F**k yeah! I like it. A noisy little turbo hot hatch is EXACTLY what a 2011 MG should be.
You may have noticed that in the 1980s, little hot hatches completely replaced convertible sports cars as the main form of cheap fast fun on 4 wheels!
I hope it's got a chinese engine in it and not the Rover K-series.
ebygum1,
Apr 16, 1:52pm
That is one smart looking car. Hope it holds together.
fiatracer,
Apr 16, 2:16pm
interestingly, I saw recently a number of Chinese-madesedans - clearly related to the Rover 75 / MG ZT cars, but significantly facelifted and also a liftback body. these were badged as Rover 550S 1.8. I've heard this was a car developed by Rover/MG before they went under, and picked up by the new owners.
zak1998,
Apr 16, 2:26pm
With parts from China what do you think
rsr72,
Apr 16, 2:29pm
Looks like a Kia at a VW price.
demons,
Apr 16, 2:33pm
yeah looks like new suebie
mgmad,
Apr 16, 2:40pm
More or less right, MG6/Roewe 550 are based on a shortened version of the 75 platform, that was developed prior to the collapse. By all reports it certainly handles very well and quality is pretty good (the main criticism has been the inetrior plastic but there are rumours of plans to update these for the UK/Europe market) but needs a better engine range, V6 or similar halo model and a good diesel, the latter of which is planned for 2012.
mgmad,
Apr 16, 2:44pm
Sigh. I won't bother replying about the misconceptions on the K series as I've done that enough times on here already. However, the engine is an updated version of the K series, named N series, with MLS head gasket, uprated oil rail, etc.
richardmayes,
Apr 16, 2:52pm
I'm looking around my desk here as I type.
Calculator: made in China PC monitor: made in China PC keyboard: made in China PC mouse: made in China Phone: made in China Cellphone: made in China Biro: made in China Mechanical pencil: made in Germany Circle-drawing template: Made in New Zealand Stapler: made in China Hi-viz vest: made in China
Malfunctioning items: none
My made in Germany mechanical pencil is a beautiful thing. All of my plastic things from China appear to be good enough to do their job, however.!
ginga4lyfe,
Apr 16, 3:00pm
and I quote "It's a far cry from the classic MGB roadsters and Midgets beloved of enthusiasts. But if the 2011 hard-top MG6 Fastback lacks its forerunners' wind-in-the hair thrill, the company's new Chinese owners insist it embraces the same spirit."
Yeah right, the Chinese fellas didnt even know of MG till they got the brand name, so i doubt they captured the same spirit!
I also wander if they have any wood or simple stuff in the car!
richardmayes,
Apr 16, 3:12pm
^^^ Teary-eyed traditionalists often see the fussy details instead of the big picture ginge.
Real MGs (in the 1930s) were no-frills, hard-as-nails little sports cars with very basic interiors, minimal creature comforts and a small, cheap engine worked to give as much power as reasonably possible. They were convertibles because a roof cost money, and its weight slowed you down. Dashboards were wood because the alternative (hand-turned aluminium like a Bentley) cost a fortune.
So if you fast-forward to 2011, a basic little hatch with a basic plastic interior and an angry little 1800cc turbo, IMHO that is spot on for an MG.
The New Minis and New Beetles are travesties, relying on fake retro styling and round headlights to try to disguise the fact that they are expensive high-tech cars masquerading as cheap & cheerful little old utilitarian cars. All of the trivial details dutifully copied, but none of the original "spirit" if you want to call it that.
A mate once asked me (during a drunken boys' night) about Triumphs and why I liked them, and whether the New Mini sitting outside the bar was anything like what I though a New Triumph should be. I said Hell no, a New Triumph should be something like a B4 Legacy or a GTS-T Skyline, not some sort of retro car.
socram,
Apr 16, 6:39pm
Sorry, But I don't really like the frontal treatment at all. Reserve judgement until I have seen one or better still, driven one. If you take the badges off it and you think you are driving a Jap car, then it isnt a real MG.
If you drove an 80's Montego and compared it to an 80's Honda, the Honda may (arguably) have been better built, but the Montego still had a lot of driving character that set it apart from all the Japanese saloons of the day.
The same applies to most Brit cars, they just a feel a bit different.
Beg to differ about the modern Mini. I have never ever been without a Mini since Feb 1967 and from a driver's perspective again, the Cooper S is still a fun car to drive.Maybe not the raw fun of an original S, but still one hell of a good car to drive - and 45% faster, with better brakes than just about any other car on the market.It is also reliable and economical.
I do agree that a modern Triumph would be more like a Skyline, but the Subaru is a bit more original whereas Triumphs were very traditional.
trogedon,
Apr 16, 8:55pm
Why! IMHO it just screams jellymold with an MG badge.
pdc1,
Apr 16, 10:10pm
I'm pretty confident that it will be just as reliable as any other MG! Not sure if it will leak oil though
lovemore_mbigi,
Apr 17, 5:38am
Chinese-made cars have still to prove themselves in overseas markets.
And if they're anything like their scooter counterparts.
jerichord,
Apr 17, 5:46am
same old morris garage crap
johnf_456,
Apr 17, 7:24am
Just watch that comment some people on here swear by the chinese scooters and think they are great.
franc123,
Apr 17, 10:20am
Sorry but this is simply a cynical corporate attempt by MG's new owners to appeal to a warped sense of patriotism that they think UK car buyers have (lets face it who else really wants an MG).It makes absolutely no sense on paper to be shipping 100% Chinese made parts halfway round the world to be assembled in a cottage industry plant in England.Even being a niche product, projected sales targets of only 1-2000 units P/A is some kind of a joke.The bigwigs at Ford, Vauxhall and VW must be wetting themselves laughing at how they are trying to relaunch a dead car company with a pretty nondescript, averagely spec'd and expensive product.
trogedon,
Apr 17, 11:48am
MG doesn't stand for "morris garage" & NO MG was ever crap. Like Jaguar they never made a bad car.
berg,
Apr 17, 12:49pm
Guttless, slow, heavy and not that great on gas. Yep, it's an MG all right
meow_mix,
Apr 17, 4:49pm
It looks like the new owners SAIC are aiming the new MG6 at the younger generation of MG buyers just like MG's previous owner, Pheonix Venture Holdings, did with the MG ZR hot hatch.The MG6 might not have enough power to rival a WRX though.I imagine the Chinese build quality will be as good as the old British build quality.
trogedon,
Apr 17, 6:39pm
Ok, possibly there were a couple of models like that.
horsygirl,
Apr 17, 6:42pm
oil stains are still on the garage floor from the last one i owned.
lovemore_mbigi,
Apr 18, 5:57am
MG = Marketing catch penny case study.Overpriced rusty body with Austin engine surrounded with parts-bin trim adorned with plastic "heritage" badges.
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