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Clive Goldthorp

SAIC Motor-owned MG’s most important hatchback since the 1981 MG Metro has been launched in its home market of China today. The MG6 is a five-door fastback which features conventionally handsome styling and is powered by an evolution of the K-Series engine in 1.8-litre turbo and normally aspirated forms. Most excitingly, SAIC Motor has announced plans to assemble the MG6 in the UK.

The car was announced at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China and marks the start of what the company describes as an exciting new global future for the MG brand. The launch in China, the world’s largest automotive market, begins the international roll out of sales of MG6 which includes the UK. Sales in China will begin in January and plans for the UK and other markets will be released during 2010.

SAIC Motor’s President, Chen Hong, told reporters that production of MG6 for the Chinese market will begin at the brand new state of the art factory in Lingang during December 2009 and that the company also plans to commence production of the MG6 at the Birmingham plant in the UK before the end of 2010.

This is a milestone day for MG and for the UK automotive industry.MG has begun the international launch of an all new model that has been designed and engineered here in the UK, for the global automotive market.” Guy Jones, Sales and Marketing Director, MG Motor UK Limited

MG Motor UK Limited say that the MG6 is designed to capture the character of the MG brand and bring something different to the volume market. The new model carries a modernised version of the famous MG octagon badge for the first time. This new design is planned to carry forward on to all new MG models and also features in the new corporate identity for the launch in China which bears the historic Morris Garages name.

Guy Jones, Sales and Marketing Director for MG Motor UK said: ‘This is a milestone day for MG and for the UK automotive industry. MG has begun the international launch of an all new model that has been designed and engineered here in the UK, for the global automotive market. Currently we only build and sell the mid-engined TF sports car here in the UK, but we can now look forward to expanding the range of MG products.’

[Editor's Note: AROnline readers should note that the above article replaces one which was originally published on the 20th November, 2009 and that a number of the Readers' Comments which appear below were made in response to that story.]

About the MG6
MG6 Key Dimensions
Length: 4651 mm
Width: 1826 mm (without mirrors)
Height: 1480 mm

MG6 Specifications
Engine capacity: 1796cc
Maximum power: 1.8 133bhp, 1.8T 158bhp

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Gallery

MG Birmingham, Chen Hong, Guangzhou Auto Show, Guy Jones, MG Motor UK Limited, MG UK, MG6, SAIC Motor

Roy Locock arrives back in Abingdon at the wheel of Bridget his 1977 MG Midget

Roy Locock, 62, from Chinnor, arrived at the MG Car Club’s Abingdon headquarters after completing his challenge 16 months, 27 countries, and 39,000 miles after setting off. Now his trusty Abingdon-built MG Midget – affectionally known as Bridget – which has needed major work throughout the trip, will be retired from the road.

The retired Radio Engineer decided to attempt the challenge when his neighbour Alan Lines said the feat was impossible. Within 12 weeks, Mr. Locock set off to prove him wrong. That was in June last year. He said: “It has been an absolutely amazing experience. I had two sports bags in the passenger seat with all my clothes in, and that was it. The boot was filled with spare parts.

“One of the first things I have to do is see my two grandchildren. The youngest one, Matilda, doesn’t really know me. She was only six months old when I left. I just love travelling, and I will miss that, but it’s good to be back to see friends and family.”

I woke up one morning and the hotel was shaking. There was mortar fire outside, followed by small arms fire. The Taliban were firing on the army garrison next door.” Roy Locock

Mr. Locock completed the drive despite being caught up in an earthquake in Panama and a Taliban attack in Quetta, Pakistan. He said: “I woke up one morning and the hotel was shaking. There was mortar fire outside, followed by small arms fire. The Taliban were firing on the army garrison next door.

“But the only time I was really concerned for my safety was in the Northern Territories in Australia, when it suffered the worst floods in 30 years. Over here, really bad floods are 6ft deep, but over there, they are 66ft. I was held up in Queensland for four weeks.”

Mr. Locock added: “Bridget was absolutely amazing. If you gave me an hour to give her a polish, she really does still look very smart.”

Mr. Locock hopes to publish a book about his adventure, but not before planning a new trip – to drive the length of Africa. Mr. Lines, who was at the MG Car Club to greet him, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement, and I’m delighted to be proven wrong. To be honest, I thought he’d get half way round the world and give up.”

Any readers wishing to find out more about the adventure should visit Bridget the Midget’s website.

