Small and large SUV to follow GS

MG is planning to extend its line-up with two new SUVs. One will be of a similar size to the Nissan X-Trail and the other will be smaller and compete in the same sector as the Nissan Juke.

The new models will complete a three-SUV MG line-up that will include the mid-sized GS, due to be launched next month [June].

Speaking to Autocar at the London motor show, MG sales and marketing boss Matthew Cheyne said: “You have to be playing in the right segments, and clearly the SUV segment is a growth market."

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mg-lines-new-suvs-rival-nissan-x-trail-and-juke

I had hoped that a MG3 facelift with new 'cubetech' 1.0L Turbo petrol engine would be next on the list for the UK but as you say, it looks like it will be the GS's 'baby brother' (Matthew Cheyne quote) next.

The timeline for this seems to be a launch in China later this year with the UK model appearing here late in 2017.

Maybe the MG3 facelift will then appear in 2018 before the larger model suv in 2019.

The '6 looks set for a quiet departure from the MG line up as early as later this year.

All MG6 will have to be registered by August as the engine is not euro 6 compliant. MG will be back to just a 2 car line up from September.

ex-rover wrote:All MG6 will have to be registered by August as the engine is not euro 6 compliant.  MG will be back to just a 2 car line up from September.

It's like spinning plates. When the 6 was launched, the TF was also discontinued because of emissions. The BTCC is a three-year deal and the 3 is too short for the regs. No other SUVs in it, I expect their centre of gravity is too high. Presumably they can go on racing the 6. A Golf-sized MG5 car would be OK (Civic) but it would have to be on sale here.

Yes it is a very odd situation MG Motor keeps finding it self in. Just as they have a range of cars it goes back down to two within a couple of months. It does seem as though they will have to stick with racing the 6 in btcc but as this venture appears to cost them a minimal amount then its cheap advertising for the brand if not the car it self.

ex-rover wrote:Yes it is a very odd situation MG Motor keeps finding it self in. Just as they have a range of cars it goes back down to two within a couple of months. It does seem as though they will have to stick with racing the 6 in btcc but as this venture appears to cost them a minimal amount then its cheap advertising for the brand if not the car it self.

Yes, they have still not established a full UK network either (though we have the Piccadilly showroom to feed it) and it seems that Euro expansion is still on hold after all these years.

But Mazda (and, to a lesser extent, Fiat) can sell their sportscar precisely because they have a range to sell - about five Mazdas and three Fiats?

Well the lack of range and options is always going to be a barrier to expanding the dealer network. Personally I feel the London showroom is nothing more than a vanity purchase on behalf of SAIC the 30 million plus it cost could have been spent on Longbridge or opening dealers in other parts of the country if Longbridge is not part of the long term plan. Venturing into Europe appears to be just as far away as ever at the current time.

The sportscars are a good compliment to Mazda and Fiats ranges and im sure add decent volume to those companies dealers just as TF would have done with MG Rover. SAIC have no interest in making a sports car they see SUV's as the way to go at the present time with Roewe their premium brand and MG at the slightly lower end of the market.

ex-rover wrote:SAIC have no interest in making a sports car they see SUV's as the way to go at the present time...

It's an astoundingly successful strategy for SsangYong.

They do appear to be doing far better now they are free from SAIC.....