Successors to combustion-engined 3, ZS and HS, improved EVs and new flagship electric SUV due
GREG KABLE
MG will comprehensively upgrade its combustion car line-up during the first half of 2024 before launching a new electric SUV and updated versions of all its current EVs, the general manager of its business unit, Lu Jiajun, has revealed.
Speaking at a recent event, Lu said: “MG’s plans roughly look like this: in the first half of the year, the existing fuel vehicle products will be strengthened; in the second half of the year, we will focus on electric models.”
Lu confirmed that MG is heavily committed to both ICE and electric cars, saying the Chinese company will take two development paths in a bid to extend its sales volumes.
“We will not give up the fuel vehicle market,” he said. “After all, many global markets still favour traditional vehicles.”
Recognition of MG’s commitment to ICE cars comes as the brand experiences solid growth in the sales of EVs in key export markets, including the UK, with models such as the ZS crossover and 4 hatchback.
Lu said several new ICE cars will be launched in 2024, including successors to the 3 supermini and combustion ZS.
Autocar understands the HS SUV is also up for renewal. It will be based on the Chinese-market Roewe RX5, according to an MG insider. It will mirror the current HS’s offerings of a petrol engine and a plug-in-hybrid powertrain but bring improvements to fuel economy and electric range.
The electric 5 estate and ZS are tipped to switch onto MG parent company SAIC’s new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), as already used by the 4, for their second generations.
The highlight of the brand’s centenary year, though, will be the unveiling of an electric SUV conceived as a new flagship.
Positioned as the successor to the Marvel R, it will also be based on the MSP, which can accommodate various battery capacities of up to 150kWh and facilitate battery swapping.
As previously reported by Autocar, surging sales in the UK and Australia have prompted MG to rethink its decision to offer the Marvel R in left-hand-drive form only, and so its successor is due on sale in the UK by 2025.
Speaking about the new electric SUV, Lu said: “The appearance of this car is great and the price will make it competitive.”
MG UK commercial director Guy Pigounakis earlier told Autocar the Marvel R’s r
