A new small electric SUV from MG, called the 4X, featuring the company’s “liquid-solid state battery”, was teased last month by the brand in China.

This model has now been officially launched in the Chinese market, with prices starting at the equivalent  of $A20,500. 

On MG’s parent company’s Weibo page, it said: “The MG 4X is officially launched, with a limited-time subsidised price. Unlock quality travel for the whole family!”.

The company has previously shared multiple images of the SUV, revealing details of the car that could very well head to international markets in the near future.

The outside of the new car shares the design language with the company’s MG4 Urban hatch and MG S5 electric SUV, both of which are available in Australia.

With additional ride height and space in this segment, this could be quite popular with families wanting to go electric for the first time.

The interior also shares a layout with the MG S5, which, of course, was carried over to the MG4 Urban, which launched locally in April 2026.

There is a large screen in the centre, as well as physical buttons for controls underneath the screen. However, the number of physical buttons has been reduced compared to earlier MG electric models, giving the interior a minimal look and ease of use when on the go.

There is also a 10.25-inch screen behind the steering wheel showcasing critical driving information.

The vehicle is longer than the MG4 Urban, coming in at 4.5 metres in length, and g- iven the pricing in China – it is a very compelling feature-packed EV.

This model also comes with a new battery pack, which the company calls a “liquid-solid state battery”, with a capacity of 54 kWh and is expected to deliver up to 510 km of CLTC range, which is likely to be around 400 km on the WLTP cycle.

A larger CATL-supplied battery pack is also available, which bumps the capacity to 64 kWh, adding around 100 km to the car’s range.

The MG 4X comes with a single rear-mounted motor delivering up to 125 kW of power, or a larger 150 kW motor in the top-spec variant. This, of course, is different from the Urban EV hatch, which has a front-wheel drive setup.

The new setup should help this small SUV reach 100 km/h from 0 in around 8 seconds, making it slightly slower than the currently available rear-drive MG4 electric hatchback.

This new MG is now available for sale in China, with exports likely to begin late in 2026. If the price falls below $35,000 in Australia, it could be quite a seller, competing with models such as the BYD Atto 2 or the upcoming GWM Ora 5 and Leapmotor B10.

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GENERAL MOTORS is bringing small block V8 production back to its spiritual home, confirming the next-generation LS6 V8 for the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette will be built at Flint, Michigan – the birthplace of the original Chevrolet small block.

 

The announcement marks both a technical milestone and a symbolic full-circle moment for GM with the sixth-generation small block returning to the same facility that produced the first V8 of its kind more than 70 years ago.

 

Beyond its heritage significance, the new naturally aspirated 6.7-litre (490ci) LS6 V8 arrives with serious performance credentials, producing 399kW/705Nm aided by a lofty 13.0:1 compression ratio.

 

GM says the new engine blends traditional American V8 philosophy with modern engineering refinement, preserving the overhead-valve architecture that has defined every small block since 1955.

 

The original Chevrolet small block V8 first rolled off the Flint production line on 9 July 1954, debuting as a 265 cubic-inch (4.3-litre) engine for the 1955 Corvette.

 

Since then, Flint has produced more than 40 million small block engines, while GM’s total global small block output has surpassed 100 million units.

 

The new LS6 series restores production to the site after Flint shifted away from small block manufacturing in 1999.

 

Flint Engine Operations plant director Paul Tanis said the move carries special significance.

 

“We are incredibly proud to bring the V8 back home to Flint, especially as we begin assembling the new LS6 here,” he said.

 

“This is more than just building an engine — it’s about honouring our heritage.”

 

While electrification continues reshaping the global automotive industry, GM’s new LS6 remains unapologetically traditional in layout.

 

Like every small block before it, the engine uses an overhead-valve (OHV) design – an architecture whose roots within GM stretch back even further than Chevrolet itself.

 

The concept traces to a 1904 Buick patent, making the LS6 part of a lineage spanning more than a century of GM engineering.