[Source: Oxford Mail]

MG Abingdon, Bridget the Midget, MG Car Club, MG Midget, Roy Locock

The town centre of Windsor was brought to a halt last Saturday when over 1000 MGs converged on Windsor Great Park to participate in the Royal Windsor MG Heritage Festival and celebrate the historic marque’s 85th anniversary.

HRH Prince Philip reviewed a parade of some 220 cars which represented nearly every model manufactured by MG since the original company’s inception in 1924. The Duke of Edinburgh owned an MG TC in 1946 and all the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Prince Philip Trust Fund for the Royal Borough of Windsor. The Prince Philip Trust Fund, which was established 25 years ago, assists in training young people and encourages them to undertake voluntary work.

The event’s primary sponsor, MG Motor UK Limited, took the opportunity to unveil the two newest versions of the MG TF to the public – the entry-level TF 135 and the TF 85 limited edition which marks the marque’s 85th anniversary. MG UK also donated a brand new MG TF LE500 to the Prince Phillip Trust Fund for auction in order to help raise further funds.

He Xiaoqing, MG Motor UK Limited’s President, said: “To be major sponsors of the Royal Windsor MG Heritage Festival, such a prestigious event, in MG’s 85th year was extremely exciting and a very proud moment for us. It has been an honour to be involved in such a wonderful event as only the third automotive marque to receive this accolade, which has raised money for the Prince Philip Trust Fund. It has also been the perfect celebration of MG enthusiasts’ commitment and ongoing enthusiasm for the brand.”

MG HRH Prince Philip, MG TF 135, MG TF 85th Anniversary, Royal Windsor MG Heritage Festival

Words: Keith Adams Photography: Dan Strong

A new MG at last! The MG 6 might be billed as a concept but the production version will be on sale in China later this year and at a dealer near you here in the UK during 2010.

The wraps came off a new MG hot hatch for the first time since 2001 when the British marque’s Chinese owners, SAIC Motor, chose Auto Shanghai to reveal the latest product to wear the famous octagon badge.

The new sporting fastback shares its underpinnings with the Roewe 550, which is based on the proven platform from the Rover 75. The MG 6 is shorter and lighter than the Roewe 550 and, in 1.8-litre turbocharged form (likely to be the biggest seller in China), should crack 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of around 130mph.

The MG 6 was styled and engineered in the UK by the team at SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited which recently moved from Leamington Spa to Longbridge.

Although we did not have a chance to look under the MG’s shapely bonnet, we know that it’s powered by a slightly reworked version of Rover’s K-Series engine, now known as the N-Series. SAIC Motor is believed to be in talks with various European partners over a diesel engine supply deal – the company has Joint Venture Agreements with both General Motors and Volkswagen Group and both companies are rumoured to be in negotiation with SAIC Motor.

The MG 6’s announcement marks a potentially major breakthrough for China’s Automotive Industry because the car has been specifically designed for export markets. Chinese buyers are notoriously conservative in their tastes – most choose saloons in preference to hatchbacks. However, the MG 6 was styled and engineered in the UK by the team at SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited which recently moved from Leamington Spa to Longbridge.

[Editor's Note: Ash Sutcliffe of China Car Times has now visited Auto Shanghai and any AROnline readers wishing to view his Gallery of MG 6 photographs should click on this link to his MG 6: The Verdict article.]

MG Auto Shanghai, MG, MG 6, MG 6 Concept, SAIC Motor, SMTC UK

Keith Adams

More images of the fastback styled MG 6 have appeared on Chinese websites ahead of the unveiling of the initial Concept model at Auto Shanghai next week. The new car, which shares its underpinnngs and powertrain with the Roewe 550, is conventionally styled with a sloping rear end at odds with current automotive fashion.

SAIC Design’s British styling team, which was until recently based in Leamington Spa, have conceived a sporting car which seems, in the metal, to lack some of the aggression promised by the concept renderings which emerged earlier this month.

Along with the unveiling of the MG and Roewe concepts at Auto Shanghai next week, MG UK are due to announce that new versions of the TF roadster will go into production at Longbridge. Keep tuned to AROnline for further details.

MG MG 6, SAIC Design

Keith Adams

SAIC Design’s renderings of the MG 6 Concept have now filtered onto the web and hint at an exciting future line-up of sporting hatchbacks based upon the critically acclaimed Roewe 550. The new hatchback is already deep into a stringent global development programme, with the latest sightings in Germany. The 1.8-litre turbocharged hot hatch will initially be built in China but production in Longbridge still hangs in the balance due to the global economic downturn.

