In a very short space of time, MG has moved from being a classic British manufacturer of niche convertible sports cars dating back to the 1920s, to a contemporary marque catering for budget-conscious, first-time car buyers and young families, to now being an indicator of future styling with the edgy Marvel R.
Being part of the new genre of MG, owned by SAIC, it’s fully electric and, like The National’s test car did, likely to turn heads at every intersection with its distinctive lines.
Power for the Comfort and Luxury-spec models comes from two electric motors, both at the rear. It takes a different approach, in that one motor is bigger than the other so when you drive at a constant speed, only the larger electric motor is enabled. However, when accelerating, the smaller one chips in to help as a booster and both are powered by the same 70kWh battery.
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When combined, the MG Marvel R delivers 178bhp and 410Nm of torque driving through the rear wheels and returns 402km of range. Performance is at the lower end of the EV scale with 7.9 seconds to 100kph and a 200kph top speed, but like all EVs, there is zero delay in getting that power to the road, so it feels faster than the numbers suggest.
The upside of having motors in the rear is the traction; while the downside is that you lose boot space compared to most competitors, which have motors in the front axle. That gives them about 500 litres of space, whereas the Marvel R’s boot space is 357 litres. This is still good enough for shopping, but not as cavernous as the Renault Megane or VW ID4. In fairness, though, once you drop the seats, the MG’s luggage space expands to a very welcome 1,396 litres.
There is another option with the Performance model that adds a third motor located in the front axle, making it a permanent all-wheel drive, which delivers 284bhp and a meaty 665Nm of torque.
The Performance Marvel R gets to 100kph in 4.9 seconds with the same top speed, but the trade-off is that range dips to 370km. The battery has an 11kW 3-phase charger for AC charging and is geared up for fast charging, which allegedly gets you from five to 80 per cent in 43 minutes.
Its interior is just as futuristic as its exterior with a large 19.4-inch portrait-style touchscreen that has all the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It also has MG’s new iSmart connectivity system, which allows you to control various things remotely and enables a host of over-the-air updates.
MG has entered an agreement with Google for mapping to access real-time traffic information and, in time, it will also help you search for parking spaces, get the weather forecast and stream music. Voice commands let you operate other functions such as changing the air-conditioning temperature or opening the sunroof.
Vehicle-to-load system (V2L) is another great innovation for EVs. This allows you to charge other electrical items from the car, adding a new world of possibilities to camping. The Marvel R is trialling this, so it will be able to power external lights, air pumps, computers, phones and even e-scooters. MG says it should also give a quick emergency charge to other battery-powered electric vehicles similar to a jump-start on conventional cars.
Driving is as easy and as silent as you’d expect. Regeneration through the brake pedal is not as extreme as others and it’s a long way from being a one-pedal operation like the Nissan Leaf; however, it does offer three levels of regen from almost nil to reasonable. Hyundai’s Kona is still one of the only EVs that will actually stop the car with maximum regen, topping up the battery and effectively taking over the job of braking the car in most situations.
Hopefully, the Marvel R will get the tick of approval for the UAE and be on sale here early this year as it provides a much-needed electric offering for those looking to go EV on a budget, as well as throwing in cutting-edge technology and futuristic styling as well.
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
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Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
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What is a portfolio stress test?
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What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
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How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
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Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
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