GM are are the undoubted masters of badge engineering, what may well be a Chevrolet in one market is a Buick in another, or a Vauxhall, or an Opel for that matter. It seems that SAIC may have taken some lessons in badge engineering from the masters themselves when it came to showing off the MG series in Chile. The ‘MG’ cars on show in Chile were actually Roewe’s with MG badges on the hood and rear, giving the rest of the world a bit of a let down. Much of the motoring world was expecting the MG5 to be as great looking as the MG ZT, which was the sports version of the grandfather like Rover 75 (now the MG7/Roewe 750), the MG5 was supposed to be the sports version of the Roewe 550, CCT was expecting flaired grills, lower ride height, bigger wheels, low profile tyres, sports seats, and more importantly - a bit more performance
It could be that SAIC were unaware of the Chilean distributors efforts to turn the 550 into the MG5, or it could have been that SAIC were willing to stick the MG badge onto the 550 to give the 550 some credibility in a land where Roewe is most certainly unknown, or it could be a combination of the above factors.Either way, if this is the MG5 thats going to hit Europe, MG purists in the EU are going to be in for a let down. You can check out the rest of the pictures of Roewe’s wearing MG clothing on this Spanish language website, we like the MG badge in place of the Roewe’s badge, a nice smooth fit.
Dear Coleagues,
Le me explain something concerning Chilean Market. The Rovers hit this place in the fare past and there they could sell apparently well, same happened with the MGs.
The fact anyhow, is that beside the success the volume they will reach in Chile is not so big as in other South American Markets.
Firstly because the competition is big on that market, because the vehicles do not pay import duties in Chile (Chile do not produce vehicles in serial condition).
Secondly because the brand is just coming back and on hands of Chinese Industry.
Thirdly because the selling volume of this car, case it becomes a commercial success, would not be bigger than 2.000 cars per year.
My best regards to all,
Jorge Irineu Hosang
Oct.04th./2008.
Of Brazil, right now in Venezuela for a Few days.
Judging by the rear picture this car would be the MG550! Any idea if a Rover 75 derivative was displayed and whether this was the MG7 or a Roewe 750 with an MG badge?
Wouldn’t it be Chile?
I like to add this is a great move, for MG are still remembered here (were even made in Arica) and that heritage is key when trying to sell a chinese car as a luxury car. Mind you, is likely that most of their future buyers don’t realize its a chinese car after they get one or when they are already interested in it.
I think the MG brand has to be better than Roewe for sales outside China. Roewe is almost a joke of a brand with it’s play on the word Rover (certainly in Britain).
I think the 550 looks fine with MG badging and it would also be perfect for the Roewe 750 in the other pics but the badge recesses need to be proper octagons, not making do with the Roewe/Rover shaped recesses.