The new-age MG ZS is set to make its world debut at next week’s Auto Shanghai  - at least in concept form – but it’s clear that the focus will be on aggressive styling and sporting dynamics. The MG 6 is the first in a series of three saloon/hatchback models intended to re-establish the MG marque globally, with the TF (which is built in Longbridge and China) doing its best in the sports car market pending the development of a successor.

Despite bullish predictions for UK production last year, the chances of the MG 6 being built here are looking increasingly unlikely – the economic case for that has become harder to justify and SAIC Motor has reportedly expressed an interest in acquiring a stake in General Motors Europe. Longbridge’s chances have also not been help by the failure of the TF LE500 to find buyers (it was pre-sold to dealers who have been unable to pass their cars onto new customers, despite heavy discounts).

The Roewe 550’s emergence onto the European market looks certain to be sooner rather than later, given the recent sighting in Germany. The car pictured is wearing standard German number plates and so will have passed the local equivalent of the SVA – and that means it’s more or less compliant with all German (and therefore EU) regulations. The MG 6’s passage into Europe will be eased by the 550’s EU homologation…

However, perhaps the most important point revealed by the images of the MG 6 and Roewe N1 is that, at least in China, MG=hatchback and Roewe=saloon.

MG, MG UK, SAIC Motor MG 6, Roewe 550, Roewe N1

George Gao, Shanghai, Gasgoo.com, 24th February, 2009

In its effort to cut costs, Chinese auto giant SAIC is merging the sales networks of its Roewe and MG brands and aims to sell 60,000 Roewe and MG cars this year, up 67% from their sales in 2008, said sina.com today.

In 2009, SAIC will launch two new models of the Roewe and MG brands – a Roewe SUV model and a compact medium-size MG6 model. The sales target of the two brands for this year is set at 60,000 units, with 45,000 Roewe cars and 15,000 MG cars. The MG6 will be launched in late 2009. Slightly revamped MG3 and MG7 models, with all-new interiors and upgraded configurations, will also go to the market.

The Roewe and MG brands sold less than 36,000 cars in 2008 and their expected sales growth of 67% this year will be still far from profit-making goals. The MG cars are made by Nanjing MG Auto Co, which is merging into Nanjing Auto, now a division of SAIC. SAIC developed its own-brand Roewe based on the British Rover it bought.

Currently, some MG cars have entered the Roewe dealerships in some cities and areas of China. The two brands of SAIC will be coming to a united sales network this year for the auto giant to cut costs.

SAIC is the first leading automaker in China to announce its plans to lower costs after the financial crisis. As China’s auto sales growth is expected to dive to the lowest point of 5% since 1998, more domestic carmakers will follow suit to cut costs and boost profitability.

[Source: Gasgoo.com]

China Watch, MG, Roewe, SAIC Motor MG, Roewe, SAIC Motor

John Revill, Automotive News Europe, 21st January, 2009

The company that runs the remnants of former UK automaker MG Rover has dropped a reference to its Chinese parent from its name. NAC MG UK has changed its name to MG Motor UK to emphasize the MG name, a company spokesman said.

Nanjing Automobile Company or NAC bought MG Rover’s assets in July 2005, three months after the UK’s last domestically owned volume carmaker collapsed through financial difficulties. In December 2007, NAC was bought by its larger Chinese rival SAIC.

Meanwhile, about 30 workers have been laid off at Longbridge. The Chinese-owned company has laid off up to 30 temporary contract workers in the latest blow to manufacturing in the West Midlands industrial heartland of the UK.

MG Motor UK said the name was changed to reinforce the MG brand. “The new name will help strengthen the company’s reputation and re-emergence in the market by emphasizing the already well known MG brand,” the company spokesman said. MG Motor UK is based at the former MG Rover factory in Longbridge, central England.

NAC launched the MG TF LE500 roadster in the UK in September. The two-seater sports car is assembled at Longbridge from kits shipped from China. Last year, the company said it expected to introduce further models to Longbridge in the next three years. No firm export plans have yet been announced.

Meanwhile, about 30 workers have been laid off at Longbridge. The Chinese-owned company has laid off up to 30 temporary contract workers in the latest blow to manufacturing in the West Midlands industrial heartland of the UK.

The lay-offs are among staff who recently transferred from the Shanghai Motor Technical Centre in Leamington Spa – a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAIC/Nanjing – to Longbridge. The firm’s Longbridge workforce now numbers about 380, with 250 transferred from Leamington to add to the 130 already on site.

[Source: Automotive News Europe]

Longbridge, MG MG