MG Motor
MG Motor UK Limited (MG Motor) is a British automotive company headquartered in Longbridge, Birmingham, United Kingdom, [Two] and a subsidiary of SAIC Motor UK, which in turn is possessed by the Shanghai-based SAIC Motor. MG Motor designs, develops and markets cars sold under the MG marque. All MG vehicles are presently assembled in China, and MG Motor is the largest importer of Chinese made cars into the United Kingdom. The marque returned to competitive motorsport in 2012, and won the two thousand fourteen British Touring Car Manufacturers Championship.
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Following the collapse of MG Rover in 2005, the Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile acquired the Longbridge plant and the MG marque for GB£ fifty three million (US$97 million). [Three] [Four] Nanjing Automobile formally established NAC MG UK Limited as a holding company for the plant and marque on twelve April 2006. In March 2007, Nanjing Automobile unveiled the very first MG vehicles manufactured in China, the MG TF, MG three and MG 7. [Four]
Assembly of cars restarted at Longbridge in August 2007, with production of the MG TF LE500. [Five]
In 2007, Nanjing Automobile was acquired by SAIC Motor, [6] and in early two thousand nine NAC MG UK Limited was renamed MG Motor UK Limited. [7]
The very first all-new model from MG for sixteen years, the MG6, was officially launched on twenty six June two thousand eleven during a visit to MG Motor’s Longbridge plant by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. [8] [9] This car was imported shortly into the UK, but it was not a sales success and was withdrawn from sale in 2016.
By March 2012, SAIC had invested a total of £450 million in MG Motor. [Ten] Sales in the UK totalled seven hundred eighty two vehicles in 2012. [11]
The MG3 went on sale in the United Kingdom in September 2013. [12] [13]
MG Motor was voted third place for the ‘Best Manufacturer’ category in the Auto Express two thousand fourteen Driver Power survey. [14] two thousand fourteen also eyed MG celebrated its 90th bday. MG loved further celebrations with a record-breaking year that witnessed the company lead UK car industry growth in 2014. The brand’s sales rose by 361% during two thousand fourteen part thanks to the introduction of the MG3 to the product range, [15] with a total of Two,326 cars sold in the UK.
On twenty three September two thousand sixteen MG announced that all car production had ceased at Longbridge and henceforth MG vehicles would be imported into the UK. [16]
MG Motor operated the historic Longbridge plant. There is a major research and development facility at the site which employs around five hundred people, together with a design studio. [1] [17]
Until 2016, final assembly of some MG models took place at Longbridge using accomplish knock down kits produced in China. This activity was little by little diminished and in September two thousand sixteen it was announced that final assembly work at Longbridge would cease and all cars would be imported from China in a finished state, with the loss of twenty five jobs.
MG has a £30 million flagship dealership in the heart of London’s Piccadilly, which was opened in July 2015. [Legitimate] Its location is 47-48 Piccadilly, opposite Fortnum & Mason.
Current Edit
MG vehicles are designed and developed inbetween the Longbridge and Shanghai facilities in the United Kingdom and China respectively and are then manufactured in China. Assembly at the Longbridge plant continued after the MG-Rover Group’s collapse, with the MG TF, MG six and MG three being produced at Longbridge. It was announced in September 2016, that production at the Longbridge facility was to be stopped in two thousand sixteen and moved to China, with Matthew Cheyne, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor UK citing “moving production abroad was a necessary business decision”. Twenty five Employees were made redundant as a result of the stir and other employees moved to different areas. It marked the end of MG production in the UK. Longbridge has been retained and Research and Development is presently undertaken at the Longbridge Facility, Longbridge is also home to SMTC. [Nineteen] [20]
MG ZS ( XS in UK ) Edit
Unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Display in November 2016, It is MG’s 2nd SUV and uses the same name as the earlier Rover forty five based MG ZS. The MG ZS was launched on March 2017, for the Chinese market. It is to be announced at the London Motor Showcase in two thousand seventeen and is set to commence production for the UK market afterwards in late 2017. The MG ZS is smaller in size than the MG GS and will be placed below the MG GS in MG’s model range. There will be two engines available: a fresh version of the SMTC NSE 1.5L engine called NSE Plus which has 120hp and 150Nm with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, and a brand fresh 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo based on the Joint venture by GM & SAIC in the SGE family of petrol engines. The three Cylinder engines have 125hp and 170nm, with either a 6-speed DCT or a 6-speed manual transmission.
