Distributor indicates 72kWh battery announced from other markets not required for Australasia.

MG’s popular ZS EV battery-driven car will provision from July with a new look, extra technology and a modest price lift – but not the ‘big’ powertrain that is going to other markets.

Why? Basically, that 72kWh unit is unnecessary – a comment from the brand in answer to that question explaining today that the now entry 51kWh lithium ion phosphate power bank we will only see here in NZ-new product is good enough for our needs.

Restricting to the more modest battery also very likely keeps price in check.

It means the more affluent of the two incoming editions – a $52,990 Essence that in spec that relates more strongly to the provisions with the outgoing model that was the second-most popular electric choice with Kiwis last year – will cost just $4000 more than the previous offer, while a new base car, called Excite, will at $49,990 cost just $1000 more.

The new models run what MG describes as being a 'Standard Range' unit. This pairs a 51kWh battery to a 130kW/280Nm electric motor driving the front wheels for a 8.6-second 0-100kmh time, and 320km of claimed WLTP driving range.

That’s more range and better outputs than those meted by the original car, which has a 44.5kWh battery and a 105kW/353Nm electric motor, good for 263km of claimed WLTP driving range. However, the 0-100kmh time falls off by 0.4 seconds.

It’s still a big step down from the ‘Long Range’ powertrain which raised considerable local market excitement when the Shanghai marque undertook the update’s international debut last Octover.

That upgrade, which avails in right-hand drive, the 72kWh battery with a 115kW/280Nm electric motor, delivering an increased driving range claim of 440km. It has the same 0-100kmh time as the 51kWh car.

The brand explained today the decision to focus on the 51kWh ZS EV for the Australian and New Zealand markets was “because it offers the right combination of range, battery stability and life, recharging time and value for our customers.”

Whether that provides a trigger for enterprising Kiwis to private import as-new ex-UK cars remains to be seen.

ZS in original format placed as the country’s cheapest NZ-new electric car. That allure intensified with Government’s Clean Car rebate, which reduced the sticker to just over $40,000.

The updated car is easily differentiated from the original as the facelift is quite literal – the grille has gone. It also achieves a revised interior styling, and more technology through a new 10.1-inch touchscreen shared with other MG models. Faster charging is also promised. Connect to a DC fast charger and MG says a five to 80 percent charge will be covered in 40 minutes, or a 30 to 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.

MG has yet to reveal full detail of its local specification, but it is expected that a full suite of active safety features will continue.

This includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Excite runs on 17 inch alloys, has LED headlights and taillights and delivers with a reversing camera, 360-degree camera, a 10.1-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and satellite navigation.

The Essence adds blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, a panoramic sunroof, a six-speaker stereo, power folding side mirrors, a wireless phone charger, front seat heating and six-way electrically adjustable driver seat.