MG ZS EV: 2,000 orders received; launch price offer extended again

The new, all-electric MG ZS EV has now secured 2,000 orders, the manufacturer has announced. All 2,000 of those customers secured a special launch price, with MG matching the £3,500 government plug-in car grant for a total saving of £7,000.

The manufacturer has now said this offer will be extended a second time, so a further 1,000 customers will benefit from discounted prices. Regular on-the-road prices for the two trims – Excite and Exclusive – are £28,995 and £30,495. These drop to £21,995 and £23,495 after the grant and discount have been deducted.

MG's Daniel Gregorious said: "Since the official launch of the ZS EV in July, MG dealerships across the country have reported unprecedented demand from customers eager to get behind the wheel. Our mission at MG is to make high-tech, zero-emissions cars available to all, and we are well on our way.”

Featuring a 44.5kWh battery, the MG ZS EV returns 163 miles of range from a single charge. A CCS charging port ensures that a 0-80% charge is possible in 40 minutes using a 50kW charger, while a full top up from a 7kW wallbox should take around six hours with a Type 2 cable.

The electric motor produces 141bhp and drives the front wheels, with 0-62mph taking 8.5 seconds. MG gives the top speed as 87mph, with a 0-31mph figure of 3.1 seconds. Inside, an eight-inch colour touchscreen with sat nav and DAB radio is standard, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity included, too. Bluetooth is available for wireless audio streaming.

Another standard feature is MG Pilot; a suite of driver-assistance systems designed to help prevent collisions on the road. This includes autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning and prevention, plus 360-degree radar.

Meanwhile, adaptive cruise control can react to vehicles ahead, with a traffic-jam assist system capable of following cars ahead from a complete stop up to 35mph. The Exclusive trim adds blind-spot monitoring and lane-changing assistance, as well as rear cross-traffic alert and door opening warning systems. It also gains a panoramic sunroof, increasing the amount of light entering the car.

With leather-style seats, MG boasts that the ZS EV “majors on interior space”, with a flat floor boosting leg room. The split-level boot measures 448 litres – over 90 litres more than can be found in the Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke or Ford EcoSport. Customers get four exterior colours to choose from, with both trims riding on aerodynamic 17-inch alloy wheels designed to maximize range. The charging port can be found under the front grille.

While sales start properly at the beginning of September, MG has been taking expressions of interest since the end of June, with the taking deposits of since July £500. The ZS EV comes with a seven-year warranty – capped at 80,000 miles – that covers both the car and battery. Although starting prices are set to rise to £24,995 after the first 1,000 sales, the ZS EV still undercuts key rivals like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro

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“We're taking a different approach on it to some, so whereas in the past you'd have chosen between petrol and diesel, now you'll choose between petrol and electric," explained Daniel Gregorious, MG’s UK head of sales and marketing, earlier this year. So it'll be in the higher couple of trim levels in the ZS range [Excite and Exclusive]. With ZS EV, we've got a car that's really practical. It doesn't lose any space in the interior or in the boot, because of where the batteries are installed. It fits five, with room for luggage."

MG believes it is well placed to avoid the supply problems that have held up deliveries of the Kona Electric and e-Niro, with customers of those waiting until the end of 2019 at the earliest for the next allocation of cars. "We have good supply, too," said Gregorious. "We have a real advantage there with our parent company [SAIC]. MG and Roewe sold 140,000 EVs in China alone last year, so the manufacturing infrastructure is really there. We get the benefit of that capacity."

MG is already gearing up for electric vehicle sales, Gregorious confirmed. "We've been talking to our dealerships already and spent much of the past five months working with them not only on the sales side of EVs but also the aftersales – servicing. From the network side, they've been investing in MG-branded charging points at dealerships."

The company has confirmed that each of its 92 UK dealerships will eventually be fitted with at least two charging points; a 7kW wallbox in its workshops with a faster 22kW charger outside. Those driving electric cars made by other brands will also be welcome to use the chargers, in order to "support the wider uptake of these environmentally friendly vehicles," said MG's network development manager, Mark Hallam.

Also on the way from MG is a replacement for the larger GS SUV, which will be offered in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form from 2020. In addition, a production version of the sporty 'e-motion' concept car seen at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show could join the range in the UK from 2021.