Since the 1920s, British auto manufacturer MG has provided the world with some quirky, yet iconic sports cars. MG (Morris Garages) fell on hard times in the 80s and 90s and has struggled to remain relevant ever since. Now under the ownership of China's largest car-maker SAIC, the firm is working to re-establish itself as a competitive marque. To this end, the company rolled-out its latest offerings at the Shanghai Auto Show this weekend including the MG3 hatchback and the MG CS Crossover concept.
MG CS CONCEPT
The MG CS concept signals the company’s intention to establish itself in the competitive crossover market. On the outside there’s not much to differentiate the MG CS from most other urban-influenced crossovers. Clean heavy lines on the horizontal are reminiscent of Audi’s Q5, while the high waistline and narrowing glass treatment eeks memories of Land Rover’s Evoque. Overall, for a first effort, the CS design holds its own rather well despite a heavy profile and borrowed influences.
With the design overseen by MG’s Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenny, the MG CS is intended to evoke “British design flair” while retaining MG genetics, although it is hard to find any MGB genealogical similarities.
MG CS headlights have a multi-faceted "shard" structure which refracts light in various colors and shapes from the side. The idea is intended to invoke and highlight MG’s trademark octagon badging in the front section.
Technical details on the MG CS concept are yet to be released and while the company says it is designed to "expand the global reach of the MG brand," there's no word on when an MG crossover will be hitting the road.
MG3
A production model based on the MG ZERO concept, the new MG3 "supermini" is a 5-door hatchback with its sights on the young, urban market.
The MG3 is short at 4 meters long, but should provide enough room for four adults of the six foot variety while making maneuvering in tight urban spaces a little easier.
Stylistically, the car is fairly innocuous. Despite MG’s claims of a “cheeky” design the overall look is homogeneously familiar. Over and above the car’s modest styling, owners can customize the wee MG3 up through an assortment of body graphics, interior trim options and dual colored wheels. Dual-color side skirts – perhaps the strongest link to the MG ZERO concept – also work to give the car a lower, more grounded stance.
Handling and suspension tweaks have been refined on the MG3 over many miles in an effort to provide a sporty yet nimble package. Powering the car is a 103.5 hp version of MG’s 16-valve, 4-cylinder VTi-TECH gas engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Full specifications, pricing and delivery dates of the MG3 will roll out over the next few months. Production is slated to get under way at MG's Birmingham site in coming months and UK and European launches are expected later this year.
MG was picked up in 2005 by Nanjing Automobile of China and then sold to the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in 2007. MG still operates a dedicated facility out of the UK as MG Motors.
Source: MG Motors
