The all-new model replaces the HS SUV and is already on sale in China as the Roewe Marvel R.
What’re the stats?
The Marvel R Electric will go on sale in mainland Europe later this month with a choice between rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models, three trims and a solitary 70kWh battery. The three trims are Comfort, Luxury and Performance and the first two of these come with the rear-wheel-drive setup and a pair of electric motors that combine to provide a total output of 178bhp and 410Nm of torque. The range is a handy but no-longer headline-grabbing 402km (250 miles) for the rear-wheel drive version. The 0-62mph time is 7.9 seconds
If you step up to the Performance trim then you get an extra electric motor on the front axle, which brings about permanent all-wheel drive. On the one hand you get a boost in power to 284bhp and a hefty 665Nm of torque, but the payoff is a slightly reduced range of 370km (230 miles.) More excitingly, it gets from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph.
The battery has an 11kW 3-phase charger for AC charging and is geared up for fast charging, which means that you can get from 5-80% in just 43 minutes.
And the interior?
Inside, the most striking feature is the 19.4-inch portrait-style touchscreen that has all the usual Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. It also has MG’s new iSMART connectivity system which allows you to control various things remotely and enables a host of over-the-air updates.
A new partnership between MG and Google means that you should be able to do things like get real-time traffic information, search for parking spaces, get the weather forecast and stream music directly to the system. You will be able to say ‘Hi MG’ and get the car to do various things while on the move, too, like open the sunroof.
Other clever features include a V2L (vehicle-to-load) system that allows you to use the battery to charge a smaller electrical gadget – an electric scooter, air pump or a laptop. You can even use it to top up another BEV, says MG – the equivalent of jump starting an electric vehicle in a way.
The loading space isn’t a class beater either, but is decent enough with a luggage capacity of 357 litres with the seats up and 1,396 litres with them dropped down. There is also an extra 150 litres in the front ‘frunk’ in the rear-wheel drive model.
Stop being a tease. Can I buy one?
All this is relatively academic for now, though, as the Marvel R Electric is still not confirmed for the UK’s right-hand-drive market. MG hasn’t ruled it out, with European CEO Matt Lei acknowledging the demand for electrified SUVs. He said: ‘We are still working on something and trying to bring something for the UK market.’