SolidCore arrival
Semi-solid-state batteries are coming. 2027 is the target date for MG’s plug-in hybrids to finally switch gears.
They announced this tech earlier this year. First on the MG 4 Electric. Then, they promised it for hybrids too. Now it is confirmed. The next-gen ZS leads the PHEV charge. Followed by the HS. And the S9.
This battery tech is called SolidCore.
It’s not just a stepping stone. It is becoming their default. Until the full solid-state dreams actually arrive. Li Zheng, lead scientist at MG, says the perks are clear. Better range. Faster charging. Less anxiety in freezing weather. For PHEVs specifically? Hill climbs feel easier. High speed stays smooth.
Consistency. That is the word.
The battery works steadier across more climates. This lets them shrink the engine. Why lug around a big petrol block if the electricity does most of the heavy lifting?
Smaller engines. Less friction.
Two flavors of new powertrains. Both badged “Plug-in Hybrid +”.
The small cars, like the ZS, get a 1.1-liter motor. It pushes out 98bhp. 129lb ft of torque. The big ones, HS and S9, get the 1.5-liter. That means 161bhp. 188lb ft.
New transmission too. It makes the whole drivetrain act like an EV. Efficient.
Engine tweaks matter here. Less friction. Better combustion. The small setup hits over 42% thermal efficiency. The larger one clears 43%. Compare that to old standards, hovering in the mid-30s? A huge jump.
Is it worth caring about thermal efficiency? Only if you hate wasting fuel.
Quieter operation counts as a feature now. Five decibels less noise. Current PHEVs sound nothing like these will. Off the line or cruising in gear. It feels refined.
Fei Jibing details a simpler “Hybrid +” system for this year’s MG 3 and ZS updates. New transmission. Larger 3.6kWh batter. MG isn’t abandoning hybrids while it chases EVs. The goal remains the same: quieter. Faster. Efficient.
Reality check on sales
David Allison runs MG UK’s products. He notes something interesting. Over 90% of their sales are electrified. Hybrids, PHEVs, EVs.
What about the gas cars with manuals? They exist. Nobody buys them.
“People are now into the efficiency,” Allison said. That electric feel in the city? That is what moves units.
Still. They will keep the full range available. Just because one side sells out doesn’t mean they stop making the other.
Assisted driving tech gets an overhaul too. Less intrusive. More reliable. Allison admits the “jury is out” on whether customers actually want flashy self-driving right now.
Automated parking comes first. Lane-keeping gets smarter. Then, finally, the big leagues. Navigate on Autopilot hits highways in late 2027. Urban streets follow in 2028.
It’s a slow crawl toward full automation. The batteries get there faster. 🚗⚡
