MG’s New Electric Hypercar Concept Can Hit 62mph In Sub-2 Seconds

The MG EXE181 is a concept (for now) with a name inspired by a land speed record car from the ‘50s
MG EX181
MG EX181

If there’s anything you can be certain of with Chinese manufacturers, it’s that you never know what kind of car they’ll do next. MG, a maker of value-for-money hatchbacks and crossovers has now decided to build an electric hypercar that can hit 62mph from a standstill in 1.9 seconds. Naturally.

This is the MG EXE181, which is a concept (for now, at least) designed with the Rimac Nevera in its crosshairs. Granted, a Nevera is a real production car and has proven it can do that sprint in 1.74 seconds, but the MG may have another ace up its sleeve.

MG EX181
MG EX181

You see, ‘EXE181’ isn’t just a branding result of someone’s cat walking across a keyboard. Rather, it’s a name referencing the EX181, an MG land speed record car built in 1959 (and by the old British Morris Garages MG, which has little in common with the Chinese-owned firm of today).

The original EX181 was based on an MGA, albeit with streamliner bodywork, with a drag coefficient of just 0.12.

MG EX181, new and old
MG EX181, new and old

That, combined with a supercharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 300bhp (not bad for 1959), allowed the original EX181 to hit a recorded 254mph. That might give a hint as to the kind of numbers MG has in mind for the new car, although it’s worth noting a Nevera can do 256mph…

Despite looking like a rejected Vision Gran Turismo concept, the new EXE181 does have a less slippery coefficient than the original at 0.181, but it presumably will also have more than triple the power. MG has been tight-lipped on tech-specs so far, but a shot of the steering wheel display suggests a quad-motor setup, at least.

MG EX181, interior
MG EX181, interior

The MG EXE181 will be on display at the Beijing Motor Show this week, although we’re expecting it to be just a rolling chassis. However, with MG already announced as the headline manufacturer for this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, we’d anticipate a working car to make an appearance in Chichester in July. 

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