MG unveils new-generation ZS Hybrid in New Zealand

MG Motor’s dedication to cracking the Australian and New Zealand markets has worked, and the company is gearing up to make an even greater push with a new generation of models. Jack Yan reports from the new-generation ZS’s press launch
Photographed by the author
 




 
A new-generation MG ZS for New Zealand is a big enough deal for the company to fly over Australia and New Zealand CEO Peter Ciao, with a presentation to the press in Auckland today by him and MG Motor New Zealand COO Harrie Yan.

The new ZS Hybrid, the first of the line, is an all-new model, with fresh new hybrid tech which, in practice, delivers better fuel economy than the claimed figures. Building on the success of the original ZS SUV, which first appeared in China in 2016, the new model adds 25 mm to the wheelbase (for a total of 2,610 mm), with the increased interior room particularly noticeable inside on a very brief drive during launch day. Length is up a decent 107 mm to 4,430 mm, while width is a comfortable 1,818 mm.

Ciao stresses that the ZS Hybrid brings efficiency and power, and it’s not just down to a large battery, a sizeable 83 kWh mated to a 1·5-litre petrol engine.

Since SAIC set up its own operation for MG in Australia and New Zealand, the company has been far more aggressive in selecting product and pushing it to retail.

Ciao is particularly dedicated, saying he delayed the second-generation HS launch to these markets so the range could incorporate the 2025 model year improvements.

He calls the new-generation ZS a ‘game-changer’. With the advances parent company SAIC is making with its cars—he gives the example of a Zhiji model in China, from a sister brand, where you can converse with the car—export markets can expect to see more of the technology emerge, while keeping prices at a reasonable level. The new HS could hit a range of 1,975 km with its plug-in hybrid set-up. He promises five new models for the New Zealand market in the near future, with MG hitting more segments. The second-generation MG 7 is among those hinted for importation. Yan says that there is a small delay with right-hand drive preparation, but that the gap between the home-market and Australasian launches is getting increasingly smaller.

Exterior design is far better resolved and proportioned than the outgoing ZS’s, with a smoother grille reminiscent of the 4’s and HS’s, and a slight Coke-bottle and tapering effect around the rear haunches gives it a more sporting look than before.

The new ZS’s interior is tidy and a step forward from the current generation, with a wide 12·3 in screen, electric front seat for the driver, and panoramic sunroof for the Essence spec. Handling is taut, with direct and nicely weighted steering. We expect to give readers a more comprehensive review when we have the ZS for more than a couple of hours in the New Year.

Pricing is competitive, with the base (but still comprehensively equipped) Excite model at NZ$36,990, and the Essence at NZ$39,990, in between the retail prices of the outgoing petrol and EV models.
 




 
Jack Yan is founder and publisher of Lucire.