This is the next-generation MG 4… or is it an MG 3 EV, or an MG E5?
Car News China has shared these images from a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filing. These filings are one of the last steps a carmaker has to take before their vehicle can go on sale in the Chinese market.
Unusually, MG has registered the MG 4, MG 3 EV and MG E5 nameplates for this vehicle, though it appears more likely to be a replacement for the current MG 4.
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As Car News China reports, the MG 4 started off strong in China in 2022, but its sales quickly dropped off. That’s in stark contrast with its popularity in markets like Australia and Europe.
The new MG 4 measures 4395mm long, 1842mm wide and 1551mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase.
That makes it 108mm longer, 6mm wider and up to 47mm taller than the current MG 4, and even its wheelbase has been stretched by 45mm.
There’s new sheetmetal, with redesigned front and rear ends and, due to the wheelbase stretch, new doors and a revised greenhouse.
There’s still an aggressive front bumper inspired by that of the Cyberster, but the tail lights now also resemble those of MG’s flagship roadster with arrow-shaped internals. These are connected by a light bar spanning the tailgate.
But in some aspects, the design has been toned down a bit – the side detailing is a bit softer, the headlights less aggressively angled. It’s also finished in a very demure shade of purple.
Technical specifications in the filing are reportedly limited, though a single electric powertrain with 120kW is listed along with a kerb weight of 1485kg. It uses a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery of an unspecified capacity.
That’s in contrast with the current MG 4, which produces 125kW in its least powerful tune and weighs 1635kg despite being smaller.
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Current MG 4
It’s unclear whether MG will do as many Chinese brands have done over the years – itself included – and offer this new hatchback alongside the existing MG 4.
It has done this in Australia before, with the previous generation ZS being sold alongside the ZST which was a facelifted version with more technology.
Sales may have dropped off in China but in Australia the MG 4 has gone from strength to strength.
Last year, MG sold 6934 examples of the electric hatch, up 121.3 per cent on the previous year – though it’s worth noting it wasn’t on sale for the full 2023 calendar year.
Nevertheless, it was Australia’s third best-selling EV in 2024, behind only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
MG sold more than three times as many MG 4s as BYD did of its rival Dolphin.
The MG 4 is currently offered here with a choice of three single-motor rear-wheel drive powertrains with outputs of 125kW/250Nm, 150kW/250Nm, and 180kW/350Nm respectively.
The XPower has a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with outputs of 320kW and 600Nm.
The MG 4 is offered with a choice of 51kWh, 64kWh and 77kWh batteries.
MORE: Everything MG 4
