MG unleashes 435hp MG4 XPower hot hatch

Following on from the reveal of its new Cyberster sports car, MG is set to add an EV hot hatch to the roster. Initial details reveal it will crack 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds at cost from £36,495.

This makes the MG4 XPower a high-performance bargain as it’s quicker and cheaper than a Mercedes-AMG A35 or Volkswagen Golf R . Ideal for those wanting a little extra bang for their buck.

In an interesting move from MG, the MG4 XPower will have its top speed capped at an un-sports car-like 124 mph. While a maximum range of 239 miles lags behind the MG4 trophy by over 40 miles.

It will stick with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, and this more powerful motor comes with a hit to storage capacity: The boot space is reduced to 289-litres from the standard MG4’s 363-litres. Yet, keen drivers won’t mind that given the performance of the XPower version, which revives a name from MG’s past for its fastest cars.

The MG4 XPower will also have several other upgrades to cope with its power and pace. New 18-inch alloy wheels will mark out the hot hatch, along with brake calipers painted in bright orange. Other upgrades for the MG4 XPower will include LED headlights, Alcantara-trimmed sports seats, alloy pedals, and the option of a unique Racing Green paint finish.

A feature only available for the XPower model will be a Dynamic Driving Management set-up that allows the driver to record information such as lap times and g-force readings during cornering.

The hot MG4 is set to look much like the standard Trophy version from the outside, but MG promises it will deliver plenty of thrills from the driver’s seat.

Guy Pigounakis, MG’s Commercial Director, said: “The MG4 has erred towards comfort, but now we have comfortable cars and very high-performance cars.”

“It is part of the history of MG to have performance cars, so it’s only right we steer the company in the right direction. This is also why we have the new Cyberster sports car.”

Unveiled recently, the dramatic Cyberster two-seat roadster will come with power ranging from 300- to 500hp, and prices from £50,000 to rival the best from BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. The Cyberster is due to go on sale in the summer of 2024.

It’s also been revealed that MG is planning a long-range version of the MG4 that will be able to cover up to 323 miles on a single charge. This model will accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds, and it’s set to be priced between the MG4 Trophy and XPower models. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what the XPower has to offer when it’s launched, before we start dreaming too far ahead. Are you tempted by the XPower, or would you wait for the long-range version?