MG headed Down Under

China’s largest automaker has received federal regulatory approval to revive Britain’s historic MG brand in Australia. The relaunch will be via the MG6 small car.

MG’s Chinese owner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), has gained Australian Design Rule certification for sedan and hatchback versions of the Toyota Corolla-sized MG6. Both variants are powered by a 118kW 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

Both models will be released next month in New Zealand, where MG cars are now being imported by British Motor Distributors. There the cheapest of three specification grades of the MG6 will be priced from $NZ29,990 ($A23,925).

The MG6 measures 4651mm long, 1827mm wide, 1472mm high and rides on a 2705mm wheelbase, making it about 100mm longer, 80mm wider and the same height as the current Corolla (4545mm).

The four-door MG6GT sedan offers a 478-litre boot, extending to 1268 litres with the 60/40-split rear seats folded. The five-door hatch version has 498 litres of rear cargo space and a total of 1372 litres.

All six ‘MG6GT’ models will initially only be available with a five-speed manual transmission, but an automatic transmission is likely to follow. Next month’s New Zealand launch line-up will also include the MG6 Turbo, while a 350Nm turbo-diesel option (due on sale in the UK next month) will join the range there in January.

All MG6s models will come well equipped, at least in New Zealand, with standard safety features for the entry-level S including electronic stability/traction control, antilock brakes and at least two airbags. Also standard will be air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking, front foglights, 17-inch ‘Twist’ alloy wheels, cloth-trimmed sports seats, metallic and pearl paint colours, a stainless steel exhaust outlet and a CD/MP3 player with AUX and USB inputs.

In NZ, SE versions of the hatch and Magnette sedan will add rear parking sensors, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, a multi-function leather-clad steering wheel and mid-line sound system with colours screen. The top-shelf TSE gains a reversing camera, leather trim, heated front seats, dual-zone climate-control, automatic headlights and wipers, a chilled centre console and Bluetooth connectivity.

The MG6 is based on a new platform engineered in Britain for the Roewe range, rather than the BMW-engineered Rover 75 platform. So far it is the only MG model to be produced in right-hand drive, Euro 5 emissions-compliant guise for export markets such as Australia and New Zealand.

However, three all-new MG models are being readied for global consumption over the next two years, including the smaller MG3 and MG5 and the first MG SUV. The latter two models were revealed at the Beijing motor show in April, when the crossover emerged as the pint-size Icon concept.

China is currently the only source of MG cars, following SAIC’s purchase of the MG and Roewe (Rover) brands from the UK’s bankrupt MG Rover company in 2006, although Britain’s RHD MG6 is assembled in Birmingham from CKD (completely knocked down) kits made in China.

MGs continue to be designed and engineered in the UK and MG recently revealed plans to double the size of its British-based design studio as part of the global expansion of the MG brand. New markets are set to include continental Europe and other western markets from the second half of next year (2013).

SAIC is also finalising a joint-venture deal with Thai-based industrial conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group that will see up to 50,000 MG cars -- including RHD export models -- built annually in Thailand, which has a free-trade agreement with Australia.

While SAIC is committed to selling cars in Australia (as evidenced by local homologation of the MG6, a process that could cost up to $250,000), at this stage it remains unclear who will distribute the MG brand here.

The first vehicles from China’s biggest motor manufacturer will arrive here next month, courtesy of Sydney-based importer WMC Group and its range of LDV-badged commercial vans, but motoring.com.au understands WMC was unsuccessful in its pitch for SAIC passenger car business in Australia. Also understood to be out of the MG distribution picture is Australia’s largest independent vehicle importer Ateco Automotive, which distributes Chery and Great Wall vehicles from China. Independent distributor for Peugeot and (soon) Citroen, Sime Darby has also denied its involvment.

Australia’s only other large independent vehicle distributor, Inchcape – a FTSE 250 company that is headquartered in London and imports Subaru vehicles here – declined to comment.

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