Now here’s something new from MG that looks good, if a little generic, and moves the brand away from its Mazda-style face. The MG Marvel R Electric is described as a “high-tech, luxurious ‘lifestyle’ SUV for the C-segment” and the electric SUV’s European market launch is scheduled for May 2021.
The Marvel R is a second-generation EV for
MG, and uses the new “Evolution Design” language. The C-segment SUV is 4,674 mm
long, 1,919 mm wide and 1,618 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,800 mm.
The Marvel R’s dashboard is dominated by screens. The unmissable
one is a 19.4-inch portrait touchscreen that controls everything except for
“gear selection”, which is made via a rotary dial just below the screen.
There’s Apple Carplay and Android Auto plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument
panel.
Under the hood is an all-wheel drive
system with three electric motors: one on the front axle and two at the back.
Combined, the maximum output is 288 PS and peak torque of 665 Nm. MG
says that 0-50 km/h is done in just 1.8 seconds and the full 0-100 km/h sprint
in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is capped at 200 km/h. There will also be a
rear-wheel drive variant with two rear electric motors.
MG is claiming a range of over 400 km in
the WLTP cycle. Refilling at a public charging point (AC) can be done via an 11
kW on-board three-phase charger. DC fast-charging fills the battery up to 80%
in just 30 minutes. The climate control with an internal heat pump “guarantees
optimal charging performance at low temperatures” – an important promise in
Europe, where the winters are getting colder these days.
Another notable feature of the Marvel R is
the V2L system (vehicle-to-load), which allows the lithium-ion battery to
supply 2,500W of power to an external electrical system – this can be an air
pump, electric scooter, a laptop or even another electric car. MG says that
this tech is an important innovation for clean energy transition and last-mile
solution.
The luggage compartment has a volume of
357 litres, which can be increased to 1,396 litres with the rear seats folded.
The RWD version of the Marvel R offers a further 150 litres of space under the
hood a.k.a. frunk, as it doesn’t have a front motor. This being Europe, MG has
to mention that the maximum towing weight is 750 kg, and the Marvel X can
indeed tow a trailer or caravan, or two e-bikes on a special bicycle carrier.
The MG Pilot suite of driver assist systems will be available.
