This is the MG5 concept for Shanghai Auto Show
The Shanghai Auto Show is nearly upon us, and the usual excitement of what is coming and when is practically causing our pants to explode. This years shows is looking to be a good one with a multitude of China premiers, world launches and Asia Premiers, the one big car that everyone seems to be looking forward to (Or possibly just us) is the new MG5. The MG5 will be the first mid size MG since what feels like the 14th century, but is more likely to be the mid 1990′s when Rover hooked up with Honda to make something British out of their Civic. The result of this Nippon-Anglo cooperation was the Rover 45, which became the MG ZS with a bit of tinkering and an aggressive bodykit. The ZS went on to be one of Rover MG’s best selling cars in Europe, the Rover 45 was dull but the ZS was fun fun fun, when NAC MG inherited the family heirlooms from MG-Rover they were considering putting it back into production in China but thankfully they didn’t, it was an out dated car in 2005 and was practically ancient by the time NAC MG displayed it.
When SAIC became the new master of the MG brand it set about a new vision for the marque, by this time it had already got Roewe but MG would become its global brand. The MG6 came out of the oven first, followed by the 3, and now the 5 is practically here. We will see at the Shanghai Auto Show in two weeks time, but judging by the concept picture above it looks like the MG5 is certainly going to live up to its expectations as a mid size sporty hot hatch. The MG5 is going to be based on the Roewe 350 platform which is already available as a sedan. We’ve also seen the specifications for the MG5 and it seems that it will be carrying the same 1.5L and 1.8L engines – but there is more, a 1.5T is in the works and it is MG5 only, no immediate news on engine specifications or how fast the 1.5T will be once installed inside the MG5, early rumors said 200bhp, but a real world estimate of 150-185bhp is more likely and torque in the low 200Nm range.
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Looks really good!
If the actual car looks anything like this I will be amazed!
This is going to be one great car, a true replacement for the MG ZS, when will it get to US and UK, I want one bad.
Build this and don’t change a thing. This is a car for Europe!
I was expecting a more conservative design for the production car, since this class is a major seller
around the world. If it comes closer to the concept
photo, there will be some very happy MG fans.
Just 2 more weeks for the Shanghai Show!
More conservative? The pipe and slipper days from Rover are over!
Who are ‘Rover’?
Highly unlikely to look much like this. For a start this is a 3 door which certainly won’t be appearing anytime soon if at all. The overall body shape is though similar to the renderings that have been floating around for a little time. I believe those will be fairly representative of the MG5 concept.
I can see two door handles on this side.
Are you suggesting there’s only one on the other side?
Where? I can see the fuel cap well behind the C pillar if that’s what you mean by the second handle. The door (or first door) is very far back for a 5 door. There is also no opening line for the rear door for this other dooor handle. Anyway fair to say the picture is not very clear!
It’s quite easy to see there are two doors on the side (two handles), the opening line isn’t too obvious, but perfectly visible.
No, we’ll never se this car in the metal. Remember how the MG Zero was reduced to the MG3.
That sculpted bonnet is reminiscent of the Zero – far too expensive to produce and probably bad for pedestrian safety.
The pointed front will be rounded off in the interests of safety. The area behind the C Pillar is too small, indicating that the boot would be too small, so the overall proportions of the car will have to change.
And those light are far too similar to the latest generation of Audis.
Nice try. it’d be nice to see MG be bold but in trying to establish a global brand, they’ll have to be more cautious, unfortuneately.
First pic abut next MG5 concept
http://auto.sohu.com/20110416/n305918640.shtml