Monday 26th April 2010

MG Zero Takes Aim At BMW Mini

New Brit-designed supermini revealed by MG's Chinese owners

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This is the new MG Zero concept, a British-designed supermini that the company's Chinese owners are hoping will tempt you out of your BMW Mini in 2011.

The MG Zero has been unveiled at the Beijing motor show and, according to the official press statement, reflects the latest trends in the market for vehicle size, styling and technology and is designed to show how MG will offer products that will appeal to a wide audience across the global market.

"This concept shows a bold, individual soul," says MG Global Design Team director Tony Williams. "The bonnet is formed around the famous octagonal badge, the graphics flow into striking lamps and the large lower grille completes the confident, sporty character. The body-side has a strong shoulder, a dynamic scalloped feature in the doors and flared arches to give a wide stance and strong road presence. The feature lines have been designed to give a strong relationship to the wheel arch demonstrating the fun nature of the car's dynamics."

"MG Zero is crucial to the development of the brand globally," adds Guy Jones, MG Motor UK sales and marketing director. "It gives clear direction for the future beyond the current products. We are all proud to see our British-designed vehicle wearing the MG badge creating such an impact in Beijing. With the MG TF back in production in Birmingham, sales increasing and the MG6 coming at the end of the year, the MG ZERO has come at the perfect time to build further awareness and interest in the brand here in the UK."

There's no official word on the engine options that could power the new MG, but Autocar has reported that it's likely to get a new range of four-pots, in 1.3 and 1.5 litre capacities - with a 156bhp turbocharged version also on the cards.

[Andrew[MG]]

It's not going to look anything like that is it?

[jayfish]

Some nice styling but an MG? Seriously no!
This brand dilution should have died with the maestro/montego, call it a Rover ffs!

Edited by jayfish on Monday 26th April 12:52

[Stu R]

It's err... different.

[vintageracer01]

Interesting design approach.

I like the interior especially. I hope not to many engineers put it back to some boring grey plastic pastiche as it usually happens.

[twin sparky]

Good luck to them... If the products right them people will buy them.


Eventually.

[forzaminardi]

It looks OK in a modern, trying-too-hard way, but "meh" sums it up. Is MG a relevant brand to anyone any more?

Anyway - "MG Motor UK sales and marketing director" - surely that's the easiest job in the motor industry? They don't have anything to sell or market!

[V88Dicky]

Citroen C3/Fiat Punto hybrid in the looks department.

[Justayellowbadge]

jayfish said:

Some nice styling but an MG? Seriously no!
This brand dilution should have died with the maestro/montego, call it a Rover ffs!

Edited by jayfish on Monday 26th April 12:52

They can't, they don't own the name.

[5lab]

jayfish said:

Some nice styling but an MG? Seriously no!
This brand dilution should have died with the maestro/montego, call it a Rover ffs!

Edited by jayfish on Monday 26th April 12:52

except the rover badge is owned by ford, who might have some objections to SAIC stealing their trademarks

[Bugeyeandy]

If you cover up the back in that first pic it looks fantastic.

If you cover up the front it looks just like a BMW 1 - series.

[jayfish]

Wover then :P

[russy01]

good luck to them, you see sooo many MG's on the road, its a shame they are no more.

[TheRoadWarrior]

If those are 'flared arches' I would hate to see the version without them.. ought to be positively concave.

[Bugeyeandy]

1 SERIES



MG ZERO

[wab172uk]

Bugeyeandy said:

1 SERIES



MG ZERO

And the front end of the new DS3

[dvance]

It screams Citroen to me, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but one would figure they could have been a bit more original...

[soad]

dvance said:

It screams Citroen to me.

To me too - those Chinese do like to copy some designs, it seems. But so do a lot of other manufacturers...

[Oakey]

Those renditions, especialy the interior one, look like something you'd find in a book published in the 80's speculating what cars of the future might look like

[chunkymonkey71]

I think it looks like a tarted up version of the new Polo.

[Silent1]

MG Zero


Citroen DS3