2023 MG 4 electric hatch: Dual-motor performance flagship revealed

UPDATE: 2023 MG 4 gets dual-motor AWD performance

A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive performance version of the 2023 MG 4 electric car has debuted – but an Australian launch is unclear.

The model, known as the MG Mulan Triumph Edition in China, offers hot hatch power, with 330kW of power and 600Nm of torque.

This is 20kW and 100Nm higher than a petrol-powered Mercedes-AMG A45 S, while the electric Tesla Model 3 Performance offers 413kW and 660Nm.

A 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds is claimed, akin to the AMG A45 S and the Audi RS3, which also utilise all-wheel-drive.

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MG claims the dual-motor MG 4 has an electric driving range of 460 kilometres; however, this is based on China's more-lenient CLTC testing.

For reference, the single-motor MG 4 has a 520km range, with both models featuring a 61.7kWh usable lithium-ion battery pack.

In addition to all-wheel-drive, Chinese models gain "high-performance" orange brake calipers, two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, Bridgestone tyres, and leather/suede upholstery.

It is unclear if the dual-motor MG 4 will wear the Triumph Edition badge outside of China. It could adopt the X-Power name internationally, which is currently used on a limited-edition MG 6 plug-in hybrid in China.

As exclusively reported by Wheels this week, an example of the single-motor MG 4 has arrived on local shores for testing, but it is currently unconfirmed for an Australian launch.

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The story to here

August 6: MG 4 EV goes on sale in the UK

The new 2023 MG 4 electric vehicle has gone on sale in the UK, priced from £25,995 – just over $45,000 in Australian dollars.

By comparison, the MG ZS EV currently offered in Australia is priced from $46,990 drive-away for the entry-level Excite and $49,990 drive-away for the top-shelf Essence.

The ZS EV goes for similar money in the UK, launching in facelifted form from about $49,500 in Australian money – although that price included the UK's now finished $2.4 billion 'Plug-in Grant' that gave buyers a £1500 rebate (AU$2600) on any EV whose RRP was less than £32,000.

Similar incentives have been offered and are available in Australia, and you can read about all of them here.

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When will the MG 4 come to Australia?

The MG 4 is still to be officially confirmed for an Australian launch, although the company's local arm has previously revealed it is evaluating the model and hopes to bring it here by early 2023.

Depending on its price – and the above suggests it should come close to the ZS EV's local price – the MG 4 could prove popular. It rides on a 2705mm wheelbase, which compares favourably to the ZS EV's 2585mm footprint, although its overall length is shorter at 4287mm versus the ZS EV's 4314mm.

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Interior comfort should be better than in the ZS EV, however, thanks not only to the longer wheelbase but also to its slightly wider design – 1836mm versus 1809mm.

Its more upmarket interior design is also likely to prove more compelling than the somewhat dated look of the ZS EV's cabin.

Read our ongoing story below for more details on the MG 4's battery options, driving range and equipment.

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June 30: MG 4 fully-electric hatch revealed for Europe

The MG 4 electric hatch has been officially revealed for Europe just over a fortnight after the model was unveiled in China.

Set to bolster MG's expanding line-up in the European market, the manufacturer has confirmed specification of the MG 4 (known as the Mulan in China) before it launches at the end of the year.

Underpinned by MG's new Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), the MG 4 will be available for European buyers with a choice of two floor-mounted, 110 millimetre tall battery packs – either a 51kWh and 64kWh unit, capable of delivering up to 350 and 450 kilometres of driving range respectively.

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While the 51kWh-equipped MG 4 delivers 125kW to the rear wheels through its electric motor, the larger 64kWh battery allows for up to 150kW, enabling a 0-100km/h time of under eight seconds with a limited top speed of 160km/h.

The "One Pack" battery will allow MG and its parent company SAIC Motor to make further upgrades in the future, with pack sizes between 40kWh to 150kWh and the ability to upgrade it from 400 volts to 800 volts for faster charging capabilities.

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SAIC also says "the powertrain is able to support future BaaS (Battery as a Service) swap systems...equipped for Pixel Point Cloud Comprehensive Environment Mapping (PP CEM)" to allow autonomous driving systems to function.

MG Australia has previously confirmed it is evaluating the model for the local market, with a launch as early as next year on the cards.

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June 15: MG Mulan revealed, Australian launch as MG 4 possible

Chinese manufacturer MG has taken the covers off its Mulan electric hatch, potentially coming to Australia next year as the MG 4.

Revealed for the Chinese market, the Mulan features a completely new design language for MG, with its aggressive front end and sharp, angular rear lines completely contrasting its current conservative offerings – such as the HS and ZS crossovers.

A spokesperson for MG Motor Australia told Wheels the Mulan was on its radar, saying: "We are currently reviewing the MG Mulan for the Australian market and exploring different variants. It is unlikely that we will see this model before [the first half of] 2023."

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Design elements, such as a full-length panoramic sunroof, LED lights at the front and rear, and a split, two-part rear spoiler are just a handful of exterior features which separate the new model from its counterparts.

Underpinning the new model is MG's brand new Nebula platform, set up for the Mulan in rear-wheel-drive configuration.

At first, a 125kW motor will be paired to a lithium-ion phosphate battery pack, followed by a 150kW motor and a three-part lithium battery pack, according to Car News China.

Although MG boasts a sub-four-second 0-100km/h sprint time for the model, it's likely this will come from a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant in the future – rather than the rear-wheel-drive offerings at launch.

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Documents submitted to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology suggest the upcoming model will measure up at 4287 millimetres in length, 1836mm wide and 1516mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2705mm.

Its kerb weight of 1665 kilograms might be on the high side for such a small EV, but the documentation still shows a claimed driving range of between 400 kilometres and 600km, depending on the size of the battery pack.

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Year-to-date, MG ranks seventh on the Australian new car sales charts, having shifted 20,104 units in what has become its best year yet – recording a 32 per cent year-on-year increase to the end of May.

The manufacturer has recently said it is facing upcoming delays for its models thanks to supply issues, although it expects 7000 new cars to arrive on local shores in July.