Automotive News Europe — 2024-02-26
Automotive Industry
The China-built hatchback gets a new hybrid drivetrain, extra tech.
Chinese brand MG Motor will challenge Toyota and Renault in the budget electrified small car market with the new hybrid-powered MG3.
The MG3 hybrid replaces a gasoline model that is currently only sold in the UK MG says the new version will be sold across its European markets, strengthening its offering at the budget end.
The MG3 hybrid was unveiled at the Geneva auto show on Monday.
The small hatchback debuts a full hybrid drivetrain that the SAIC-owned company says outpowers rival systems from Toyota and Renault.
The MG system uses a 75-kilowatt electric motor compared to 59 kW used on Toyota's full hybrid models.
The extra power will allow the MG3 to accelerate to 80 kph (50 mph) on electric power alone, according to the company.
The car can run in electric-only mode using power supplied by a generator linked to the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, or it can switch to a parallel system that sends drive from both the electric motor and combustion engine to the wheels.
The MG3's combined power output is 192 hp. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 8 seconds, MG said. Drive goes through a three-speed gearbox that MG said is more responsive than the CVT systems favored by Toyota.
The hybrid drivetrain helps to cut the MG3's CO2 emissions to 100 grams per km, MG said.
The current MG3 is rated at 147g/km. The Renault Clio E-Tech is rated from 95 g/km and the Toyota Yaris hybrid from 91g/km.
Updated tech
The MG3 hybrid gets updated technology including twin digital screens, with the larger central touchscreen measuring 10.25 inches. It has sat nav as standard, along with MG's iSmart connectivity package that includes a smartphone app.
Rear parking sensors and a rear camera also available, along with keyless engine and wider angle 360-degree camera on higher trim levels.
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) badged MG Pilot include lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and traffic jam assist.
The MG3 hybrid is 55 mm longer than the current model at 4113 mm and 68 mm wider at 1797 mm, not including mirrors.
MG says the car retains the ‘fun-to-drive ethos' of past sporty MGs while increasing comfort levels.
MG's European sales doubled to 231,664 vehicles last year, according to market researchers Dataforce. Sales were driven by the MG4 battery-electric compact car, as well as the ZS small SUV and HS compact SUV.
Hybrid sales flat
Europe's market for full hybrid cars stalled last year, with overall sales up just 1.8 percent to 200,287 as demand for the dominant Toyota Yaris fell slightly to 127,947. Renault was second with the Clio E-tech, while Honda was third with the Jazz.
MG3 has not disclosed prices for the new MG3. The current model was launched in 2013 and remains one of the UK's cheapest cars starting at 14,320 £ ($18,000).
However, the price is expected to rise given the increase in new model's technology. The Yaris hybrid starts at 22,630 £in the UK, while the Clio E-tech costs from 21,295 £.