MG celebrates mediocrity with this spectacular MG EX4

what do we say Why does MG celebrate mediocrity? Because this MG EX4 is an ode to a rally car that never managed to gain a foothold on the international stage, the MG Metro 6R4.

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, MG is unveiling an all-new lineup: the ultra-powerful MG4 Electric XPower, the long-heralded Cyberster and the EX4 concept car.

MG EX4 with almost 500 hp

Remarkably, MG doesn’t report the specs of the latter, leading us to suspect it’s just an XPower with a bizarre body kit. And that turns out to be true. The EX4 is powered by two electric motors that deliver a total of 485 hp and 600 Nm.

This is the same powertrain that enables the MG4 Electric XPower to sprint to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 km/h.

MG 6R4 built for Group B

The extreme body kit with a huge front spoiler and striking rear wing is a homage to the MG Metro 6R4, reports MG. This Group B rally car was introduced in 1985 and was actually already outdated when it was introduced.

Of course, the 6R4 had nothing to do with a standard MG Metro. It was built around a tubular frame, with a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 engine at the rear that was good for a maximum of 410 hp in rally trim.

Couldn’t keep up with turbo violence

Compared to the competition, the 6R4 was pretty low-tech. The Audi Sport Quattro, Lancia Delta S4 and Peugeot 205 T16 used turbocharged engines. The Delta even had a turbo and supercharger.

In the World Rally Championship, the 6R4 was not very successful. He finished third in the RAC Rally but was never able to match that feat. The 6R4 was popular with audiences for its deep six-cylinder sound, but simply couldn’t match the turbo performance.

Six-cylinder for XJ220

Actually, the MG was simply too late, because Group B was banned in 1986 after a number of fatal accidents in which spectators were also involved. In the years that followed, the 6R4 was primarily used in rallycross.

The 6R4 is best known for the fact that its V6 naturally aspirated engine by Tom Walkinshaw Racing for the Jaguar XJ220, which was briefly the fastest production car in the world in the early 1990s, was enlarged to 3.5 liters by Tom Walkinshaw Racing and with was equipped with two turbochargers.