MG has launched its new plug-in hybrid version of the HS SUV, throwing a challenge to Mitsubishi in the process.
Management of the firm suggested the car was the best value plug-in hybrid in the market, a claim Mitsubishi, which has long found success in NZ with the Outlander PHEV, may have taken notice of.
The HS PHEV is retailing from April at $52,990. The Outlander is currently on offer at $500 less.
The MG throws a lot of specification in for the price. Features include a panoramic Stargazer sunroof, 360-degree camera, a 12.3” virtual instrument cluster, 10.1” colour touchscreen, and heated and electrically adjustable leather sports seats with Alcantara trim.
Included as standard is the MG Pilot, which includes driver aids such as adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, forward collision warning, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot detection.
“The MG HS Plug-In Hybrid is our first plug-in hybrid, our second new energy vehicle, and one that we’re delighted to bring to our New Zealand customers as part of our commitment to making new energy vehicles mainstream in New Zealand,” Peter Ciao, CEO, MG Motor New Zealand says.
The MG HS Plug-in Hybrid has a top speed of 190km/h and dynamic acceleration, which achieves 0-100km in 6.9 seconds. It features a liquid-cooled 16.6kWh lithium-ion battery, giving an estimated driving range of 52km from a single charge.
The onboard charger is a 3.4Kw hour unit giving a level 2 charge time of at best five hours. The Outlander offers DC charging, something the MG misses out on.
The MG HS Plug-In Hybrid’s total output of 209kW and 480Nm also runs through only the front wheels, something likely to make it a bit of a handful. The petrol motor component of the system is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit. Combined fuel use is 1.7L/100km combined cycle fuel consumption and 39g/km CO2 emissions.
Interestingly the vehicle has two transmissions, a six-speed for the petrol motor and a four-speed for the electric.
MG Motor is leading the charge in new energy vehicles, with a goal to make them mainstream and accessible for all. This aim is shared by parent company, SAIC Motor, who in 2020 saw new energy vehicles sales total 320,000 globally, a year-on-year increase of 73.4% . For new energy vehicles – that’s the second fastest growth rate in the world.
SAIC has invested heavily in electric as well as other new energy vehicle technologies, processes and battery production, making it one of only a handful of automotive manufacturers to own its EV supply chain.
