MG MOTOR launched the MG6 midsize hatchback this week at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China. Although we’ve already seen various images of the new MG, this week’s event marked the car’s official launch into the international market.
The MG6 represents the company’s first clean-slate design since the TF. MG, now wholly owned by Chinese conglomerate SAIC, hopes it will reinvigorate its vehicle line-up and boost production at its Birmingham plant in the UK.
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 for MG Motor UK said.
“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.”
Chinese-market MG6 models will be built at MG’s new plant in Lingang next month; a start date for UK production has yet to be announced. The MG6 will go on sale in China in January 2010, with an international roll-out to follow.
A five-seater, five-door hatchback, the MG6 is based on the Chinese Roewe 550. It is roughly equivalent to the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback in size - although a little larger and lower.
Power is expected to be supplied by two 1.8-litre petrol inline fours, one a 99kW naturally aspirated version and the other a 118kW turbocharged unit.
A number of smaller vehicles are also believed to be in the pipeline for MG Motor. A replacement for the ZR hatchback is rumoured to be on its way, and a new ZT large sedan is expected to debut within the next few years
More images here
Source: TMR