Thursday 26th November 2009

New MG6 Will Be Built In Britain

Pledge to assemble new model in Birmingham from next year

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The Chinese-owned MG Motors UK has announced its new MG6 will be built in Birmingham from next year.

According to a notice on MG's website, production will begin in China at an all new plant next month, while 'it is also planned to commence production of the MG6 at the Birmingham plant in the UK before the end of 2010'.

The company describes the MG6 as 'a sporting five seat fastback model, designed to capture the character of the MG brand and bring something different to the volume market'.

Specifications for UK and European markets have not been released, but Chinese market MG6 as revealed at this month's Guangzhou motor show is powered by two engines - a 133bhp four-cylinder and a range-topping turbo version with 160bhp.

The MG6 was styled in the UK, and is apparently the first of a wave of new MGs planned by the company's Chinese bosses.

The new model also displays a new modernised version of the famous MG octagon badge for the first time. 'The world famous MG brand has never had such a bright future as it starts to expand global sales with an exciting new range of products,' the company says.

[dwilkie]

Surprisingly, I find myself thinking it doens't look THAT bad...

[patmahe]

me too, if this is priced properly it could do well.

[pistonlager]

I don't really care what the car looks like, it's the job creation that's the good part.

[Andeh]

Isn't that a Vauxhall steering wheel?

[CypherP]

pistonlager said:

I don't really care what the car looks like, it's the job creation that's the good part.

Very true. The only other part will be that it appeals to enough people to keep it being built. Great news for the people currently out of work.

[axbeale]

Looks like a dolly mixture of Ford and Vauxhall....but it is good to hear that there are going to be plenty of jobs created..

[craggers]

What sort of engine ? still using k-series in some way ?

[drewcole81]

First thought was is is a Mundano...

But looking at it again I think it looks quite nice, if it comes out looking the same as the pictures and build quality is good then I'd hope it will do well.

[Neomagic]

Mondeo eat your heart out!

[brutepower]

WEAK.

A range topping 160bhp.

Good luck to them, they will need it.

[kambites]

craggers said:

What sort of engine ? still using k-series in some way ?

Yes, it's an N-series which is a slightly reworked K. They claim to have sorted out the head gasket problems, but then we've heard that before with different revisions of the K.

[KingJeff 4th]

brutepower said:

WEAK.

A range topping 160bhp.

Good luck to them, they will need it.

Agreed

Needs a range topper of 300bhp + RWD to make it more iconic. But maybe their not going for that market.

But maybe thats just the PH view.

Mass market might like fuel efficiency and so on.

I like it, and for the sake of the british workforce, i hope people buy them.

[dwilkie]

kambites said:

craggers said:

What sort of engine ? still using k-series in some way ?

Yes, it's an N-series which is a slightly reworked K. They claim to have sorted out the head gasket problems, but then we've heard that before with different revisions of the K.

To be fair generally the later K's, especially with the Land Rover Multilayer type gasket where fine. Having said that I never had any of the 3 early K's fail me either, neither did my mother in her ZR (later K). Horses for courses I guess.

[dublet]

Looks nice, will no doubtedly be cheap. I also presume it will get about -1 NCAP stars for safety given Brilliance's track record.

Still good effort, if it can be truely cheap and cheerfull, it will no doubt be a big sales hit.

[kambites]

dwilkie said:

kambites said:

craggers said:

What sort of engine ? still using k-series in some way ?

Yes, it's an N-series which is a slightly reworked K. They claim to have sorted out the head gasket problems, but then we've heard that before with different revisions of the K.

To be fair generally the later K's, especially with the Land Rover Multilayer type gasket where fine. Having said that I never had any of the 3 early K's fail me either, neither did my mother in her ZR (later K). Horses for courses I guess.

True. There will still more failures than other engines tend to have, but a lot less than the earlier engines.

[Mark Wibble]

brutepower said:

WEAK. A range topping 160bhp.

KingJeff 4th said:

Needs a range topper of 300bhp + RWD to make it more iconic.

Or maybe a happy medium...? If you're going to call something "sporty" 160 should be the base model given the unnecessary lard (I mean "suite of valuable safety and comfort features") modern cars have to put up with. Then something with 200+ would be nice. Obviously 300 with RWD (or 4WD) would be even nicer but I can't see that coming this soon...

[ukaskew]

Good bit of news for British industry. I wonder if they will still include a built in cassette holder like my other halfs ZR (that came with a CD player as standard )

[elster]

Well hopefully it is a good car for the budget end.

As if not it is pretty pointless starting up a factory employing a few hundred people to sack them all in 12 months.

[J4CKO]

I think it looks great, priced right it should do well as it will capture those who want to buy British and those who bought them before, it is based on the 75/ZT platform so its crashworthiness should be good and I would be surprised if it didnt get 5 stars as the 75 was 4 back in 2001 so with some adaptation it is possible as the basic structure is very strong. I would hope the Headgasket issue is not a problem anymore, much development would lead me to beleive they have sorted it once and for all, if they havent then that is a shame

The chassis was great and is still competitive now (go drive one), I have a Saab 9-3 Aero of the later variety and my dads ZT drives much better than that, firm without being hard, not crashy, direct steering.

Will be nice to have some home grown product again, even if it is Chinese owned now, fair play to them for taking it on.

MGJohn will be in ecstacy !

[Fury1630]

"........but Chinese market MG6 as revealed at this month's Guangzhou motor show is powered by two engines - a 133bhp four-cylinder and a range-topping turbo version with 160bhp."

So is one in the front & one in the back? does the turbo engine just kick in for overtaking? Or an I being faseeshus?