MG’s best-selling EV goes longer, further

Australia’s fastest growing carmaker, MG Motor, has launched an extended range version of its ZS EV.

The ZS EV Long Range will be on sale from early April alongside the current ZS EV Excite and Essence models, both of which come with a 51.2 kWh battery and 330km range on the WLTP test cycle.

The Long Range gets a 72.6 kWh battery and 440km of range.

ZS Long Range will come with the same equipment level as the Essence but with a privacy rear window.

At $55,990 plus on-road costs it costs $8000 more than the standard range Essence, although that’s more a reflection on the bargain prices of the original vehicles.

It produces 115kW of power — 15kW less than the standard range.

Both models generate 280Nm of torque.

Like the standard range models, ZS EV Long Range is charged via a standard CCS2 socket located behind a flap in the front grille.

With an 11kW three-phase source it can be charged in eight hours, while on a 50kW public charger it takes 63 minutes to reach 80 per cent.

All MG models come with a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which includes the lithium-ion battery in EVs.

Roadside assistance covers the same seven years.

At the launch of the new MG ZS EV Long Range, CEO Peter Ciao said following the success of the ZS EV in September last year, the company had listened to customer feedback and had fast-tracked the arrival of the long range model.

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“We know Australians love to drive and now they can go even further thanks to a larger 72 kWh battery pack and a 440km range in the ZS EV Long Range.”

We hope to get into the new MG ZS Long Range within the next couple of months for our normal week-long road test and will report further at that time.