MG unveils electric tri-motor Marvel R and MG5 wagon

The now Chinese-owned MG brand has released two more electric vehicles in Europe: the Marvel R Electric SUV with three motors and the MG5 Electric, the first all-electric station wagon on the market.

The MG brand is known by classic car fans for its small British roadsters, but the now Chinese-owned company is now becoming a name in affordable electric cars.

Its MG ZS EV, with 263 kilometres driving range, became available in Australia in late 2020 for just below $44,000 (drive way), and hit the EV market with a splash.

The two new electric cars that MG plans to bring to Europe in 2021 are not yet confirmed for Australia but they promise to offer more range and more space.

The new MG Marvel R Electric is a luxurious high-tech lifestyle SUV for the C segment and the new MG5 Electric is billed as the world’s first fully-electric station wagon, according to the manufacturer (VW has an all-electric wagon in the works but is planned for China not Europe).

The Marvel R Electric by comparison, at 4,674 mm long, 1,919 mm wide and 1,618 mm high with a wheelbase that measures 2,800 mm has roughly the format of VW’s ID.4 SUV.

With sleek lines that position it well with the SUV segment, the MG Marvel R Electric also offers a spacious and high-quality interior with a 19.4-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital dashboard.

With a driving range of over 400 kilometres (WLTP), it also sits higher than its short-range MG ZS EV stablemate. It can charge on an AC charger at up to 11kW and on a DC charger should be able to charge up to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. The integrated heat pump ensures optimum charging performance, even at low temperatures.

Joining the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the MG Marvel R Electric has a V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) power system. This technology enables the lithium-ion battery to transfer energy to external electrical devices, such as an air pump, electric scooter, laptop, or even another electric vehicle. This technology is considered an important innovation for energy transition and last-mile solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes.

Interestingly, the Marvel R’s drive technology uses an advanced all-wheel-drive system with up to three electric motors: one on the front axle and two on the rear axle that give the vehicle a maximum power output of 212 kW (288 hp) with a peak torque of 665Nm.

This equates to acceleration from 0-50km/hr in just 1.8 seconds and from 0-100km/hr in just 4.9 seconds, with a maximum speed of 200 km/hr. The Marvel R Electric is also offered in a rear-wheel-drive configuration with two electric motors.

The maximum trailer load of the MG Marvel R Electric is 750 kg. The vehicle is therefore suitable for transporting a trailer or caravan, as well as for carrying two e-bikes on a special bike rack.

The trunk has a volume of 357 litres. With the rear bench seat folded down, this can be increased to 1,396 litres. The RWD version of the Marvel R Electric offers an additional 150 litres of luggage space under the hood, the so-called “frunk”.

In addition, as with the MG ZS EV and MG EHS plug-in hybrid, customers can rely on a large number of active safety systems, the MG Pilot.

The MG5 Electric, with an electric motor that delivers 135 kW (184 hp) and 280 Nm of torque, will no doubt appeal more practical drivers due to the functional character of the station wagon.

With a generous trunk volume of 578 litres that can be expanded to a maximum of 1,456 litres with the rear seats folded, the MG5 Electric has a lot of usable space.

With a length of 4,544 mm, a width of 1,811 mm and a height of 1,513 mm, the electric estate car also offers plenty of space for the family in the interior.

With the powerful lithium-ion battery, which is mounted between the front and rear axles (wheelbase 2,665 mm), the MG5 Electric offers a range of more than 400 kilometres (WLTP).

The charging technology corresponds to that of the Marvel R Electric, including 11 kW rate on an AC charger and fast charging to up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

The MG5 Electric offers a maximum trailer load of 500 kg, a maximum drawbar load of 50 kg and a roof load of 75 kg.