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2021 MG Marvel R Electric mid-size SUV unveiled for Europe, on wish list for Australia

The 2021 MG Marvel R Electric has been unveiled, as the brand's entry into the electric mid-size SUV segment in Europe – though an Australian launch has yet to be locked in.


Powering flagship versions of the Marvel R Electric is a trio of electric motors – one up front and two at the rear, a first for an MG electric vehicle (EV) – combining for estimated power and torque outputs of 212kW and 665Nm.

MG claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds, making the plug-in mid-sizer one of the fastest-accelerating vehicles in the marque's history. A top speed of 200km/h is claimed.

Energy is drawn from a lithium-ion battery of unknown capacity, enabling a maximum driving range on Europe's WLTP test cycle of "over" 400km.

Plug the Marvel R Electric into a compatible high-speed DC fast charger and you'll be able to recharge the battery from zero to 80 per cent in 30 minutes – on par with its segment peers, from the Volkswagen ID.4 to the Nissan Ariya. Eleven kilowatt AC charging is also available.

Cheaper, rear-wheel-drive variants will also be offered, the Chinese-owned car maker says, though it has yet to release power or range specifications on those models.

Matching the hi-po electric powertrain is a suitably high-tech interior, headlined by a 19.4-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, integrated into a centre stack that draws visual parallels with the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Drivers look into a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while leather upholstery trimmed with ambient lighting elements and contrast stitching features around the cabin.

Under the skin, the Marvel R Electric measures in at 4674mm long, 1919mm wide and 1618mm tall, with a 2800mm wheelbase – 100mm longer overall, 43mm wider, 67mm lower and 80mm longer in wheelbase than MG's petrol-powered, mid-size HS, from which the EV model is understood to share components with.

Boot space is rated at 357 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1396 litres with the second-row pews folded down. Rear-drive variants add an additional 150 litres of storage under the 'bonnet', where a combustion engine would typically sit. Braked towing capacity sits at 750kg.

Other available platform features range from a vehicle-to-load system – enabling the car's battery to power other electric devices, from air pumps and electric scooters to another electric car – to a Tesla-style heat pump intended to improve the energy efficiency of the climate control system, increasing range.

On the design front, the MG Marvel R Electric builds on the design of the petrol-powered HS with a largely enclosed front fascia with bold air intakes and an LED strip running across the grille, flush door handles, a sharp shoulder line and a full-width tail-light bar.

A full suite of MG Pilot driver assistance technologies will also be available, expected to include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 MG Marvel R Electric will go on sale in Europe in May 2021.

When will the MG Marvel R Electric come to Australia?

While a local launch for MG's all-electric Toyota RAV4 rival hasn't been locked in, the brand's Australian arm has its eye on the model for our shores.

"We’re excited to see the potential of the MG Marvel R and its performance would certainly excite Australian buyers," said an MG Australia spokesperson.

"There are currently no plans to introduce the Marvel R to the local MG line-up, but it’s one we’re watching with interest."

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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