MG GS Edit
The MG GS is MG’s very first production SUV launched in 2015, with sales in the UK commencing in June 2016. The MG GS features front wheel drive and all wheel drive variants. The MG GS starts at £14,995, with a 1.Five litre turbo petrol engine delivering one hundred sixty six PS and 250NM Torque. The top of the range model also comes with the option of a seven speed automatic transmission. The MG GS is also available with a Two.0L Turbocharged four Cylinder engine, with 220PS. All wheel drive and the Two.0L engine is not available in the UK however.
MG three Edit
In 2010, MG unveiled the all fresh MG Trio, which was shown in concept car form as the MG Zero. The car was primarily launched in China with a choice of 1.3L or 1.5L petrol engines, and underwent a facelift in 2013, with sales in the UK following in September 2013. Also introduced with the MG three was the Xross model, which similar to the Rover Streetwise and the earlier NAC produced MG3 SW, features chunkier off road styling, raised suspension and roof bars.
For the two thousand sixteen Model year, the MG three was upgraded for the UK Market. The existing SMTC developed 1.5L petrol engine was tuned to meet EU six Emissions, Fitted with stop embark and fresh two-tone paint schemes were introduced.
During two thousand fourteen MG Motor UK was the fastest growing brand in Britain as shown by official figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Presently MG has the fastest growing network of dealers in the UK.
The MG3 was voted the 10th ‘Best Car To Own’ in the Auto Express Driver Power survey 2015.
MG GT Edit
The MG GT is a puny sedan, also known as the Fresh MG five in some markets, officially debuted in a box on the two thousand fourteen Chengdu Auto Display. The MG GT uses the same platform as the earlier MG five and subsequently the Roewe 350. Power is provided by two different engines: A 1.5L petrol engine producing 105PS & a Turbocharged 1.5L petrol engine producing 130PS.
Concepts Edit
MG E-Motion Edit
The MG E-Motion is an electrical sports car concept that was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Display 2017. The E-Motion features eye-catching butterfly doors and has a four seat layout inwards. It uses advanced connectivity systems and touchscreen infotainment for both the front and rear passengers. The E-Motion uses an all-electric powertrain that has been developed in house by SAIC, the concept is claimed to be capable of 0-62mph in less than Four.0sec. It has a range of over three hundred ten miles. [21]
MG Icon Edit
MG unveiled the MG Icon concept car at the Beijing Auto Display in 2012. It is the very first SUV concept car from the company and was created by the MG global design team headed by British director Anthony Williams-Kenny. The MG Icon takes inspiration from some of the legendary brand’s most famous sports cars including the MGA and MGB GT.
MG CS Edit
The MG CS is a SUV concept that was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Demonstrate 2013. The CS previews MG’s very first production SUV. The design team was led by MG’s Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenny.
The concept car is designed to slot into the compact SUV sector, one of the fastest growing areas of the global automotive market where style and sports utility predominate style trends.
MG EV Edit
The MG EV concept car was unveiled in two thousand fourteen based on the Roewe E50 to feast the marque’s 90th anniversary. The EV has a claimed acceleration 0-50 kph – Five.Trio seconds and 0–100 km/h – 14.6 seconds with a top speed – one hundred thirty km/h. The LFP battery generates fifty two kW and working in conjunction with the regenerative braking system enables a range of over one hundred km. The battery retains more than 80% capacity after Two,000 charging cycles, equivalent to approximately ten years of typical use. The battery takes six hours to fully charge on a standard charge (220–240V), while a swift charge (380–400V) takes just thirty minutes.
MG3 Trophy Edit
MG unveiled the MG3 Trophy Championship concept car at the MG90 event at Silverstone in June 2014.
The MG3 Trophy Championship concept, based on the MG3 production vehicle platform and created to highlight in-house engineering, design and calibration capabilities by SMTC UK at Longbridge, proceeds the MG tradition of club racing.
The racing concept was created solely by a team of engineers, managed by Vehicle Engineering Specialist Adrian Guyll, and based at SAIC Motor’s European Design and Technical Centre (SMTC), located alongside MG Motor UK at the Longbridge site in Birmingham. Specifications: two hundred four BHP one hundred fifty two KW (enlargened from 106PS) Torque two hundred fifty Nm (enlargened from one hundred thirty six NM) Boost 1.0 Bar 1.Five Vti Tech engine Total body-lightening programme without compromising on stiffness Limited slip differential Fully adjustable Macpherson strut front set up Bespoke anti-roll bar Adjustable front splitter Twin plane adjustable rear spoiler
Former Edit
MG TF Edit
The MG TF brand was relaunched in Britain during 2007. An updated MG TF model produced in a limited edition of 500, called the TF LE500, was assembled at the Longbridge plant by NAC MG UK. [22] This was followed by a TF one hundred thirty five model and a further limited edition TF 85th Anniversary, of which only fifty were produced. [23] Production of the TF at Longbridge was suspended again in October two thousand nine [24] and ultimately ended in March 2011. [25] MG have said that they will very first concentrate on building passenger cars, and have not given a release date for the TF’s successor.
