Important updates for the fastest-rising new car from a Chinese brand are on a slow boat.

AN impressive national acceptance rate for the MG ZS EV appears to have had no sway on the brand’s international roll-out plan for a facelift version bringing important range and performance improvements.

Despite New Zealand being a hot spot for the current car, which enjoys a take-up rate that in percentage terms makes this country one of the maker’s best performing markets, MG says we should not expect to see the just unveiled update for another year.

Feedback from the local distributor for the Shanghai Automotive marque suggests the current car will be retained in this market until the changeover occurs.

That proposal, plus comment from MG’s head office suggesting the update will come with a price increase, might fuel speculation about how much longer the ZS will retain status as the country’s cheapest new electric vehicle.

There is growing assumption within EV supporter groups that another Chinese budget brand, BYD, will undercut MG’s staple seller on realisation of its own plan to enter this market.

The ZS EV’s sharp pricing positioning has undoubtedly been a core point of appeal that has fuelled a remarkable ascendancy, which has accelerated all the more once it became subject to Government’s Clean Car rebate.

Even so, that the least expensive – yet still $20,000 pricier – version of the Tesla Model 3 is now handsomely beating the MG for registrations count within the EV category might also show that having the sharpest sticker isn’t the sole consideration when consumers go electric.

One area where the Tesla product gets ahead has become a focus of the MG’s improvement: Range.

In addition to delivering major styling updates and new interior technology, the other big change for what is being called the ‘2023’ ZS EV (regardless that it opportunes in Europe from this month) is a choice of two new, larger battery sizes.

Whereas the current ZS EV is offered solely with a 44.5kWh battery delivering 263km of range, as measured by European WLTP protocols, the updated car can be had with a choice of 51kWh Standard Range and 72kWh Long Range batteries, offering up to 440km of WLTP range – an increase of 67 percent.

The 440km range is achieved with the Long Range pack, which in Europe is paired to a 150kW/280Nm electric motor driving the front wheels.

The 51kWh Standard Range battery model, aadding to the line next year, is capable of 320km of WLTP range – a 22 percent increase – and is connected to a 130kW/280Nm electric motor on the front axle.

Upgraded DC fast-charging – at a rate of up to 76kW, up from 50kW – allows a zero to 100 percent charge in approximately 42 minutes for the Long Range model.

It's joined by 7kW onboard AC charging capabilities, offering a full charge in 10.5 hours. MG also quotes 11kW AC charging as available on flagship variants, along with a 30-minute 30 to 80 percent charge time for both batteries.

MG Europe claims the new models are capable of 0-50kmh acceleration in 3.6 seconds and 0-100kmh in 8.6 seconds and top speeds of 175kmh.

On the outside, the facelifted MG ZS EV achieves a new electric-only front end, with a stamped-effect grille to improve aerodynamics and a new charging port that is side-opening; the current car’s is located in the nose behind the MG badge. The new face is set off by LED headlights and distinctive daytime running lights. It also gets a redesigned rear bumper and new wheels.

The EV achieves a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and digital radio, plus a new 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, wireless smartphone charging, and support for MG’s smartphone companion app.

The full MG Pilot safety suite is on offer, as before, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Automatic LED headlights are available in Europe.