The Chinese manufacturer MG has just made its new electric car official for France, an electric compact sedan, the first MG4 Electric European MG4. It will be sold for 28 900 $, excluding a bonus, with a range of up to 500 km depending on the version.
The Chinese manufacturer MG has just made official for Europe, including France, its new electric car, a compact sedan, the MG4 Electric European. We already know this model for several months since it was presented in China in June, then officialized in Europe a few weeks later. It was possible to order it from the beginning of August without knowing the prices. MG has just unveiled Europe’s technical specifications and fees, and it’s a good surprise.
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The first MG4 Electric European, STARTING AT $22,900 WITH AN ECOLOGICAL BONUS
MG announces that its MG4 will be sold, in France, for 28 900 dollars. With the $6,000 environmental bonus, the final price drops to $22,900. This is excellent news for the electric car in general, as it should make electromobility available to a more significant number of households.
The Chinese manufacturer (or its European subsidiary, SAIC Motor Europe) is offering a 48-month leasing contract at $249 per month, with no down payment (thanks to the bonus).
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MG4 Electric European: 350 TO 450 KM OF AUTONOMY
At this price, it is the MG4 in Standard trim, with its battery of 51 kWh (LFP) and its range of 350 km on the WLTP cycle. To reach a range of 450 km, you should aim for the Comfort trim at $ 32,990 with the 64 kWh battery (NMC). The Luxury trim offers a range of 435 km, probably because of its rear diffuser (which is more for looks), and costs $34,990.
The consumption varies between 16 kWh / 100 km and 17 kWh / 100 km, depending on the version. Surprisingly, the small battery requires more electrons to cover the same distance than the large battery. However, the weight is lower on the first one, at 1,655 kg, against 1,685 kilograms on the larger one if we believe the technical sheet.
This is undoubtedly due to the active grille available from the Comfort trim level. This allows the opening of the grille to be modulated according to the cooling needs of the battery, thus reducing fuel consumption when the grille is closed to obtain a drag coefficient of 0.27 compared to 0.287 when it is open.
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The first MG4 Electric European: A VERSION WITH 500 KM OF AUTONOMY IS IN THE WORKS
The good surprise of this announcement is the arrival of a version of the MG4 with a 77 kWh battery in the coming months. This will allow MG to prepare for the arrival of an MG4 with 500 km of autonomy. The new Cupra Born VZ XL seems to be directly targeted.
While fast charging is limited to 117 kW on the cheapest version, which takes 40 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent, the power is increased to 135 kW with the large 64 kWh battery, reducing charging time by five to 35 minutes.
At home or public charging stations, you will have to make do with 6.6 kW for the entry-level finish, compared to 11 kW for the other versions.
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MG4 Electric European, A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VERSION TO COME
The engine is not to be outdone, with a 125 kW (170 hp) engine on the entry-level and 150 kW (204 hp) on the other finishes. Both engines send a torque of 250 Nm to the wheels and are positioned on the rear axle, making the MG4 a rear-wheel drive. The 0 to 100 km/h is announced in 7.7 seconds for the small battery and 7.9 seconds for the larger one. The maximum speed is limited to 160 km/h.
The famous Triumph sporty version is also planned for Europe, but without further details on the timing, with two electric motors to provide a power of 455 hp and a torque of 600 Nm to reach 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.
- READ MORE: “NEW MG4 price, availability, and performance.“
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The first MG4 Electric European, A COMPACT SEDAN
As for the dimensions, we should expect a length of 4.287 m, a width of 1.836 m (excluding mirrors), and a height of 1.504 m. The wheelbase of 2.705 m and the absence of a central tunnel should allow you to enjoy a nice space on board. The brand indicates a trunk capacity of 363 liters.
In terms of comfort, MG tells us that it has a five-link independent rear suspension and a dynamic chassis adjustment. A feature generally reserved for much more expensive models. The rear engine allows a reasonably tight turning radius at only 10.6 m.
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MG4 Electric European, A CONNECTED CAR
Inside, there is a 7-inch screen behind the steering wheel that acts as the instrument cluster, while a 10.25-inch screen appears in the middle for infotainment, including a navigation system with real-time traffic. Adaptive cruise manipulation and lane preserving help are a gift for Level 2 autonomous driving and the usage of radar and cameras.
On the Luxury version, the presence of the heat pump should increase the autonomy in winter. MG announces an increase in freedom of nearly 10% depending on the weather. However, beware: the battery preheating is only available with the most expensive version. This means that in winter, the speed of charge of the car on the fast terminals could be lower on the other versions.
A little extra: the MG4 can tow a trailer (or a small caravan) with a maximum of 500 kg.
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FIRST DELIVERIES IN OCTOBER 2022 for the MG4
The MG4 is available on the manufacturer’s website with a 7-year warranty. It will be available in dealerships in the coming weeks, with 686 dealerships in 26 European countries and 840 by the end of the year. The first deliveries are scheduled for October.
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MG4 Electric European in competition with other cars
The MG4 could well prove to be a commercial success. Indeed, at this price, there is not much available. We can, however, mention the Renault Zoé, starting at 33,700 $, with a range of 395 km. But it is not the same electric car, with a piece of much poorer equipment and lower performance.
The Peugeot e-208 is also a good competitor, starting at 33,000 $ in Like trim and its 400 km range. Once again, the onboard technologies are less numerous, and the interior is less spacious. We’ll have to wait for the complete test of the MG4 to have a better idea.