- An all-new MG4 EV has been uncovered in China, just two years after the current model was launched.
- The new MG4 is larger than the current model and it adopts a completely different aesthetic with inspiration from the Cyberster.
- It’s unclear if this model is China-only or if it will replace the MG4 in Europe, too.
China’s SAIC is wasting no time in capitalizing on the MG brand, which it gained the rights to after taking over the Nanjing Group in 2007. It launched the first new vehicle, the MG6, in 2009 but MG models only saw moderate success until the arrival of the MG4, which is proving successful not only in its native China but also in Europe, where it was one of the best-selling EVs in 2024.
The MG4, known as the MG Mulan in China, entered production in 2022. But it’s already being replaced by a second-generation model that’s completely new and quite different. It’s bigger overall with a longer wheelbase, and it ditches the outgoing model’s sharp design for a more rounded shape with some elements borrowed from the MG Cyberster two-door EV.
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The new model is 4.2 inches (10.8 centimeters) longer, a quarter of an inch (6 millimeters) wider and 1.3 inches (3.5 cm) taller. Its wheelbase is stretched by 1.7 inches (4.5 cm) to 108.2 inches (2.75 meters), approximately an inch shorter than a Volkswagen ID.3 or exactly the same as a Smart #1 crossover.
From a design standpoint, it breaks with its predecessor; you wouldn’t know just by looking at it that this is a new MG4. The older model was praised for its sharp and sporty look, but the new model with its rounded, anonymous shape doesn’t pack the same visual punch, at least in the photos.
Even though it’s a larger vehicle with a larger footprint, the new MG4 is actually lighter than its predecessor. Weight goes down from 3,617 pounds (1,641 kilograms) to 3,237 lbs (1,485 kg), which should help with efficiency, performance, and handling.
No images from inside the vehicle have yet been released. It’s safe to assume the interior will likely undergo major changes to mirror the exterior redesign.
Like before, the base model gets a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, but it makes slightly less power in the new car—161 horsepower versus 168. However, with the weight difference in its favor, the new car should be about as quick or even quicker than its predecessor. MG will also launch a more powerful Xpower dual-motor variant with over 400 horsepower and a sprint time to 62 mph (100 kph) of under 4 seconds.
MG has yet to reveal the model’s battery capacity, but the current entry-level MG4 has a 49 kilowatt-hour pack that’s good for a range of up to 218 miles WLTP. The mid-range battery bumps capacity up to 64 kWh and the range to 288 miles, while the long-range battery gets a 77 kWh capacity and up to 329 miles on one charge.
This updated model may be aimed more at the Chinese market, where the MG4 isn’t selling very well. The competition in China is much stiffer and launching an all-new replacement model after just two years seems like an attempt to make it competitive at home.
MG may not initially bring this model to Europe since the existing version is still quite new and popular. The manufacturer will likely clarify this when the new MG4 makes its official public debut.
