The MG Marvel R will come to Australia in 2023, MG Australia CEO Peter Ciao said during an online media event on Wednesday, but added that this pencilled-in launch date may be forced to change if supply chain issues continue.
First unveiled in March alongside the MG5 electric wagon, the Marvel R is currently only available in a first-generation left-hand-drive format, but the SAIC-owned carmaker says the second-generation will also be made in a right-hand drive format.
Excitingly, MG describes the all-electric C-segment SUV as a “charger on wheels”, because it has vehicle-to-load capacity that we have seen Hyundai and Kia introduce in the Ioniq 5 and EV6.
Along with its V2L capacity, the addition of the 4.674mm-long Marvel R will no doubt be welcomed for its powerful tri-motor configuration that outputs 212kW power and maximum torque of 665Nm.
Acceleration from a standing start to 100km/h can be accomplished in 4.9 seconds, and with a top speed of 200km/h it can sprint to 50km/h in 1.8 seconds.
In Europe, it has been rated with a 750kg tow capacity, and it is also available there with a single-motor setup on the rear axle.
Sadly, though, the launch of the combustion MG5 in Q4 2021 will not be accompanied by an electric version, a spokesperson for MG Australia confirmed to The Driven.
The MG5 is an all-electric wagon that is already available in the UK, another right-hand-drive market, and promises to offer a family-friendly option for Australian EV drivers.
Available in its long-range variant in the UK, it offers up to 403km driving range according to the WLTP combined city and country driving efficiency test. In the city it excels, offering as much as 539km before needing another charge in stop-start traffic – noting this is also according to WLTP lab tests and may be less under real-world conditions.
The MG5 – which was in October named best value business car in the UK – is also available in a standard-range version in some markets with 345km combined WLTP range.
Ciao did not divulge which variants would be available locally, but with the news that MG will donate 1,000 electric vehicle chargers to hotels and motels in regional and rural areas, it makes sense that the long-range MG5 would at the very least be launched locally, if and when it makes it here.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.