√New MG 3, ZS and HS due before 2025, petrol power likely

Growing Chinese car maker MG is slated to launch new versions of its entire model range by 2025, a new report claims – including a new MG 3, possibly with hybrid power.

Chinese brand MG’s entire showroom line-up may be revamped by the end of 2024, overseas reports suggest – including a new MG 3 city hatch, ZS small SUV and HS medium SUV, possibly powered by petrol.

UK publication Autocar reports new-generation versions of all MG models in the UK – except the recently-launched MG 4 electric hatch – are due before the end of 2024, as part of plans to sell 50,000 cars per year in the UK and Australia.

That includes a new MG 3 city hatch – which Autocar says is expected to eschew electric power for a petrol engine, possibly aided by a hybrid system, to retain its low entry price.

“Developing a small electric car is only marginally cheaper than developing a bigger car. Then half the price is battery so it becomes a £25,000 ($AU44,000) car which is unaffordable,” MG Motor UK commercial director Guy Pigounakis told Autocar.

While the next MG 3 would use petrol-based power to keep prices down, it remains to be seen if it is as affordable as the current model – launched in China 11 years ago – priced from £13,295 ($AU24,000) in the UK, or $18,990 drive-away in Australia.

If MG wants to avoid a “blackout” between stock of old and new models, the next MG 3 will need to be on sale in Europe by July 2024, when autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assist systems – which the current MG 3 lacks – are mandated there.

In Australia, AEB will become mandatory for all new passenger cars from March 2025 – irrespective of when they went on sale – giving the current MG 3 about two years left to run locally.

In a separate story, Autocar reports MG UK plans to launch new-generation versions of all of its models by the end of 2024 – excluding the just-launched MG 4 – spanning the MG 3, ZS small SUV, HS medium SUV, and MG 5 electric wagon, plus launch the upcoming Cyberster electric roadster.

It aligns with a report from UK magazine Auto Express suggesting a new-generation MG 3 is due next year, a facelifted HS in 2024, and a new electric-only ZS at some point after 2024.

However, Auto Express claims MG plans to go electric-only in the UK by 2027 – which is not referenced in the Autocar report.

MG’s financial reports indicate it is targeting annual sales of 50,000 vehicles in Australia, New Zealand, and other global markets – which Autocar says includes the UK.

In line with the Auto Express report, Autocar claims the range will be joined by the next generation of the MG Marvel R – a more luxurious electric SUV sized similarly to the HS, based on a model sold by MG’s parent company in China.

The current-generation model is not built in right-hand drive – but the UK outlets say this will change for the next-generation version. Autocar reports it may be underpinned by the MG 4’s dedicated electric-car platform.

Meanwhile, Autocar speculates the 2024 HS replacement is “likely” to be based on China and Thailand’s mid-size MG One. It remains to be seen if this eventuates, or if the facelifted HS – branded ‘Pilot’ in China – offered overseas is introduced instead, as Auto Express reports.

A new MG ZS small SUV is also on the horizon, Autocar reports – however it’s unclear if it would be electric-only, as Auto Express suggests, or offer a choice of petrol or electric power.

Also due in 2024, according to Autocar, is a new version of Europe’s MG 5 small electric wagon, which may migrate to the MG 4’s electric architecture. This is unrelated to the MG 5 small sedan coming to Australia next year.

Other new MG models in development include the production version of the Cyberster roadster concept – due for reveal next year, ahead of European showroom arrivals in 2024 – plus a dual-motor 330kW version of the new MG 4 electric hatchback.

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