 

Small block assistant chief engineer Mike Kociba said the engineering brief deliberately embraced that history.

 

“With the LS6, we’re leaning into our Small Block history with a big-displacement, high-compression V8 engine,” he said.

 

The LS6 is destined for the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette, where it will continue the model’s long-standing association with naturally aspirated V8 performance.

 

While GM has not detailed final Corvette variant applications, the power output marks the engine as a significant evolution of the brand’s traditional performance formula.

 

At a time when rivals increasingly turn to downsized turbocharged engines, hybridisation or full electrification, GM is clearly betting there remains strong appetite for large-capacity naturally aspirated performance.

 

GM says the LS6 also reflects broader US manufacturing investment.

 

The automaker has invested nearly $US60 billion ($A84b) in domestic manufacturing since 2020, including upgrades at Flint.

 

The return of small block production adds further weight to Flint’s historical role in GM’s manufacturing story.

 

V8 enthusiasts will no doubt rejoice GM’s decision to produce the new small block V8 and for GM, the emotional pull may matter just as much.

 

Bringing the small block back to Flint transforms the LS6 into more than just another performance engine launch – it becomes a heritage statement, linking the next Corvette directly to one of the most iconic bloodlines in American automotive history.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 that arrived in the U.S. on Wednesday at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show raises big questions about small crossovers in the Mazda lineup. It would seem as if the larger CX-30 would replace the CX-3 subcompact crossover, but instead it slots between the CX-3 and CX-5, Mazda spokesman Drew Carey told us on the show floor.

The new model is similar to the CX-4 sold in China.  

Based on the redesigned Mazda3 compact sedan and hatch, the 2020 Mazda CX-30 has more interior space and cargo volume than the cramped CX-3, which is smaller than the Mazda3 hatchback. Mazda says the CX-30 blends coupe-like style with crossover-like proportions, but it looks like any other small Mazda crossover. The grille is lower and stretched into the LEDs, and the CX-30 gets a mesh insert instead of slats. It looks more like a smile than the opened-mouth laugh on the CX-3. Because it’s larger, the black cladding down the sides and over the wheel arches is more balanced and proportional than on the smaller space of the CX-3, and 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels are standard. 

The most significant difference is at the rear. The rear window is more integrated into the body design and the arched liftgate gives it a rounded form that also helps the function. It’s only five inches longer than the CX-3, and about an inch wider and taller, but has nearly double the cargo volume at 20.2 cubic feet (12.4 cu.ft. in the CX-3), same as the Mazda3 hatchback.

Even though the CX-30 is as wide as the Mazda3, it rides five inches taller for that higher seat position coveted by crossover shoppers. That, along with narrower pillars, should improve front and rear outward vision, which is a big complaint in the CX-3. Other interior improvements in space include a slanted rear footwell for a better fit for rear seat passengers. 

The interior design in the CX-30 is consistent with other Mazda vehicles. An 8.8-inch display screen embedded in the dash is controlled by a dial in the console. The horizontal line of vents and narrow band of climate controls create a clean, spartan look that matches Mazda’s move into more upscale refinement.

Standard features across the base CX-30 Select, Preferred, and Premium trims include Mazda Connected Services through a smartphone app, which enables remote start as well as vehicle service and status updates. Wi-fi is included for a six-month trial, and two USB ports come standard. 

The 2020 CX-30 ($22,945 including $1,045 destination) comes with Mazda’s active safety tech that includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and high-beam assist.

Select trim ($24,945) includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, keyless entry, synthetic leather seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels.

Preferred trim ($27,245) gets the CX-30 a-rockin with a Bose 12-speaker system, heated front seats, and eight-way power driver’s seat. At the top of the line, Premium ($29,245) includes leather seats, head-up display, adaptive lights, power tailgate, moonroof, adaptive lights, cylinder deactivation to conserve fuel and more.  

The front-wheel drive crossover is powered by a 186-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 with six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is a $1,400 upcharge on all models. The 2020 CX-30 is on sale now.