After the segment of small SUVs and compact electric cars, MG is also attacking the segment of small cars, which in the Czech Republic is dominated by Škoda Fabia. However, the new generation MG3 promises an interesting interior space for its class and technologies known from the brand’s more expensive models, and it should also have an interesting price tag.
When you first sit in the MG3, you will probably be struck by the flood of hard plastics that are in the door panels and the upper part of the dashboard. But then you look again and find out that the design of the cockpit is surprisingly modern. It has a similar layout to the electric MG4, in front of the driver there is a seven-inch screen for alarm clocks, complemented by a 10.25-inch display of the multimedia system, which, among other things, also includes navigation as standard.
However, not everything is left to the touch control, there are several physical buttons below the main display, among other things to control the volume of the audio system. The automatic transmission selector is round, similar to, say, the electric MG5. A classic lever, even if only smaller, would perhaps be a bit more pleasant.
With a length of 4113 millimeters and a wheelbase stretched to 2570 millimeters, the MG3 is similar in size to the current Škoda Fabia. In the back, there is surprisingly enough space in front of the knees and above the head – enough at least for the segment in which the Chinese five-door hatchback goes. Perhaps even a little luxurious, the ventilation outlets for the rear passengers, as well as the complete upholstery of the luggage compartment. By the way, it has 293 liters – rather average for the small car segment.
In the future, a classic combustion version should also come, but for now, the MG3 will offer a hybrid system in a combination of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor. In total, the car will have 143 kW and is the first ever from the Chinese brand to offer hybrid technology. It should go from 0 to 100 km/h in eight seconds, but more important is the declared consumption of 4.4 l/100 km.
The car can then drive purely on electricity up to 80 km/h if it has enough accumulated energy in the 1.83 kWh battery. Helping transfer power to the wheels is a three-speed automatic, which MG promises will eliminate the gas pedal lag known from some other CVT hybrids.
Safety assistants include lane keeping with a lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control, predictive frontal collision warning or lane assist. Sales of the car will start in the Czech Republic at the turn of May and June, and although more detailed specifications are still missing, there have already been reports of a competitive price with a hybrid, and even more so with a pure gasoline engine. Judging by other models of the brand, it is impossible not to believe it.
At the stand in Geneva, MG showed three more cars unknown in Europe until now. The elegant MG7 liftback with a length of almost 4.9 meters has a 192kW turbocharged two-liter petrol engine in its guts in combination with a nine-speed automatic.
Both the five-meter MG9 limousine and the MG S9 SUV have a fully electric drive. The limousine boasts an output of 400 kW and a range of up to 505 km, while the SUV has 250 kW and a range of 536 km. In both cases, it should be the values measured in the WLTP cycle.
With both electric cars, it is obvious at first glance that it was a little inspired by other brands. For example, the three screens in the interior obviously refer to the MBUX Hyperscreen that appears in Mercedes, the wheel controls on the steering wheel for a change carry a subtle reference to the American Tesla.
Everything indicates that these models should also appear on the European markets. When that will happen, however, the representatives of the brand who were contacted at the stand were not able to say.
2024-02-26 14:44:55
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