters longer than the outgoing MG 4. The wheelbase is also larger. That of the new MG 4 Electric measures 2.75 meters, that of the model it replaces 2.71 meters. For the time being, MG only mentions one variant. It has a 163 hp electric motor. However, that electric motor is not on the rear axle as with the MG 4 Electric that you have probably seen driving several times by now, but on the front axle. Yes: the MG 4 Electric has gone from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive.
We also now know that the new electric hatchback will be available with 42.8 kWh and 53.9 kWh large LFP batteries. From these batteries, the MG 4 Electric squeezes out 437 and 530 kilometers respectively. Please note: these are CLTC and not WLTP figures. MG further promises the arrival of semi-solid-state batteries. When they will come and what they exactly have to offer will become clear later. The new batteries are in a new platform for the MG 4: the E3 base from SAIC.
Depending on the version, the new MG 4 Electric has a 10.25, 12.8 or 15.6-inch infotainment screen.
Then the prices. Until recently, the previous MG 4 Electric had a starting price of approximately €14,000 in China. The brand new MG 4 Electric costs only about €8,800 there. Indeed: less than 9 grand! We also expect the new MG 4 Electric in the Netherlands, so it is obvious that the model will also be a lot cheaper in the Netherlands than the car it replaces. The outgoing MG 4 Electric costs at least €32,950 in the Netherlands. Don’t be surprised if the new model gets a starting price of around €25,000.