Not a superhero, but a dude: MG Marvel R Electric enters the European market

The British brand MG, owned by the Chinese automaker SAIC, is expanding its presence in Europe, where this week the world premiere of the updated compact electric crossover ZS EV took place – we devoted a separate note to it. Together with the MG ZS EV, the larger and more expensive MG Marvel R Electric crossover will go on sale later this month – it was announced back in March of this year, but only now detailed specifications and a price list have been published.

SAIC bought MG in 2005 as a result of the collapse of MG Rover Group, after which the brand switched from the production of sports cars to consumer cars and crossovers designed in China. Until 2019, the brand was represented in Europe only in its historical homeland – in the UK, but with the advent of modern electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in the model line, it began to attack the mainland. In October 2019, the MG Motor Europe division was created, the formation of a dealer network began, and a full-fledged press service was launched. Now the brand is represented in 16 countries, the number of dealers will reach 400 by the end of this year.

MG's first in continental Europe were the ZS EV and EH crossovers, both of which managed to earn a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, albeit with some caveats, and two new electric models were announced this spring – the MG Marvel R Electric crossover and the MG 5 Electric station wagon..

Marvel R Electric was supposed to go on sale in May, but for unspecified reasons (perhaps due to a global shortage of microchips), the launch of the market was postponed to October, and the launch of the barn, which was supposed to take place in October, was postponed to the first quarter of 2022, and its characteristics have already been changed, but about them somehow later, when all the details appear.

As for the Marvel R Electric, everything is already known about it. The crossover, the first part of the name of which is identical to the name of Marvel Corporation, which produces entertaining content about superheroes, is a turned Roewe Marvel X (the Roewe brand, which parodies the sunken Rover, is also owned by SAIC), that is, we are talking about a car known in China since 2018.

Last year, Roewe Marvel X went through a restyling and became known as Marvel R – in this form, under the MG brand, it arrived in Europe. The overall length of the crossover is 4674 mm, the wheelbase is 2804 mm. A battery with a capacity of 70 kWh with a liquid thermoregulation system is installed within the wheelbase. Front suspension – McPherson type, rear – independent, multi-link.

MG Marvel R Electric will be offered to Europeans in two versions. The rear-wheel drive is equipped with two electric motors (total output – 180 hp and 410 Nm) and can travel 402 km on a single charge in the WLTP cycle. Up to 100 km / h, such a crossover accelerates in 7.9 s, the maximum speed is 200 km / h. Curb weight – 1810 kg. The price is from 39,990 euros.

The all-wheel drive version with the Performance prefix has a third electric motor on the front axle and has a total output of 288 hp. and 665 Nm. The three-engine crossover picks up the first “hundred” in 4.9 seconds, the maximum speed is 200 km / h (electronically limited). The power reserve on one charge is 370 km. Curb weight – 1920 kg. The price is from 47,990 euros.

Both versions are capable of pulling a trailer weighing up to 750 kg and have a main trunk with a volume of 357 liters (1396 liters with the rear seat folded down). The rear-wheel drive crossover has an additional front trunk with a volume of 150 liters.

The maximum battery charging power is 92 kW, it can be recharged from 5 to 80% in 43 minutes. The ability to charge other electrical equipment from MG Marvel R Electric is especially emphasized – laptops, electric scooters and even electric cars, but the output power is limited to 2.5 kW.

The interior looks very solid: the base includes a multimedia system with a giant 19.4-inch touch screen, a virtual 12.3-inch instrument panel, leather trim, wireless charging for smartphones, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof and a generous set of electronic driver assistants (14 systems, including adaptive cruise control and driver fatigue monitoring).

Does MG Marvel R Electric stand a chance of success? In our opinion, they are small, since the price tag is too big and Europeans, all other things being equal, will choose an electric crossover from a “home” brand, for example, Skoda Enyaq iV, similar in size and characteristics, which now costs in Germany from 33,800 to 47,000 euros, depending on modifications. However, MG has richer basic equipment and will surely find its niche in the still unsaturated electric car market.

Meanwhile, in the near future, sports cars will return to the MG product line: in April, the brand introduced the Cyberster concept electric roadster, and in May it announced that it was starting to develop a production version.