Much as Mulan assumed a different identity to fight in a war, the MG Mulan is adopting a different name outside of China.
MG has released more information on the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born rival ahead of its launch, while also confirming its export market name and revealing its interior.
The electric hatchback will be sold as the MG4 Electric in Europe, where it’ll go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2022. This name may also be used in Australia, with an expected launch in the first half of 2023.
MORE: MG Mulan EV hatch firms for 2023 Australian launch
“We are currently reviewing the MG Mulan for the Australian market and exploring different variants,” a spokesperson for MG Australia told CarExpert earlier this month.
“It is unlikely that we will see this model before H1 2023.”
The MG4 Electric, said to be in the final stages of its European testing, offers a choice of two batteries.
The 51kWh battery offers 350km of range on the stricter WLTP cycle, while the 64kWh battery offers 450km of range.
The smaller battery is offered with a 125kW rear-mounted electric motor, while the larger battery is paired with a 150kW electric motor.
MG claims a 0-100km/h time of less than eight seconds, and says further variants are planned including a dual-motor all-wheel drive option.
The company boasts the car’s battery is the flattest yet from parent company SAIC Motor, measuring just 110mm tall.
MG touts the longevity of its One Pack battery system, plus its “zero thermal runaway” safety protection.
The MG4 Electric debuts a new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) developed by parent company SAIC Motor; this is being referred to as the Nebula architecture in China.
The modular architecture can support wheelbases ranging from 2650 to 3100mm and will underpin everything from hatches to SUVs and vans, while SAIC Motor’s One Pack battery system can theoretically support batteries from 40kWh to 150kWh.
The MG4 Electric features a 400V electrical system, though MG says this can be upgraded to 800V in the future.
The car has also been designed to support future BaaS (Battery as a Service) battery swapping, as currently offered by the likes of fellow Chinese brand Nio. MG also says buyers could buy a small battery at first and upgrade to a larger one.
The MG4 Electric can support over-the-air updates, and is also equipped for Pixel Point Cloud Comprehensive Environment Mapping that’s required for autonomous driving.
MG has revealed the MG4 Electric’s interior, which it says is “comfortable and spacious… with enough space for a family of five”.
It features a free-standing digital instrument cluster and a large tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system.
There’s a row of buttons underneath the latter, but most functions are controlled via the screen itself.
Below the air vents sits a shelf that juts out from the dash, with a rotary-dial gear selector, electronic parking brake, and a large pad that may feature a wireless phone charger.
As previously confirmed, the Mulan and MG4 Electric measure 4287mm long, 1836mm wide and 1504mm tall on a 2705mm wheelbase.
In contrast, a Cupra Born – due here early in 2023 – measures 4322mm long on a 2765mm wheelbase.
MG says its rear-wheel drive hatch has 50:50 weight distribution and has been engineered for “optimum driving pleasure”.
It previously confirmed the hatchback will feature five-link rear suspension, and has been engineered for a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
In addition to the MG4 Electric, MG is reportedly working on a pair of electric SUVs plus a production version of the Cyberster concept, the latter of which was revealed this month in a patent filing.
The Cyberster is reportedly set for a 2024 launch.
Though MG sells only one electric vehicle in Australia – the ZS EV – the Chinese-owned brand was the second biggest seller of EVs locally in 2021, behind only Tesla.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
