2024 MG 3 XPower hot hatch imagined: Chinese i20 N, Fiesta ST rival

Last month MG unveiled the first new MG 3 city hatch in 11 years – and only its second all-new model for Europe in five years – with petrol or hybrid power.

Following in the wheel tracks of the MG 4 XPower electric hot hatch – with 320kW, all-wheel drive and 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds – the Drive office wondered: would a high-performance version look like?

These illustrations – which are purely speculative, as MG has not announced plans for a hot MG 3 – draw inspiration from the MG 4 XPower, with Racing Green paint, 18-inch wheels, white body decals, and its infamous orange brake caliper covers.

Theottle’s images take the visual changes further than the electric XPower, with a taller rear spoiler, black side skirts, larger front air intakes with a lower splitter, and dual exhaust tips in a sporty diffuser.

Unlike its peers – which use petrol power – our theoretical MG 3 XPower would be the first hybrid car in its category, using the technology from the standard MG 3.

The regular MG 3 Hybrid+ already develops a claimed 143kW in Europe – or 155kW according to Australian government documents – from a 75kW 1.5-litre petrol engine and 100kW electric motor.

While it is only 7kW short of an i20 N based on European specifications, the MG – which uses a three-speed automatic – claims 0-100km/h in 8.0 seconds, 1.3sec slower than the Hyundai.

Rather than turbocharging the 1.5-litre four-cylinder, MG could fit a 1.3-litre turbo three-cylinder engine – which is used alongside the MG 3’s 1.5-litre engine in the ZST small SUV.

Leaving the 100kW electric motor unchanged – but installing the 115kW 1.3-litre three-cylinder – could boost the combined output by 40kW, to 183kW based on European claims, more than a Mk8 VW Golf GTI (180kW).

A limited-slip differential would be needed to help put the newfound power down – plus retuned suspension, and bigger brakes behind the orange caliper covers.

It would also benefit from better tyres than the Kumho Solus rubber on the regular model – and the Bridgestone Turanzas on the MG 4 XPower, similar to that used on a Toyota Camry Hybrid with half the power.

The regular version of the new MG 3 is due in Australian showrooms from the middle of this year, priced from about $25,000 drive-away for the petrol model – up $5000 on its ageing predecessor.

It is estimated the hybrid will be priced from $29,000 to $30,000 drive-away – which, with 143kW, would give it more power per dollar than most other new vehicles on sale in Australia.

Should MG build a high-performance MG 3 XPower, and would it work well as a hybrid? Let us know in the comments.