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The MG 4 XPower electric hot hatch from China promises Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon V8-like power – and Tesla-like acceleration – for less than $60,000 before on-road costs.
- 2024 MG 4 XPower pricing and specifications
- Electric hot hatch claims 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds
- Dual-motor all-wheel drive, stiffer suspension, uprated brakes
- Priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs
The 2024 MG 4 XPower – a Chinese electric hot hatch with more power and quicker acceleration than a Porsche 911 Carrera – will be priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs when it arrives in showrooms later this year.
The XPower is the high-performance version of the new MG 4 electric car, and takes the title of Australia’s most powerful small hatchback with 320kW and 600Nm from dual electric motors.
It is capable of a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds – quicker than a $280,000 Porsche 911 Carrera, and a match for Australia’s most powerful hot hatch to date, the turbo-petrol $90,000 Audi RS3.
The $59,990 before on-road costs – or about $65,000 drive-away – price tag is lower than anticipated; MG executives previously indicated a price between $60,000 and $70,000 plus on-road costs.
It is the first time in five years Australians have been able to purchase a new car with more than 300kW for less than $60,000 before on-road costs, since a price rise for the Ford Mustang GT V8 in 2018, and the death of the V8 Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon in 2017 and 2016.
The MG 4 XPower – which revives a performance badge applied to British-made MGs two decades ago – undercuts the Toyota GR Corolla ($64,190) and Volkswagen Golf R ($68,990) all-wheel-drive petrol hot hatches, which are one to 1.5 seconds slower to 100km/h than the MG 4.
Dual electric motors in the XPower are fed by a 64kWh battery pack from middle-of-the-range MG 4 variants, good for 385km of claimed driving range in European WLTP testing, down from 435km in an equivalent rear-wheel-drive model.
Technical changes compared to regular MG 4 models include 25 per cent stiffer suspension – with retuned spring and dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars and revised steering – plus advanced torque-vectoring software, an electronic differential lock, launch control, and a Track mode.
The brakes have been upgraded to 345mm ventilated discs on all four wheels – up from ventilated 300x25mm front and solid 300x12mm discs on the standard car – with orange calipers.
The 18-inch wheel design is unique to the MG 4 XPower, but it is wrapped in the same Bridgestone Turanza tyres as the regular Essence model – rather than Bridgestone’s ‘Potenza’ range of high-performance tyres.
Design changes include the aforementioned wheels and brake calipers, plus silver body decals, the exclusive option of Hunter Green paint, and synthetic leather-look and Alcantara seat upholstery inside (trimmed around the same seats as the standard car).
The 2024 MG 4 XPower is due in Australian showrooms before the end of this year. Registrations of interest open tomorrow, October 6.
2024 MG 4 Australian pricing
- MG 4 Excite 51 – $38,990
- MG 4 Excite 64 – $44,990
- MG 4 Essence 64 – $47,990
- MG 4 Long Range 77 – $55,990
- MG 4 XPower 64 – $59,990 (new)
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
2024 MG 4 XPower adds (over Essence 64):
- Dual-motor all-wheel drive
- Unique 18-inch alloy wheels
- 345mm brake discs with orange calipers
- Silver body decals
- Synthetic leather-look and Alcantara seat upholstery
- Stiffer suspension
- New torque-vectoring software with electronic differential lock
- Launch control
- Track drive mode
- Race-track lap timer
2024 MG 4 XPower features shared with Essence 64:
- Bridgestone Turanza tyres
- LED headlights and tail-lights
- 10.25-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, FM/DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation and voice control
- 7.0-inch digital instrument display
- Rear-view and 360-degree cameras
- Rear parking sensors
- Wireless phone charging
- Six-speaker sound system
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated front seats and steering wheel
- Six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Single-zone automatic climate-control air conditioning
- Keyless (proximity) entry and start
- Power-folding exterior mirrors with heating
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Black contrast roof
- Twin rear spoilers
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane departure warning
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver attention alert
- Auto high beam
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Door exit warning
- Full MG iSmart app connectivity
- Six airbags
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
Read more about Alex Misoyannis
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