SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: MG HS the new name for GS

The successor for the current MG GS mid-size SUV is set to arrive during the final three months of this year, and the new car will be named... drum roll please... the MG GS.

That's if the local importer has anything to do with it. The Chinese car-maker has announced that the new SUV will be named the MG HS, reflecting a new generation of the same basic model line.

But the Australian end of the operation wants to retain the existing model name for the new car, as carsales.com.au reported last year, although at the time it was expected the new model would be badged 'XS' rather than 'HS'.

Asked whether MG Australia remained committed to the older badge, product manager Pavel Meck told carsales.com.au at the Shanghai motor show that was indeed the plan.

“That's our hope, and what we're pushing for,” he replied.

“The global name for the car is HS. Given the fact that we have already got some brand equity in the GS name [and] the vehicle itself is resonating well with customers, HS is the natural evolution of the current GS, so we prefer to keep the name.”

According to Meck there are prospective customers aware that there's a replacement for the GS in the wings, so they're holding off buying until the new car arrives. If there's any doubt in their minds about buying the new car, the familiar badge will help get them across the line,

Meck denied this represents a bone of contention between the importer and the factory.

“I wouldn't say there's any disconnect,” he replied.

“We've got a very close working relationship with all our partners at SAIC [MG's parent company, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation]... the international team. It's more so a matter of us localising our product and maintaining that kind of brand equity that we have.

“Ultimately, the big issue is not the naming of the car, it's the specification and the vehicle we can bring to market. In that respect, all our discussions with the factory have been very fruitful. So, regardless of whether it's a GS or an HS, we're simply excited to be replacing [the current GS].”

MG's rapidly improving fortunes in Australia have likely placed the importer in a better position to negotiate the right sort of deal with the factory to keep the landed cost of the new SUV at an affordable level at the retail end of the supply chain.

“That's been our strategy from day one, pretty much… the most value for money we can.

“Now that we have a direct link to SAIC ... through the international team – we partner very closely with them – I wouldn't say there's any concern on our end, in not receiving some [standard features from the factory]. All of our conversations have been very fruitful to this point... and we expect that they'll continue.”

Australia will be one of the first markets in the world to see the new HS/GS, which will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing about 170kW and 360Nm.