The MG3 SW is set to formally go on the market on March 12th 2008, priced at a reasonable 80,000 to 120,000rmb. When China Car Times first heard of NAC’s plan to relaunch the Streetwise, we were dubious - could they pull off re-releasing such an old car? The answer is clearly yes, as the MG3 was looking good at the Guangzhou Auto Show, and looks pretty damned good in the pictures below:
The Streetwise is set to come with either a 1.4 engine paired to a manual gearbox, or the larger 1.8 engine with a CVT gearbox. The Streetwise is actually pretty well placed in China to take on the latest wave of mini crossover vehicles such as the SX4, Polo Cross, and perhaps even the Nissan Qashqai (once launched). MG dealers are reportedly accepting deposits of 5000rmb for the MG3 SW!
Can you order it with the body cladding to match the “colour” (as other English speakers would say) of the vehicle?
When this car was launches as the Rover Streetwise you couldn’t get the cladding in body colour. The whole point was to make it look tough and rugged and manly. It didn’t really work did it!!
One question though, if other MG and roewe cars are being taken off the road (other article on this website) then how do they plan to sell this car which in effect uses the same ‘dirty’ engines?
It will probably get reworked for the Beijing market, making it Euro 5 compatible. The Beijing market is quite a big market for small cars like this, Im sure they’ll work on a Euro 5 one pretty quickly!
Fair enough, I suppose it depends how far away they are. One thing though, I am not sure it’s really a rival for the Nissan Qashqai….that’s slightly bigger than a Euro VW Golf. This is more the size of a Polo.
it all started with the Outback…
dumb americans bought tons of those as they looked “rugged”
then, the Allroad came…
.
.
years after, every automaker had to had an “offroad” version of a car..
.
at least those two had 4×4
.
that’s disgusting…
this vehicle is awful…
personally, I REALLY HATE every off-road wannabe version of ANY car
.
we’ve come such a long way to get flush designs, painted bumpers and smoothier riding…
.
who was the retard that though applying those fugly cladding, higher profile and all-season tires for a street car would be a good idea…
.
really…
makes no sense for me!!
Makes good sense for China, where not all the city roads are smooth as babys ass. Price wise its perfect for China, the none painted plastic cladding will be cheap to replace if they get scrubbed against another car in traffic (very common).
Id have one. It looks better than the SX4/Polo Cross.
Colin, I forgot how small the Rover 25 is, its been a few years since Ive seen one!
But that’s the thing, this car (and others like it) make no sense in any road conditions. They may be pumped up by a couple of inchese but they’re still Front Wheel Drive family hatches with no more rugges a suspension set up than the hatch they’re based on. I think it lulls people into a sense of security that isn’t actually there. I agree with Jackson, they’re awful cars. If you want a rugged 4×4 then buy one, if you want a family car then buy one. But don’t buy this, it’s neither one thing nor the other! That’s probably why it wasn’t success when it was launched!!
Each to their own, I guess. Judging by the sales of crossovers over the world it seems many people like them.
What about SUVs such as the Honda CRV, Sportage, Tusco, Sante Fe - would they be considered real SUVs?
Well I think the definition of an SUV is that it’s a lifestyle vehicle with the looks of a real 4×4, the height and the ruggedness of a 4×4 without the complicated hardware of a 4×4. EG, Land rover/Range Rover are real 4×4’s. They can go off road and go anywhere. A Honda CRV, can go off road but it’s not as rugged as a Landie. But a Rover 45 crossover can’t go off road (well it can but it’ll get stuck). So SUV’s fit the suburban lifestle well. Does that make sense?
couldn’t have said better… =)
man, really…
.
-you want a good SUV, go for a real one!
-but if you really wanna go off-road, get or a Hummer H1, if you can’t afford, a Wrangler..
-truck, F150, Silverado, Ranger, Dakota, Tacoma, Hilux…
-a nice sedan, get a 5-series and you won’t regret..
-a nice cheap sedan, man, tons of options for you..
-a nice hatchback, europe is full of them, but if you don’t know, you can always go for Golf, Astra or Focus..
-nice subcompact car, Polo, Corsa, Fiesta, etc etc etc …
-station wagons
-convertibles
-minivans
-sports car…
.
.
I know the Cayenne makes big money for porsche, but man, that things is terrible!!!
.
Honda made a big flop with the Ridgeline, the “first unibody truck” in history.
Mercedes made it’s mistake with the R-class, which, except for convertible, I think is a bit of almost everything above..!! =)
.
that’s my point of view, at least…
it really disturbes me when they start mixing things..
.
especially these off-road versions of what was once a great regular hatchback or any other car…
The Mercedes R class….oh dear what can we say about that. Even Mercedes won’t publish how many they’ve sold worldwide. You mention the convertible R Class…are you sure you’ve got the right vehicle? R Class is a massive 7 seater MPV thing.
Cayenne, so ugly especially beside the Range Rover or Range rover Sport. But it makes them money. Good on them then!
Honda Ridgeline, never got in Europe. What was it?
Colin, I don’t think you got me right
.
>> “Mercedes made it’s mistake with the R-class, which, EXCEPT FOR CONVERTIBLE, I think is a bit of almost everything above..!!”
.
Ridgeline is a unibody truck, no frames, no separate bed…
http://z.about.com/d/trucks/1/7/z/2/1/08_Ridgeline_RTX_ft.jpg
Got you…sorry was having a bad day!!!
So Jackson, do you this vehicle is awful then?
what??
yes, I think this vehicle is hideous!!
(I think that is the answer for what I assume was your question…)
Oh boy!!
To who ever said the Streetwise wasnt a success.>
The Streetwise was the only MG Rover model that ever met its sales estimates! I had one as a courtesy car and it was much better than the 25 that its based on!