In mid-February, Rajeev Chaba, the marketing director of MG India, confirmed that they will soon launch a new electric model “this year”.
Based on the available data, the identity of the new model will be a mid-size SUV with a masculine square design. This design style is becoming increasingly popular on SUVs nowadays, such as the Suzuki Jimny, Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, or the latest Hyundai Santa Fe.
MG electric car registered in India. Photo: RushLane
The design of the new car has been revealed through copyright registration images in India. Based on this design, the origin of the car model can be confirmed as the Baojun Yep – a pure electric SUV launched in China last year and recently announced a 5-door version in China in January. Baojun Yep is also expected to be released in Vietnam this year.
Why is there a connection between Baojun Yep and the new MG car? The answer comes from the fact that both of these brands are owned by SAIC Motor, one of the largest automotive groups in China. Both the Baojun Yep 3-door and Plus 5-door will be fully available for sale in China in March.
Reference design of the Baojun Yep Plus – the prototype for MG’s new SUV. Photo: HT Auto
The Baojun Yep/Yep Plus chassis is the same as the MG Comet EV with several accompanying specifications that are temporarily unknown. Known features of the car include a wheelbase of 2,560 mm (for the 5-door version, the 3-door version is shorter by 450 mm), a total length of 4,000 mm (the 3-door version is 3,400 mm), a height of 1,726 and a width of 1,760 mm.
The interior of the Baojun Yep Plus is not bad, with a minimalist center console leaving a gap between the two front seats and a pair of large screens placed side by side on the dashboard. Photo: Baojun
The Baojun Yep Plus has a range of 400 km, while the 3-door version has a smaller battery and can run for 300 km per charge. The car’s drivetrain will be a rear-mounted single electric motor with a power of about 100 horsepower.
This model will be a direct competitor to the VinFast VF 3. According to the schedule, VF 3 will be delivered to Vietnamese customers in the second half of this year.
