During its year-end festivities, MG Philippines revealed that they will be launching no less than eight vehicles in 2024. At the time, they revealed what three of them were: the MG Cyberster, the MG One, and the MG 4 XPower. Now, thanks to a leak from, of all places, the Land Transportation Office, we now know what the fifth one is: the MG ZS EV.
One of the models promised by MG’s former distributor, The Covenant Car Company, Inc., in 2020, the battery electric crossover is now confirmed for the market thanks to a set of certification documents from the LTO.
The most interesting bit surrounds the battery. Now, the LTO might have made a mistake with its battery construction as the official listing says the ZS EV will use a nickel cadmium battery. Anywhere in the world, this spec isn’t available. Instead, it should have probably read, “[Lithium] Nickel Manganese Cobalt” or NMC. (Update: in a memo dated February 12, or about a week AFTER we published this story, MG Philippines sent out a correction to the LTO. They have since corrected the battery as NMC.)
If this is the case, that means the Philippines will get the Long-Range version—something one can correlate with three other things: the quoted range (440 kilometers), the maximum output (130 kW or 177 horsepower), and the curb weight (1,620 kilograms). This will give the MG ZS EV the ability to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds and to a top speed of 175 km/h.
Based on its positioning elsewhere in the world, MG will likely put the MG ZS EV as their entry-level EV, potentially undercutting the likes of the BYD Atto 3—its main competitor. As for its launch timing, it’s very likely that MG Philippines will show off the MG ZS at the upcoming Manila International Auto Show in April.
The MG ZS EV is based on the current ZS crossover and was launched globally in 2019. It received its first major refresh in 2021, receiving the new battery technology as well as styling that matches the ZS T.
Check out the full specs of the MG ZS EV (according to the LTO) below:
- Make: Morris Garages
- Series: ZS EV
- Body Type: Wagon
- Fuel Type: Electric
- Battery: Nickel Cadmium* (corrected by MG and LTO as Nickel Manganese Cobalt or NMC)**
- Charging Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour (DC); 6 to 8 hours (AC)
- Maximum Speed: 175 km/h
- Maximum Power: 130 kW
- Seating: 5
- Overall Length: 432.3 cm
- Overall Height: 164.9 cm
- Overall Width: 180.9 cm
- Overhang: 90 cm
- Wheelbase: 258.5 cm
- Ground Clearance: 16.4 cm
- Empty Weight: 1,620 kg
- Net Capacity: 450 kg
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 2,070 kg
- Tire Size (Front & Rear): 215/55 R 17
* Editor’s Note: we think this should refer to Nickel Manganese Cobalt or NMC.
** Correction issued on February 12.
Good to see it'll still be sold to the Philippine market
ReplyDeleteMG ZS EV is likely 100,000 Pesos or more expensive than the high end MG4 EV
Excited for the ZS EV and Cyberster
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