MG S6 EV News

MG, the original Chinese-backed success story in Australia, has been on the back foot in the face of new rivals, but the brand isn’t staying still with the reveal of a range of new models for the Australian market shown at the Melbourne Motor Show.The Shanghai-based brand showed off several new modelss, including the much-hyped IM LS9 large hybrid SUV, which will go into battle against the Zeekr 8X and Denza B5 with its range-extender hybrid powertrain.The LS9 was launched under SAIC’s more premium IM brand in China last year, and features a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with no connection to the wheels, acting as a range-extender for a large 65.9kWh battery pack which grants it a 308km electric driving range according to the more lenient CLTC standard.The large SUV also brings unprecedented levels of luxury for an MG-branded product with generous interior claddings, large screens, and three rows of seating (in a six-seat layout for the Chinese market).The brand will introduce a fully electric version of its U9 ute, which launched in 2025. Appearing previously in approval documents, the U9 EV will have a dual-motor powertrain producing 200kW at the front and 125kW at the rear, although torque figures are yet to be confirmed. If the U9 electric follows in the footsteps of the LDV e-Terron 9 available overseas, it will be equipped with a 102kWh battery granting it a 430km driving range.Importantly, it plots a 3500kg towing capacity, which is more than can be said for the EV utes currently available in the market, like the Toyota HiLux BEV and its 2000kg towing ability.The existing combustion U9, powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine, will also be offered in a new Black Edition trim level.Next, taking aim at the Tesla Model Y and newcomer rivals the Geely EX5 and GAC Aion V, is the S6 EV.It is essentially a scaled-up version of the S5 small SUV already on sale in Australia. The S6 moves into the mid-size SUV category, although maintains many of the same interior features as its smaller sibling,Right-hand drive specs as confirmed by the UK-market version of the car show a 77kWh battery pack with up to 530km of range in both rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive layouts.Also bolstering MG’s range of electric vehicles is an upgraded version of the rear-wheel drive MG4. Not to be confused with the just-launched MG Urban, which is in a lower price bracket in a front-wheel drive layout, the new facelifted MG4 will continue to cater to a slightly more premium and drive oriented audience, starting at $39,990 for the base Essence, and topping out at $47,990 for the returning XPower all-wheel drive version.Stylistically largely the same from the outside aside from new wheel and colour choices, the new MG4 will get a completely overhauled interior featuring a new 12.8-inch multimedia screen with wireless phone mirroring, a 10.25-inch driver display, as well as physical controls from the larger S5 SUV, new seat trims, and a more refined centre console treatment, with improved detailing throughout.Like the UK-market model, the new version dumps the entry-level 51kWh battery, with the base Essence now being a 64kWh proposition with an improved 452km WLTP driving range. It features a 140kW/350Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the XPower features 150kW/250Nm on the front axle, and 170kW/350Nm on the rear axle it can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds. With the same 64kWh battery pack, the XPower’s range is reduced to 405km.

MG is on the verge of its line-up almost doubling in the UK and Europe, which could be good news for the brand’s local variety.According to reports, MG plans to take its offerings from 10 models to 18 in the region soon, which also leaves the door open for new models from its quirky sub-brands. CEO of MG Motor UK & Europe William Wang told Automotive News Europe the plan to expand its line-up includes a large plug-in hybrid SUV and an “electric four-meter-long small car” which will reportedly rival the BYD Dolphin.In Australia, MG currently sells the HS, ZS, QS, and MG 5S SUVs, plus the MG3, MG4, MG5 and MG7 along with the sporty Cyberster and the IM5 and IM6 from its sub-brand, IM.If MG is to expand its Euro line-up to around 18 models as the report suggests, this could see six new models land here if they are to be built in right-hand drive.One of these is the locked-in MG S6 EV, set to join the smaller S5 EV which has already arrived.Similarly styled but closer in size to a mid-size SUV like the Tesla Model Y, the electric SUV could significantly undercut the popular American EV.Also just-spotted in China is an SUV spin-off of the upcoming MG4 Urban as a potential price-leading EV SUV to replace the position once held by the MG ZS EV in the brand's line-up.The IM luxury sub-brand which already has two cars here could expand into the SUV space, too, with the 2026 MG IM LS9 having been detailed for the brand’s home market earlier this year.The IM LS9 is a huge Volvo XC90 or BMW X7-sized SUV with luxury appointments and sleek styling, though unlike some of the other models here, it’s not locked-in for Australia just yet.Further down the track, a boxy off-road-style SUV could make the 2025 MG Cyber X concept a reality, something of a Land Rover Defender rival but at a likely lower price point.The Cyber X was revealed last year at the Shanghai Motor Show, and is expected to be part of an expanded range of models under an emerging Cyber sub-brand which kicked off with the Cyberster electric roadster in Australia last year.

The MG S6 EV has gone on sale in the United Kingdom giving us a clear look at the SUV ahead of its arrival in Australia.

European media is today publishing what outlets are calling the first photos of the incoming MG S6 electric car, but the Australian government has had images of the mid-size SUV for some time.