MG returns but not as we know it

The MG TF roadster was among the last MGs discontinued in Australia in June 2005 and now, confirming our report more than six months ago, the British brand has returned Down Under with a very different offering.

Now owned by China’s largest car-maker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), the MG brand has been revived here by the Toyota Corolla-sized MG6 small sedan and hatch, priced from $22,990 plus on-road costs.

Given a number of established brands have just launched all-new small cars here with a sub-$20,000 entry price, including the Corolla hatch and Nissan Pulsar sedan, that puts the first MG model available here in eight years at the premium end of Australia’s red-hot mainstream small-car segment.

Three specification grades are available now across the MG6 Magnette four-door sedan and MG6 GT five-door liftback line-up, including Standard ($22,990), Comfort ($24,990) and Luxury ($27,990) – all fitted with six airbags and stability/traction control.

All models are powered by a turbocharged 118kW/215Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that consumes 7.5L/100km with a standard five-speed manual transmission. So far there is no MG6 automatic.

Released in the UK two years ago, the MG6 employs components from the MG ZS that dates back more than a decade and is assembled in Longbridge from parts made in China, where the closely related Roewe 550 is sold.

A spokesperson for SAIC, whose MG brand is represented here by little-known Sydney-based distributor Longwell Motor, told motoring.com.au in February that the MG6 will be joined Down Under by the smaller MG3 hatch later this year.

MG’s first SUV, a compact crossover previewed by the MG CS Concept at this week’s Shanghai motor show is due here in 2014, when MG hopes to be represented in Australia by more than 20 dealers.

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