BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: MG Icon takes the high road

MG is a marque best-associated with teeth-rattling roadsters that belt out a fruity exhaust note... but not much in the way of performance (barring perhaps the V8 models).

Owned since 2007 by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC for short), MG and sister brand Rover have in recent years veered their line-ups more towards mainstream sedans and coupes, and pictured alongside are the first renderings of an SUV concept that will be unmasked at next week’s Beijing motor show.

Known internally as the AS21, but publically referred to as the Icon, the SUV design study is said to be a precursor to a production model that will launch in the Chinese market in 2014.

Dimensionally similar to Nissan’s oddball Juke – but not the bulging, manic R version – the Icon uses the same platform as the Roewe (which is how the locals pronounce Rover) 350 and MG 5 that are pitched primarily at the Chinese market.

The Icon is propelled by an SAIC-built 1.5-litre turbo four-pot that ekes out 101kW and 200Nm, relayed to the wheels via a six-speed manual or optional six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Visually, the SUV design study incorporates some classic MGB touches, such as the round headlights and rectangular grille, but its proportions appear to have more in common with the Mini Paceman concept and Mini Countryman.

Going on the renderings, it’s not an unattractive car, barring the odd looking protuberances jutting out from below the headlights. The rear three-quarter view is probably its best angle, with muscular haunches framing the fastback roofline (which harks back to the MGB GT).

Among the Icon’s distinctive design elements are suicide rear doors (a la Mini Clubman, which has one such door on the passenger side), while inside the cabin are bucket seats for all four occupants – the rear pews can also be folded flat to liberate extra load space.

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