The MG ZS EV will retain its status as New Zealand’s cheapest Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) when the longer-range facelift model arrives in July.
MG NZ has confirmed that a new entry-level ZS EV called Excite will still give $10 change from $50k (meaning a “real world” price of $41,365 after the Government Clean Car Discount for BEVs), despite a move up to a 51kWh battery and 320km range. The outgoing model offers 45kWh/260km.
The electric motor has also been upgraded, from 105kW to 130kW for the new model.
The Excite still offers the MG Pilot suite of active driver assists, LED headlights and a 360-degree camera system.
However, there will also be a higher-specification Essence model at $52,990, adding blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, the Stargazer panoramic roof, upgraded audio, faux-leather upholstery, power driver-seat adjustment and front-seat heating, and wireless phone charging. This model is closer to the specification of the outgoing ZS EV.
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What won’t be available for the NZ market at launch is the longer-range battery announced overseas, which ups capacity to 72kWh and range to 440km.
The most obvious visual change is the new “grille-less” front, which showcases the 21-modue LED headlights (there are also nine-module LEDs at the back); the charging port has remained in its front position, behind the MG badge.
Inside, there’s also a new “floating” 10.1-inch infotainment screen. Both models feature the virtual instrument cluster as standard.