MG3 SW Edit
The MG3 SW, a car similar to the Rover Streetwise, was manufactured and sold in China inbetween two thousand eight and 2011.
MG six Edit
The MG6 hatchback was announced in April 2009. [26] It is based on the Roewe 550.
The MG6 went on sale in Europe in May 2011. [27]
The MG6 GT received generally poor reviews, and the initial single engine choice (1.8 litre petrol) received some criticism. A 1.9 litre diesel engine was added in December 2012. It also had mixed reviews from some in the media as regards the quality of the lower dash plastics however some reviewers said the drive and treating made up for it. [ citation needed ]
A saloon version of the MG6, the MG6 Magnette, went on sale shortly in July two thousand eleven after making its debut in June 2011. [28] [29]
The MG6 won the What Car? two thousand twelve Security Award. In the Auto Express Driver Power survey in two thousand fourteen it won the ‘Best Treating Award’., [30] and came 6th overall in the ‘Best Car to Own’ category . [31] In two thousand sixteen the MG6 won three awards: Auto Express Driver Power Best Family Car Bronze Winner, Auto Express Driver Power Road Treating Silver Winner. [32] and The Caravan Club Tow Car of the year class winner under £17500. [33]
The MG6 Facelift was launched in 2015, with an updated look, improved interior design including EPB. Enhancements were also made including a seventy five kg (165 lb) reduction in weight to assist in reducing the emissions and improving fuel economy. [ citation needed ]
The MG6 was withdrawn from sale in the UK in 2016. [ citation needed ] It is still produced for some markets however.
MG five Edit
The MG five was originally unveiled at the two thousand eleven Shanghai Auto Display as a concept model. [34] [35] It is a Ford Concentrate sized hatchback using the same base as the Roewe 350, and evokes the light two box design and elegant style of the original MG (Austin) Maestro model produced by the predecessor company. It was released for sale in China in two thousand twelve but has never been exported to the UK.
In January 2012, MG Motor announced that it would come in the two thousand twelve British Touring Car Championship through the freshly established MG KX Momentum Racing team. [37] In its debut season the team ran two MG6s driven by Jason Plato and Andy Neate. Plato ended the season in third place, with the car yet to find its feet in moist conditions.
The team returned in two thousand thirteen with Sam Tordoff driving, who performed well in his debut year having joined through the KX Academy scheme. Plato once again came third, with Tordoff sixth.
In 2014, MG won the Manufacturer’s Championship [38] to break Honda’s four-year reign. After just three years of competition, the MG6 GT sealed the title by ninety five points at the season finale at Brands Hatch.
Drivers Plato and Tordoff racked up seven wins and twenty podiums in the 30-race calendar. Plato finished the Driver’s Championship in 2nd place, behind Colin Turkington, while Tordoff finished seventh. The two thousand fourteen season also eyed a third MG6 GT on the grid, driven by Marc Hynes and also maintained by Triple Eight but in a fresh livery which did not resemble the other two MG cars. Hynes finished his debut season in 18th.
For the two thousand fifteen campaign MG fought to regain the Manufacturers / Constructors title with a fresh driver lineup. Two thousand thirteen Champ Andrew Jordan and youthfull gun Jack Goff paired up in the MG6 to fight against Honda, BMW and Infiniti for the title. MG finished 2nd in the Manufacturers / Constructors title challenge, with Andrew and Jack in 5th and 9th position respectively in the drivers standings.
MG announced a fresh three-year contract extension with Triple Eight Racing for the two thousand sixteen BTCC campaign. The team plan was to bring in youthful and up-and-coming drivers with an intention to grow its own champ over the duration of the contract. Josh Cook, a former two thousand fourteen Renault UK Clio Cup Vice-Champion, and BTCC two thousand fifteen Jack Sears Trophy winner (award for the top rookie) and Ashley Sutton, graduating to BTCC after leaving the Renault Clio Cup as reigning two thousand fifteen champ, were announced as the fresh line up for MG. After a hard fought campaign the MG drivers finished in 12th and 13th place respectively, with Ash picking up the Jack Sears Trophy for the top rookie.