Special 2024 MG 4 XPower review: Brand’s first homegrown hero scores local upgrades that deliver China’s most scorching electric hot hatch
If there’s one surefire way to know when a brand is feeling comfortable in Australia, it’s when they turn their attention to homegrown special editions meant to appeal to our love of performance, whether that’s on or off the road.
Think Nissan with its Warrior by Premcar program. Or VW and its Amarok work with Walkinshaw, or Kia and Hyundai’s dedication to local ride and handling programs.
And now it’s MG’s turn. Now safely, and very suddenly, ensconced within the sales top 10, it has sent its MG 4 XPower hot hatch off to undergo some localisation treatment, scoring new wheels and springs, a new body kit and spoilers, and a generally tougher, more menacing look.
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Our car was also fitted with the vanity plate ‘NOTGAS’, but the less said about that the better.
MG describes the upgrades as a toe into localisation waters. The NOTGAS, for want of a better name, isn’t a production model, and you can’t buy one. But it is considered a proof of concept, designed to gauge interest and demand for locally improved models from the Chinese brand. And it could be the beginning of a broader tuning program.
“Perceptions are difficult things to change. In Australia, we have always wanted to do local tuning to complement our MG range, however, previously, there wasn’t the right product,” says MG’s Head of EV and Accessories, Matt Kavanagh.
“We’re really looking for market feedback on this one from media, dealers and customers of what could be for our brand’s local tuning program.”
“I hope this is the start of big things to come with MG and tuning in Australia – it’s the first step really, the rest is up to the market.”
PRICE AND FEATURES
How much is this go-fast (or go-faster) MG4 XPower? Priceless.
That is to say you can’t actually buy one. But it’s based on the MG4 XPower, which is yours for $59,990 drive-away. We reckon the improvements made would add about $5k to that sticker price, and you can option most of them up on your regular MG4 already.
Like the regular Xpower, you’re still using a dual-motor powertrain that delivers 300kW/600Nm, and which promises to clip 100km/h in less than four seconds.
A reminder here that, only a few years ago, that was supercar-level performance. Now it’s yours for $60k on the road. Incredible.
Under the new-looking bodywork is a 64kWh lithium-ion battery that promises 400km in WLTP range. When it comes time to charge, the XPower will take 140kW DC charging. Not great, but not terrible.
Like the rest of the MG4 range, the interior treatment is a little underwhelming, with hard-feeling plastics used with abandon, and the car’s key functionalist (climate controls, for example) all hidden behind a 10.25″ nice-looking, but fiddly to use, digital touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It looks nice, though, with a minimalist and blacked-out style that matches the mood of this locally developed hero model.
New, though, are the Konig Ampliform alloys, finished in a bronze-gold colour reminiscent of the earliest Subaru WRXs. It’s been fitted with a lowered spring kit, dropping by 30mm, and now wears a menacing body kit, including front lip, side skirts and rear spoiler.
DRIVING
It must be said, slipping behind the wheel of the MG4 XPower isn’t for the faint of heart. This thing is properly fast – shockingly so – as it slilent-screams to 100km/h in its claimed 3.8 seconds.
Again, that’s supercar-levels of performance, delivered via a relatively cheap, city-friendly EV. It’s bonkers what electrification has done to the world of performance, and it’s little wonder the companies whose entire business model is based around V8, V10 and V12 engines are looking over their shoulders.
Happily, this special-edition MG4 XPower benefits from the same technical wizardry designed to harness all that power as its stock-standard sibling, including a firmer ride, sharper steering, an e-diff with torque vectoring and bigger brakes – the latter being especially important, trust me.
And while the entire package perhaps doesn’t feel quite as engaging as an out-and-out performance vehicle, I spent my entire time with this go-fast NOGAS with a smile on my face, and an even bigger one every time my foot found the accelerator.
The MG4 generally is a nice-riding, competent-feeling vehicle, and arguably the best that MG produces, but this XPower adds another layer of performance that I’m yet to tire of. And the changes don’t dampen the drive experience, with even the lower springs seemingly having little impact on compliance.
On the right road, the MG’s lower centre of gravity and grippy tyres can feel make the whole process feel flowing enough, though the acceleration can feel out-of-kilter with the experience, making judging speed a little more nerve-wracking that usual.
But for mine, this locally fettled hot hatch does its best work on the day-to-day stuff, offering a compliant enough ride to make the commute easy enough, but with a startling turn of speed just waiting to be unleashed at every red light.
But please, MG, I beg you – install an engine start button in the cabin. The lucky dip of repeatedly standing on the brake before you can finally select drive is very close to being a deal breaker.
Verdict
Not quite a true performance hero, but still the best example of MG’s best car. And when does a little extra power go unappreciated?
Score: 3.5/5
SPECS
2024 MG MG4 XPower specifications
Price: $59,990 (drive-away) + extra for accessories
Basics: EV , 5 seats, 5 doors, small passenger car
Range: 400km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 64kWh lithium-ion (62.1kWh usable)
Battery warranty: 7 years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 15.2kWh/100km
Motors: dual permanent magnet synchronous, 300kW/600Nm (combined).
AC charging: 6.6kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 140kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 3.8 seconds
