By Rob Hull For Thisismoney.co.uk

Published: 14:48 BST, 29 June 2022 | Updated: 16:16 BST, 29 June 2022

MG will soon add to its already-impressive roster of 'affordable' electric cars, revealing a new family hatchback due on sale from early next year with some pretty impressive features.

The MG4 will be offered as a cut-price alternative to popular battery-powered hatches already on the market, including the Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf, and will start from just under £30,000.

But the most eye-catching feature is that it will debut an all-new platform and 'One Pack' battery system, which from launch offers up to 280 miles of range.

The one-size-fits-all battery pack is not only ultra-thin and extremely light, but can be upgraded with over the air updates, or swapped entirely if a customer wants more power or range. 

MG's new electric family hatch with a swappable battery: This is the MG4 due on sale in the UK next year - and it has a new 'One Pack' system that allows owners to upgrade performance

The MG4, which will be sold alongside the MG SZ EV SUV and MG6 EV estate from early next year, is the first model from the Chinese-owned brand to use its newly-developed Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) electric platform, which will underpin all EV models from here on out.

The car maker says the battery-powered family motor is currently undergoing its final, 175,000-mile endurance test in various climates and conditions before it is brought to the European market.

It measures in at 4.3 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and just 1.5 metres high, meaning a relatively compact size comparable to that of a conventional Volkswagen Golf.

MG Motor says this will provide enough space for a family of five to sit comfortably and for a floor-mounted battery pack to distribute weight evenly across the car for better handling performance.

It adds that the 'sleek and sporty' low roof height and class-leading interior space has been achieved thanks to the MSP platform's supremely flat 'One Pack' battery system, which has been developed by parent company SAIC Motor. 

It is just 110mm high, making it the thinnest installed in a C-segment car yet.

The MG4 will be offered as a cut-price alternative to popular battery-powered hatches already on the market, including the Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf

From launch, it will be available in two outputs of 51 kWh and 64 kWh, which offer ranges of 217 and 280 miles respectively. But if this isn't enough, owners can upgrade these at a later date...

'Users can buy a small battery first, and then replace and upgrade when a longer range is needed,' explains Zhu Jun, deputy chief engineer of SAIC Motor

From launch, it will be available in two outputs of 51 kWh and 64 kWh, which offer ranges of 217 miles and 280 miles respectively. 

Battery size: from 51kWh to 64kWh at launch

Drive: Single 125kW (168bhp) or 150kW (201bhp) electric motor powering rear wheels only (all-wheel drive variants could follow later)

Range: 217 miles (51kWh battery) to 280 miles (64kWh battery)

Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a single electric motor, packing either 125kW (168bhp) and 150kW (201bhp) depending on which battery size you opt for.

For the most potent launch version, this will result in a 0-to-62mph sprint time of less than 8 seconds and a restricted top speed of 99mph.

MG Motor adds that further variants are planned, as well as all-wheel drive options.

And no matter which version you opt for, the one-size-fits-all One Pack battery system means you will be able to upgrade it after purchase. 

'Users can buy a small battery first, and then replace and upgrade when a longer range is needed,' explains Zhu Jun, deputy chief engineer of SAIC Motor.

This can be achieved either by adding more performance via over the air software updates or swapping the battery entirely for one with a higher capacity housed in the same compact pack. 

The new architecture means the drive unit can also be upgraded from 400V to 800V for faster charging 'in the future'.

In terms of design, the MG4 features markedly different design language from MG's existing cars, with a sharper and lower front end featuring slimline LED headlights and a large air intakes to cool the battery pack.

At the rear, a full-width beaming LED taillight bar sits beneath the screen and expands like a pair of boomerangs over the wheel arches, with a split-design rear spoiler extending from the roof.

The profile has rough-and-ready plastic cladding at the bottom of the doors and futuristic-looking wheels.

The electric family motor is currently undergoing its final, 175,000-mile endurance test in various climates and conditions before it is brought to the European market

It measures in at 4.3 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and just 1.5 metres high, meaning a relatively compact size comparable to that of a conventional Volkswagen Golf.

The cabin features a small digital instrument cluster and a larger central touchscreen infotainment display. Below that is a floating shelf with the drive selector and parking brake

Inside, there's a pair of high-definition displays - one a touchscreen for infotainment purposes and the other a digital instrument cluster.

Below the central screen is a raised floating-shelf housing the rotary drive selector and an electronic parking brake so they are within easy reach of the driver.

Prices and specifications for UK-specific model have yet to be confirmed. 

However, with MG Motor targeting the more affordable end of the electric car market, we don't expect it to be priced much higher than its existing - and larger - models, which cost just over £29,000.

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