Leaked images show new MG4 SUV to replace ZS EV

A new electric SUV based on the MG4 is on the way and images published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have shown it well before its planned reveal next year.

The current MG ZS EV won’t be directly replaced as the next MG ZS won’t have an electric version. Instead, this new SUV based on MG4 technology will be the EV’s successor and will use a different, as yet undisclosed, name.

Slim headlights and a blanked-off front section give the new SUV a family resemblance to the excellent MG4 hatchback, but the SUV model will come with plastic cladding and roof rails, along with a raised ride height, to give it the popular SUV look.

A large chrome MG badge on the nose means it’s clear this is an MG, but the name of the car isn’t confirmed yet. The badge on the rear seems to say BS or 8S, but the car could easily be renamed for the UK market. MG’s UK product boss David Allison told us that the new model will not be called the ZS EV, but didn’t confirm the real name.

A full-width light bar with Y-shaped tail-lights continues the MG4 styling themes, and the images even show a selection of alloy wheel designs that should be available on the new car.

Technical information was leaked alongside the images, so we know that the car will be 4,476mm long with a wheelbase of 2,730mm. That’s 162mm and 149mm longer respectively than the current ZS EV. It’s also 1,849mm wide and 1,621mm tall, so it’s wider and lower than the ZS as well.

The new electric SUV uses the MG4’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) so it’s likely to use the same electric motors and batteries. This means there will be four-wheel drive versions, performance options and a range of around 300 miles in the top versions.