This new British electric hatch has the potential to knock the competition out cold if MG plays its cards right
by Sidd Dhimaan, onMG isn’t exactly one of the top desired brands in the market currently and neither does it move cars in huge volumes. However, it plans to change that with the launch of the Supermini – a compact electric hatchback that could bring in big numbers for the brand. It will go up against the likes of Renault Zoe, Honda E, and the Mini Cooper SE.
The Supermini will essentially serve as the electric version of the MG3. It won’t serve as a replacement for the same, but an offering that’s similar to an existing model will only add credibility to the Supermini. Even though the battery-electric vehicles have come a long way in the last few years, people still have a lot of inhibitions about them, mainly because of range anxiety. But, as an urban commuter where you won’t be doing three-digit miles daily in most cases, offering a cost-effective, compact electric hatchback is a smart move from MG.
The MG Supermini is expected to be launched by the end of this year. While there aren’t a lot of details revealed yet, Autocar notes that it could borrow battery and powertrain technology from the other U.K.-spec EVs. In all likelihood, you can expect it to feature downsized options of the ZS EV. For instance, it will have a battery smaller than 44.5 kWh and a power output of fewer than 141 horses. If you compare it to the Honda e, it is expected to make 143- and 152 horses in its iterations, whereas the Mini Cooper SE makes 170 ponies.
As for the range, around 150 miles on a full charge should be decent.
The Honda e has a 35.5 kWh battery pack, which is good for around 138 miles. The Mini Cooper SE, on the other hand, is powered by a 42-kWh battery pack that can drive 153 miles on a single charge, whereas the tiny Fiat 500e offers 84 miles on a full charge. So, if MG can come up with official ratings of 150+ miles, it will be pretty impressive.
In the U.K., the MG ZS EV starts at £25,500, which is roughly around $34,650 as per the current exchange rates. Since the Supermini will be slot below this, expect it to start around £20,000, which is around $27,000.
Source: Autocar
