SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: First MG SUV confirmed

MG’s first SUV has been confirmed for a global debut at the Shanghai motor show opening this week (April 19) and it’s almost certain to eventually be available in Australia.

Dubbed the CS, MG says the all-new urban crossover 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 dominate fashion trends”.

Few other details have been revealed alongside these two first sketches, MG saying only that the CS was designed under the direction of its Global Design Director, Anthony Williams-Kenn, and will have global appeal.

“The MG CS oozes British design flair while embracing the sporting DNA of MG,” said MG.

“There has been much speculation about an MG SUV and this model is expected to create a sensation among young, fashion conscious people. The MG CS concept will expand the global reach of the MG brand.”

MG has confirmed the CS – the latest evidence of significant investment by its owner, China’s giant SAIC Motor group --  previews the British brand’s “first production urban SUV” but no timing has been provided for its global rollout.

However, the production MG CS is almost certain to eventually be made available in Australia, where SUV sales are booming and where the MG brand is about to be reintroduced.

SAIC confirmed in February that it intended to launch the Toyota Corolla-sized MG6 hatch and sedan in Australia around Easter, followed by the smaller MG3 light car later this year.

However, Australian MG distributor Longwell Motor was unavailable for comment today and is yet to announce the local rollout for the MG6 or MG3, let alone the CS.

Rumours of MG’s first SUV have prevailed since 2011 and the brand showed its first crossover concept, the Icon SUV show car, last year.

The CS appears to be a more contemporary take on the Icon, which eschews MGB-inspired styling for a more modern design that brings into line with MG’s current model range.

“The MG CS has many strikingly unique features, including the headlights which have a multi-faceted ‘shard’ structure which refract light in different colours and shape from the side, but coalesce to form the iconic MG’s trademark octagon from the front,” said MG.

“A strong horizontal emphasis gives the side profile of the MG CS a distinctive, sporty style and youthful appearance. Creative design, style and charisma dominate the look of this latest MG.”

Unlike the 1.8-litre MG6, reports suggest MG’s first SUV, which is believed to be based on the MG5 and will be a direct rival for compact crossovers like Nissan’s upcoming Juke, will be powered by an SAIC-developed 1.5-litre petrol engine.

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