MG Motor has confirmed the new Marvel-R electric SUV for the European market. The MG Marvel-R was unveiled in March earlier this year, and is already on sale in China as the Roewe Marvel-R. Globally, it replaces the MG HS SUV and is the new flagship of the MG range. It is also the largest and most luxurious model in the MG family.
- Marvel-R is the new flagship of the MG range
- Gets up to 400km of electric driving range
- Will rival the likes of Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro
MG Marvel-R: design and dimensions
The new Marvel-R brings a raft of new design cues; and the coolest detail is, perhaps, the LED lighting system. Up front, it gets an LED light bar spanning the width of the SUV with distinctive lighting elements at either ends. The main headlamp cluster is positioned on the bumper below and a similar light bar is also seen at the rear end. The Y-shaped LED motifs in the tail lamp cluster and the turn indicators on the door mirrors also look particularly cool. In typical EV fashion, the Marvel-R gets a sealed grille.
As mentioned, the Marvel-R is the largest model in the MG family, measuring 4,674mm long with a wheelbase of 2,804mm – a close match for the similarly sized Skoda Enyaq iV. Its 357-litre boot expands to 1,396 litres with the rear seats folded down, while rear-driven versions also offer 150 litres of storage space in the 'frunk'. The SUV rides on 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.
MG Marvel-R: powertrain options
The Marvel-R will be available in three variants – Comfort, Luxury and Performance. The first two variants are powered by a dual-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup, providing 178hp and 410Nm of peak torque. This results in a 0-100kph sprint of 7.9 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Performance variant is powered by an additional electric motor on the front axle, boosting output to 285hp and 664Nm and cutting the 0-100kph time by a whole 3.0 seconds.
MG Marvel-R: battery and charging
A 70kWh battery pack is fitted as standard to all cars, providing the Marvel-R with a WLTP-certified range of 370-400km, depending on drivetrain. It can charge at rates of up to 92kW, meaning it can be charged from 30-80 percent capacity in 30 minutes and from 5-80 percent in 43 minutes.
It also offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) reverse-charging functionality, with a maximum load capacity of 2500W available to power external devices.
MG Marvel-R: interior and features
The Marvel-R is the first European-market car to offer MG's new iSmart infotainment platform, which operates through an expansive 19.4-inch central touchscreen flowing down the centre console. It also gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and offers a raft of connected features including live traffic information, weather forecasts and Amazon Music compatibility, and is kept fresh with over-the-air software updates.
The new system also offers a wi-fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, while a dedicated smartphone app can be used to access various car features remotely, allowing users to plan routes, synchronise calendars and manage charging schedules. The Marvel-R is also equipped, as standard, with an enhanced suite of advanced driver aids, dual-zone climate control, privacy glass, a panoramic sunroof, part-leather upholstery and a six-way electrically adjustable driver's seat.
MG Motor in India
While there’s no news of the Marvel-R making it to India, MG Motor is gearing up for the launch of Astor SUV, price announcement of which is slated for October 11. Following that, MG is also looking to launch a compact SUV in India to rival the likes of Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet, as well as a more affordable, mass-market electric vehicle. MG also recently updated the ZS EV with a facelift in Europe, which too will be India-bound.
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