Guess which New Zealand city will be celebrating the launch of the all-new MG ZS electric vehicle with its stylish exterior and extended range? The answer may surprise you.

MG’s second-generation electric hatchback has just arrived at the brand’s 14 New Zealand dealerships and it’s virtual a new vehicle inside and out.

The entry-level Excite is priced from $49,490 while the premium Essence is priced from $53,490 with both vehicles eligible for the clean car rebate of $8625.

So far MG Motors NZ has had 1000 preorders of the EV, with 60 percent opting for the Essence, with one boat load arriving this month and another on the way.

The range of the latest ZS has improved from 263km to 320km and new on-board charging capabilities mean up to 80 percent charging time in as little as 54 minutes, based on a 50kW combined charging system (CCS).

It has a permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 130kW of power and 280Nm of torque, using 17.1kWh/100km.

Peter Ciao, CEO at MG Motor Australia & New Zealand, said the new ZS EV sets a new standard for electric vehicles and demonstrates MG’s commitment to making EVs accessible for everyone. 

“This past year has been an incredible year for MG.  In 2021, sales of electric vehicles broke records and MG’s 2021 ZS EV was part of this paradigm shift.” 

A revised front fascia more proudly pronounces ZS EV’s electric intentions while retaining the practical front-mounted charging port which makes charging cable connection much more convenient.  LED lighting clusters front and rear also add a striking touch to the mid-sized electric SUV.

The new ZS EV will also offer owners its own app-based software architecture, known as iSmart, which is backed by Amazon’s AWS cloud-based system. 

This will allow owners to perform over-the-air updates, remote AC control and door locking, real-time navigation, ‘find my car’ parking lot search, live weather updates, and stream audio from Amazon Music.

So, which city has the biggest group of buyers of the MG ZS EV? Step aside Auckland, Christchurch takes the title.