China's MG4 Will Enter UK With New Battery Technology

JAKARTA Euro NCAP officially tested MG4 on Chinese specifications, giving rise to a strong signal that the electric hatchback has the potential to be marketed in the UK. Like the MG4 model that has been sold in the UK, the Chinese variant also won the highest safety rating, five stars.

The result became a breath of fresh air for MG, after the unsatisfactory performance of the supermini MG3 in previous testing. Although MG4 in England is not as popular as in China, MG has launched its successor in the domestic market of the same size.

The model is priced from 73,800 yuan and is now preparing to face increasingly fierce competition in the British electric hatchback segment. In this market, a number of names such as Kia EV3, Skolda Elroq, to Cupra Born which will soon receive a refresher are present as strong rivals.

The Chinese version of the MG4 is built on a different platform than the MG4 circulating in the UK. The model is available in four variants with a range of up to 329 miles (530 km) based on CLTC testing.

However, the biggest innovation comes through compatibility with semi solid state batteries, as reported by Autoexpress, Friday, December 12. This type of battery is claimed to be smaller, lighter, energy-intensive, and more resistant to the risk of fire than the liquid batteries commonly used in today's EVs.

The technology opens great potential for MG's electric car lines in the future: more efficient packaging, lighter weights, faster charging times, and longer range. For testing for the Euro NCAP, the MG4 used still uses LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries that have been sold in China.

However, SAIC, the parent company MG, confirmed that their latest semi solid state battery has passed a three-way needle penetration test and is showing improved performance in low temperature conditions. The new model also carries battery integration to the body to increase structural stiffness and battery protection.

Although battery capacity and range details and charging capabilities have not been disclosed, patent documents show the Chinese version of MG4 uses a front wheel drive and weighs 1.485 kg lighter than the 1.635 kg in the UK version.

Facelift MG4 for the UK market is expected to arrive in early 2026. This means that the Chinese version of MG4 will not replace it, but has the potential to occupy a different position in the product line.

"To be honest, we're still considering whether we can find a way to integrate the other cars into the product life cycle," said MG chief product and planning David totaling.

One of the advantages of the platform (MG4 China) that uses front wheels is that the price is a little cheaper. Competition is getting tighter and more aggressive. Looking for ways to keep products at competitive prices is increasingly challenging as zero-emission vehicle targets increase," he explained.

In terms of appearance, the Chinese version of MG4 looks different from the British MG4 as well as from Indonesia. The design is softer and not as aggressive as the global variant, the nose is rounding, the air opening is minimal, the smaller splitter is body color, and the headlights are smaller. The MG chrome badge is maintained.

Although the weight is lighter, this car is 108 mm longer and slightly larger on other dimensions. After the MG stopped production of the MG5 estate last year, it is possible that this larger MG4 will adopt the name for the British market, especially since SAIC still holds its trademark.

If the Chinese version of MG4 is actually brought to the UK, it will co-exist with the MG4 facelift. Towards the age of three, MG4 is expected to adopt several features of the MGS5 EV, including a 12.8-inch mid-touch screen as well as a row of physical buttons for volume and AC settings, which consumers are increasingly needed.