MG EXE181 electric hypercar is a ballistic missile
Streamlined single-seater concept inspired by 1959 land speed record car hits 100km/h in 1.9secMG Motor has released pictures of its wild new MG EXE181 concept ahead of the hypercar’s official unveiling at this week’s Beijing motor show.
A single-seat alternative to all-electric hypercars like the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista, the MG EXE181 has emerged with an ultra-streamlined body and quad-motor powertrain that is said to be capable of rocketing the car from 0-100km/h in just 1.9 seconds.
Top speed has yet to be quoted but it’s thought the latest MG concept could crack 400km/h as it draws heavy influence from the 1959 experimental MG EX181 land speed record car.
That original MG EX produced just 220kW from its supercharged 1506cc engine but still managed to go on and crack an incredible 410km/h.
Full specs are still to be released, but the new EXE181 features an updated version of the original’s capsule-shaped cockpit, front fenders, aerodynamically-honed wheel covers and long-tail design.
Together with active wing flaps, the result is a stunning drag coefficient of just 0.181Cd.
The cockpit is clearly a bit of a squeeze, even for one, and features a yoke-style steering wheel with an integrated touch-screen.
There’s even a switch to deploy a parachute from extremely high speeds, suggesting the Chinese-owned brand fancies a go at a high-speed run.
It remains to be seen whether the EXE181 will have the EV thrust to match the 550km/h-plus top speed that was set by the Ohio State University and Venturi-backed Buckeye Bullet 3 in 2016.
More will be revealed later this week at the Beijing motor show, including what MG Motor has in store for its new high-performance flagship and how the MG EXE181 will relate to its road-going models.
It’s possible the concept might have been created to help the brand celebrate its centenary at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
Related: 2024 MG Cyberster not as quick as first claimed
Related: 330kW MG4 XPOWER to debut at Goodwood
Related: 2024 MG Cyberster could cost more than $100K
For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
