Sleek, slender and surely to be a winner – the MG5 in Shanghai

Chinese Car News, Nanjing MG | Ash | April 20, 2011 at 9:58 pm

MG’s chief designer, Tony Williams-Kenny was on hand in Shanghai to answer all of the media’s questions regarding the design and the development of the MG5 concept, but we did not get a chance to talk with him as he was surrounded by UK media who were all eagerly asking questions about the concept. Seeing as I’ve met Mr. Williams-Kenny before and he did not appreciate me asking why the MG3 resembled a Fiat, we thought it wise not to ask why the MG5 looks like an Opel Astra/Buick Excelle.

On the other hand, the latest incarnation of Opel Astra is one of the best looking motors on the road today and looks a thousand times better than the current Ford Focus which has lost its way somewhat when it became a global car, too many cooks can mess up a broth. The MG5 seems to have taken the best of the SAIC-GM made Astra and the best bits of the MG6 and produced a sleek, slender hatchback that is on par with anything that is coming out of the Alfa-Romeo design studio.

Sadly, the naturally aspirated 1.5L engine is not going to propel the MG5 anywhere fast, but a 1.5T model will certainly have most drivers push the red line limit when the occasion allows.

As we’ve already seen the MG5 in concept form, its likely that we will see the production model at the end of the year and sales to begin towards the end of the year or early 2012,

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.