Thursday 17th February 2011

The Red Octagon Returns, Along With The 'K-Series'

147bhp turbocharged 1.8 to power new MG 'family' models

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MG6 saloon alongside the new logo

MG Motor UK has launched what it calls a 'bold, modern' interpretation of the classic Red Octagon logo as part of a new corporate identity for the UK and Europe.

The new logo has just been unveiled alongside the saloon version of the new MG6 model that will soon roll off the production line at MG Birmingham - assembled from kits of parts imported from China. It's a family car in the Ford Focus mould, which doesn't make it a natural for the PH home page perhaps, although the car's K-Series derived engine looks interesting for a variety of reasons. (And when Autocar drove a prototype last year they suggested its ride and handling could be up there with the best in class.)

More of these should spring up soon...

Now known as the N-Series, but in engineering terms effectively a 3rd generation K-Series, the car's new engine will be available in 1.8-litre turbocharged guise with an output just shy of 150hp. Upgrades have been made to the cooling, lubrication system, and the head gasket, we're told. MG6 sales start this summer.

A quick spin around the MG website reveals there's still even a possibility that more TFs will be built. "For the past three years, MG Motor UK has been batch building this iconic British favourite," says the blurb. "With no decision taken as to whether a further production batch will be commissioned, this could by your last chance to own a piece of British motoring history."

 

 

[davidporeilly]

If the chinese thought that their purchase of the MG brand was a cunning strategic acquisition of modern western car making technology, they were wrong.

[ewenm]

That power figure (147bhp) is pathetic for a turbo'd 1.8 - I've got a NA Rover 1.8 VVC K-Series in the Caterham that produces 160bhp out of the box and can easily be tuned to 190+ so how have they produced a 1.8 Turbo with less power than that?

[V8mate]

Indeed. Most manufacturers are achieving 180bhp from t/c 1.4 units now. The nicest thing you could say about this engine is that it's 'retro'.

[HellDiver]

My terminally ill GM 1.8VVT rolling roaded to 161hp. Standard. MG - Fail.

[_Batty_]

ewenm said:

That power figure (147bhp) is pathetic for a turbo'd 1.8 - I've got a NA Rover 1.8 VVC K-Series in the Caterham that produces 160bhp out of the box and can easily be tuned to 190+ so how have they produced a 1.8 Turbo with less power than that?

Oddly the VVC always felt like it wanted to give more, but was let down on the breathing side.
It also gave in a ZR about 37mpg average, which was really rather good. Any figures on the new 'MG'

[zebedee]

ewenm said:

That power figure (147bhp) is pathetic for a turbo'd 1.8 - I've got a NA Rover 1.8 VVC K-Series in the Caterham that produces 160bhp out of the box and can easily be tuned to 190+ so how have they produced a 1.8 Turbo with less power than that?

pretty much what I came on here to post! Wonder if it is to do with emissions, quite likely as this car seems to be about making financial sense to buyers rather than wowing with performance and specific output?

[ewenm]

_Batty_ said:

Oddly the VVC always felt like it wanted to give more, but was let down on the breathing side.
It also gave in a ZR about 37mpg average, which was really rather good. Any figures on the new 'MG'

Absolutely. The "easy tuning" is mainly swapping the plenum for roller-barrel throttle bodies to allow it to breathe more deeply I've got a set sat in the garage...

[Mr E]

_Batty_ said:

Oddly the VVC always felt like it wanted to give more, but was let down on the breathing side.

Feels ok in my S2 with minor tweeks.

(It'll go bang now...)

[_Batty_]

Mr E said:

Feels ok in my S2 with minor tweeks.

(It'll go bang now...)

perhpas the Lotus ECU is more top end bias?
Ewenm, don't tell let the O/H hear that, she loved her K series, and wants another

[Alexywhite]

'MG Motor UK'........ Shouldnt it be MG motors UK?

[fido]

ewenm said:

That power figure (147bhp) is pathetic for a turbo'd 1.8

My thoughts too .. assuming they also bought some expertise along with Powertrain .. why didn't they enlarge the unit properly to 2.0 litres sorting out some of the disproportioned bore/stroke issues. That alone would have produced c.150bhp without a frikin' turbo and head gasket issues.

It'd better be superly reliable with such a mediocre specific output.

[kambites]

ewenm said:

That power figure (147bhp) is pathetic for a turbo'd 1.8 - I've got a NA Rover 1.8 VVC K-Series in the Caterham that produces 160bhp out of the box and can easily be tuned to 190+ so how have they produced a 1.8 Turbo with less power than that?

It'll be tuned for economy not power, I suppose. Or they're aiming to have gazillion mile service intervals.

[V8mate]

Alexywhite said:

'MG Motor UK'........ Shouldnt it be MG motors UK?

Say it with a Chinese accent.

[kambites]

I think the 6 saloon looks pretty reasonable, although the wheel arches are still too small for the bulk of the car.

[hornetrider]

Sweet mother of pearl how have they extracted so little power from the engine?

[R500POP]

Have you seen it from the front, they have actually managed to make a car that looks Chinese

[kambites]

Why do people have this hang-up on specific power output. 150bhp is reasonable enough for an engine in a car of this size, who cares what the capacity of the engine is? It's obviously not going to set the world on fire, but it would put it somewhere around the middle of the focus range. As long as it can match a 150bhp Focus on economy as well as power, I don't see a problem.

[Oddball RS]

Its a straight copy isn't it? the 1.8t in the ZT was rated at 150Bhp. Judd get the K2000 to 270Bhp, but its a weeny bit more expensive.

[bob1179]

If it means more jobs in the UK, I say good luck to them.

I think the killer for the new 'MG6' will be the fact there will be no diesel option at launch. As far as I know, nobody would sell a diesel engine to the Chinese to fit into the car.

Due to this issue, there will be few (if any) fleet sales and the amount of private buyers willing to buy this motor will be very small.

[ewenm]

kambites said:

Why do people have this hang-up on specific power output. 150bhp is reasonable enough for an engine in a car of this size, who cares what the capacity of the engine is? It's obviously not going to set the world on fire, but it would put it somewhere around the middle of the focus range. As long as it can match a 150bhp Focus on economy as well as power, I don't see a problem.

It's more that they've taken a 1.8 K-Series (which produced 145bhp+) and changed it into a 1.8 N-Series plus a turbo without producing any more power. As you say, it must be emissions-based design changes (although the K-Series wasn't particularly bad or thirsty in a light car) or perhaps service intervals.