MG Comet EV confirmed as new city runabout

MG Motor has just announced its upcoming compact, urban EV will be dubbed the ‘Comet’ in India. This will be the company’s second EV for India that’s based on sister brand Wuling’s Air EV, and is sold in markets like Indonesia. Back in August 2021, Autocar India was the first to exclusively report about MG’s plans to launch this electric runabout in India.

As for the name, MG says, it derives inspiration from the iconic 1934 British airplane which participated in the England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race. This, then, is in keeping with the company’s tradition of naming its vehicles behind World War II-era airplanes, just as the Hector and Gloster are.

1. MG Comet likely to be priced from Rs 10 lakh
2. To be packed with latest on-board tech
3. Expected to go on sale mid-2023

MG Comet EV: exterior design, size

The Comet will be unlike any other hatchback we’ve ever had in India – measuring just 2.9m long, the three-door, four-seater MG Comet will be the smallest four-wheeler on sale in India. For reference, even the Tata Nano measured 3,099mm in length. It, however, won’t be quite as tight on space, as, thanks to its electric skateboard architecture, relatively long 2,010mm wheelbase, and boxy shape, interior packaging will be quite space-efficient. As mentioned, the Comet will be based on the Wuling Air EV, but we expect some changes to the design to make it suit Indian tastes.

MG Comet EV: will be feature packed

Its compact dimensions may suggest it will be positioned as a budget vehicle, but it will be quite the opposite. We expect it to be priced upwards of Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom), positioned as a premium intra-city runabout, for which MG will certainly not be skimming on features.

The biggest talking point will be a dual-screen infotainment setup made up of two 10.25-inch screens, much like the XUV700 or even some Mercedes models. Other premium features such as connected car tech, dual-tone interiors with quality materials, voice commands, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also expected. There could even be a sunroof.

MG Comet EV: powertrain and range

The Comet EV is expected to be powered by a battery of around 20-25kWh capacity. The battery will be locally sourced from Tata AutoComp, and our sources tell us it will give the Comet a claimed range of around 200 to 300km that will likely be certified by iCAT, just like MG’s other electric car is, the ZS EV. The Comet is expected to be powered by a single, front-axle motor with a power output of around 50kW (68hp).

MG Comet EV: rivals, launch timeline  

The Comet is expected to hit the market around mid-2023 and upon launch, will find competition from the likes of the Tata Tiago EV (Rs 8.69 – 11.99 lakh) and the recently launched Citroen eC3 (Rs 11.50 – 12.43 lakh) in the electric hatchback segment. The MG Comet EV will be assembled in India and MG plans to give it over 60 percent localisation to make it as competitive as possible.

Also See:

Honda City facelift launched at Rs 11.49 lakh

Toyota Innova Hycross prices hiked by Rs 75,000; new VX(O) trim introduced