The 8th April 2005 will always be remembered as a major milestone in the evolution of the modern MG as this was the date when the MG Rover Group entered administration before being purchased by NAC, China’s oldest car manufacturer but by the 6th December 2007, NAC had merged with SAIC, China’s largest car maker and after nine short months, on the 4th September 2008, the first of the new Limited Edition MGTF LE 500 left the Birmingham factory. The next major event must surely have been in May 2011 when the MG6 GT, the first all-new MG in 16 years was launched in the UK, followed quickly the following month, June 2011, with the MG6 Magnette (the saloon version of the MG6.) Innovation has continued at a quite astonishing rate as in 2013, a new 1.9 DTi-TECH Diesel engine was released for the MG6 range and in April of the same year, MG had extended their range by revealing the UK MG3 at the Shanghai Auto Show, as well as the new MG CS Concept car. All of which brings us nicely up to date and ready for the next major event in the short but dynamic history of MG Motor UK.
Dynamic. Sporty. Modern. Three words given to the MG car designers before putting pen to paper. From those first sketches, which were pinned to the wall of the Birmingham based design centre, the MG GS was born and this June it launches in the UK.
MG Motor UK have rightly highlighted that over the years, the British motor industry has evolved. Research has shown that the cars we are now buying have changed drastically. Consumers are no longer looking to sports cars for freedom and adventures, as SUVs are offering that and much more.
Any drive along the roads and motorways of the UK back up the claims that SUVs and crossovers are the fastest growing segments in the UK and globally. Every car company that has an intention to be successful has gone down this route. So, with these cars offering people the same sense of freedom that sports cars do, bringing out an SUV is a natural fit for MG and MotorMartin cannot wait. Indeed, MotorMartin will be bringing you launch news as it happens as well as hopefully reporting back on the driving experience itself.
Anthony Williams-Kenny, Global Design Director for MG shared with MotorMartin, “The world is changing quickly in terms of what we expect from a product, so our goal is to bring the most up-to-date design trends to our own. With MG’s first SUV, we wanted to design a car that would fit in with the MG family and have a slightly different look, of confidence and dynamism, that sets it apart from the other models.”
The MG GS, which will grace the UK roads in June this year, will go on display for the first time at the London Motor Show in May (6/7/8th) where potential customers of this highly-anticipated car will be able to get up close and take a look at what is a real turning-point in the history of MG.
As with both the MG6 and MG3, the design team, based at Longbridge, Birmingham, relished the opportunity to get involved in what was a core project for MG. Martin Uhlarik, Deputy Design Director for the UK, described it as the ‘next big leap’. He said: “The team were full of enthusiasm when the brief was given to them and, with their passion, it translated into their designs. The GS came to life in Longbridge, as this is where the design themes started and the interior and exterior looks were pulled together. Consideration for the customer has happened from the very beginning and we’ve aimed to give them what they want. We truly believe that we have created a competitive car that shows MG as forward-thinking, consumer-conscious and a great producer of cars that can appeal to anyone at any point in their life.”
If you want to express your interest in the GS, head to www.mg.co.uk/gs and register your details.
If early rumours, pictures from China and design leaks are anything to go by, then the latest vehicle to leave the production line at Longbridge is destined to take MG to the next level and for that, MotorMartin gives a heartfelt well done. Could we be seeing the inaugural MotorMartin car of year 2016? I can’t wait to find out.
Where will you go?