It might have missed kickoff but MG is fielding a special edition ZS during the final weeks of the 2019/20 Premier League season.
The company is celebrating Liverpool’s long-awaited Premier League win to bide the time until an updated ZS arrives later this year, with the ZS Essence Anfield representing the last special edition for the current model.
Named after the home ground of Liverpool Football Club, of which MG Motor became the Official Global Partner of last year, the Essence Anfield will be produced in just 200 examples and will arrive here early in July.
At $25,490 before on-road costs, it costs $500 more than the regular ZS Essence that sits at the top of the ZS range. MG promises an Anfield edition of its new mid-size HS SUV is also coming.
For the extra cash, you receive interior and exterior details paying homage to the traditional colours of Liverpool F.C.
Inside, there’s a unique black-and-red fabric interior with unique upholstery and red leatherette bolsters, plus red stitching details throughout the cabin.
Outside, there’s a gloss black grille with a red border, plus red highlights in the bumpers. The Anfield is available only in white or black.
Otherwise, standard equipment is the same as on the existing range-topping Essence. This includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and satellite navigation, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, proximity entry with push-button start, a six-speaker sound system, and a panoramic glass sunroof.
Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, producing 82kW of power and 160Nm of torque and powering the front wheels. The sole transmission is a six-speed automatic.
All ZS models come with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty and seven years of roadside assistance.
MG is readying an updated version of the ZS, already available in China. It’ll see a significant upgrade in safety technology, adopting the MG Pilot safety suite.
This includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with forward-collision warning, as well as adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The current car lacks these features.
When the ZS was tested by ANCAP in 2017, it received a rating of four stars.
In China, the updated ZS has also scored a more powerful turbocharged 1.3-litre three-cylinder engine with 120kW of power and 230Nm of torque.
Local pricing and specs have yet to be confirmed, though MG has confirmed the new electric e-ZS will be introduced to Australia.
Priced at $46,990 before on-road costs, the e-ZS features an electric motor with 105kW of power and 353Nm of torque, mated to a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery.
Total electric range is a claimed 262km.
The ZS is the only car in its segment – excluding those introduced this year, of course – to see an increase in sales year-to-date.
MG has sold 1322 examples so far this year, an increase of 4.4 per cent over the same period last year.
That puts the ZS within striking distance of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Suzuki Vitara (1601 and 1532 units, respectively), although it’s well off from the tallies of rivals from Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Subaru.
