MG Motor South Africa unwrapped a host of new, innovative technologies at its MG Tech Day and Premium SUV Family launch event in Johannesburg, showing how a brand built on more than a century of inventive firsts continues to make cutting-edge technology accessible to South African drivers.
Founded in Britain in 1924, MG has always challenged the idea that extraordinary driving experiences should be reserved for the privileged few. Accessible cars, inventive firsts and cutting-edge technology have defined the brand from the start. In 1931, the EX120 ‘Magic Midget’ became the first 750 cc car to exceed 100 mph, and over the decades that followed MG’s record-breaking cars kept pushing the limits of what technology could make possible.
That same philosophy is true today, and MG’s heritage is driving global momentum and impact. The brand has delivered more than one million vehicles in Europe and the UK since 2021 and sold more than 300 000 units in Europe in 2025 alone, more than 180 000 of them new-energy vehicles.
The MG event was attended by representatives from MG South Africa’s national dealer network and the media, who had an opportunity to experience many of the new technologies as they appear in the all-new MG QS flagship, the newly introduced MG HS HYBRID+ and PHEV SUVs as well as in two new normally aspirated MG ZS Pro models.
“Our MG Tech Day offered something for everyone, from the new drivetrain and in-cabin technologies on show in our new entry-level MG ZS Pro models to the cutting-edge drivetrain, suspension and luxury technologies that we will soon introduce at the other end of the spectrum in the MG QS flagship,” says Jack Wang, Vice President of MG Motor South Africa.
“We believe that the event not only shows the level of technological advancement of the MG brand and its SUV range, but also how accessible we have made many of these technologies to all buyers.”
A technological flagship: The all-new MG QS
For many of the visitors to the MG Tech Day, the all-new MG QS proved to be the highlight.
The QS range will join the line-up as its flagship at the start of 2027. In keeping with its range-topping status, it introduces a new level of technology, the most modern interpretation of MG’s design language and new features, including a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, a new intelligent hydraulic suspension with continuous damping control (CDC) and the most comprehensive version of MG Pilot, MG’s suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), yet fitted to an MG SUV.
The MG QS is a true seven-seat family SUV, with three full-size rows of seating rather than an occasional third row. Its long 2 915 mm wheelbase gives it the space to carry seven occupants in comfort, while flexible seating configurations make it easy to balance passengers and luggage.
Buyers will be able to choose between 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with a premium cabin, Bose premium audio and MG’s renowned driving dynamics. The result is a flagship SUV that offers the kind of experience usually associated with luxury brands, at an attainable price.
“For our MG Tech Day, we wanted to give our customers and friends a taste of our future SUV line-up. It showcases the best and most advanced technology we have ever fitted to a vehicle. And the good news is that it will be available on the market at the start of 2027,” says Wang.
New-Energy Delight – the MG HS HYBRID+ and PHEV
The true technological advancement in the new MG HS range is found under the skin with the introduction of new-energy propulsion options for this popular C-segment SUV.
The first new option that was unveiled at the MG Tech Day is MG’s HYBRID+ system. Now fitted with a new higher-capacity 1.83 kWh battery with liquid cooling, the HS HYBRID+ offers exceptional fuel efficiency, a longer electric-only range and a smoother and more efficient transition between its eight propulsion modes.
The MG HS HYBRID+ was joined on stage by the new flagship MG HS plug-in hybrid (PHEV). This new model uses a large-capacity battery of 24.7 kWh to offer an electric-only range of up to 120 km (WLTP), while also dramatically increasing the flagship’s peak power performance. As the name suggests, this model can be recharged with an external power source, either at home or on the go.
First customer deliveries of the MG HS HYBRID+ and HS PHEV are expected in January 2027.
Accessible tech – the MG ZS PRO 1.5
The MG ZS PRO is already well established in South Africa as one of MG Motor’s most popular models and it is expected to become even more popular with the introduction of a normally aspirated engine option.
In keeping with the MG Motor ethos of making technological advancements accessible across its range, the group highlighted the refinement of the new petrol engine which, when paired with its next-generation CVT, uses only 6.7 litres of fuel per 100 km on the combined cycle.
The MG ZS PRO range remains jam-packed with technology, including LED lights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the popular 360-degree camera array that makes parking and low-speed manoeuvring a breeze.
A glimpse of the future
At the MG Tech Day, the group placed significant emphasis on showing how its most advanced technologies will benefit its owners and how they are all within reach.
The team did, however, also hint at some of its newest technologies that are being developed and expected in its vehicle range in the near future.
Among the many new technologies under development are a range of battery advancements that will reach MG vehicles soon. These include the use of new battery chemistry for greater capacity, even better performance in low and very high temperatures and greater range. Other improvements include shrinking the battery size to allow engineers to mount it lower in the vehicle for even better road holding and performance.
“MG Motor and our parent company, SAIC, have a global network of engineering centres where we advance automotive technology at a rapid pace. These technologies aren’t only developed for their own sake but are designed to offer our customers greater driving enjoyment, a higher degree of safety, better performance and lower fuel and energy consumption.
“By showcasing these technologies in vehicles that will soon be available for purchase, we prove that our technology is valuable, accessible and always at the cutting edge of the automotive industry,” says Wang.