MG 6 reviewed by Autocar: Drives better than a Focus

[2o6]

 Originally Posted by autocar

The MG6 will go on sale in the UK next year, and Autocar's chief road tester Matt Prior has had an exclusive drive of the Longbridge-developed car.

Contrary to what many people think, the MG6 - or Roewe 550 as it?s called in China - is a clean sheet design, and not based on a shortened Rover 75 platform.

See the MG6 test pictures

The Roewe variant went on sale in China last year, and has already sold 100,000 units. The MG6 will be on sale in the UK from the start of 2011, with final assembly taking place at Longbridge.

The good news is that not only was the 6 largely engineered in the UK, but it will also be sold here on a Europe-exclusive chassis set-up, honed and tweaked on the roads we tested it on. As a benchmark, we took a Ford Focus Zetec S along on the same route.

The roads are in and around mid-Wales, and are some of the most challenging and demanding in the world. If a car works here, it'll work pretty much anywhere.

Climbing aboard, there's a shock. The 6's cabin may be a belter by Chinese standards, but it's not on a par with better European cars. There are soft-touch plastics and a dark ambience, but it's a bit austere and the design looks flat in places. It's a pre-production model, but it could use finessing by a few notches.

Moving off, I reckon the gearchange on the five-speed manual and NVH levels could (and I believe will) be improved too.

The only engine at launch is a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol, though diesels and other petrols will follow. It's a reworked K-series and - although it meets Euro5 emissions levels - accelerating away from a couple of roundabouts as we head west, it gets a little strained higher up the rev band.

What the MG6 does do, though, is drive well. And I mean really well. MG's head of chassis, Andy Kitson, admits the Focus has been the firm's benchmark for ride and handling. The MG6 has a rare blend of suppleness and poise.

The steering is still hydraulic rather than electric, and apparently it's slower than the Focus's, but it doesn't feel it. Kitson says there's still a little work to do on the valves to alter the feel at straight ahead but it's not bad now. And once there's a little lock wound on, it's excellent.

Then there's the ride. Hopping to and from a Focus reveals that the Ford's cabin suffers less vertical intrusion over bumps, but it's obvious this is the car MG has benchmarked. In its poise and agility I'd even say the MG6 is superior. It feels more neutral than the Focus, with a pivot point further forward; the Ford in comparison feels led more by its front.

The MG grips tenaciously before eventually letting slip from the front first, and it changes direction superbly. It is comfortable, tool greater vertical inputs into the cabin aside, there's no crash, even over bad bumps.

Fact is, the MG6 is already (and there's still tweaking to do) borderline best in class to drive.

Is that enough? Probably not on its own. But it's also spacious and expected to be priced competitively.

If all goes well there's scope for up to 150,000 vehicles per year to be assembled out of MG Birmingham, even in its current size.

Read the full test drive story in this week's Autocar magazine (7 April 2010).
Also the launch date and venue has been revealed


Quote:
ABINGDON?S MG Car Club is thrilled to announce that MG Motor UK has chosen MGLive!, the marque?s largest International event, to exclusively pre-launch the highly anticipated MG6 saloon car.

Speculation has been rife amongst MG Owners about the whereabouts of the pre-launch preview, and the MG Car Club can now confirm the MG6 will be proudly showcased at MGLive! which takes place at Silverstone on June 4th, 5th, 6th.

Huge excitement surrounds the MG6 ? the first new MG since 2001. With thousands of enthusiasts expected to descend on Silverstone in June, the award-winning MGLive! event will provide a perfect portal for an official preview.

MG Motor UK will have a high-profile, three day presence at the event in a prominent central location.

MGLive! has been staged consecutively at the iconic Northamptonshire circuit since 1950 ? and is set to celebrate 60 glorious years in 2010.

The MG Car Club, which has raced on Silverstone?s International circuit since the early nineties, will now make the exciting transition to the full 3.2 mile Grand Prix track.

The switch will allow MGCC competitors to experience the thrill of Stowe and Abbey ? famous corners which will now roar to the sound of MGs from across nine decades

Guy Jones, Sales and Marketing Director for MG Motor UK said

?We strongly believe that the loyal fans of the MG brand should have the first opportunity to see the new MG6 and what better opportunity than at the world famous Silverstone race circuit at the MG Live! event in June. This is already a great event and a testimony to the strength of the MG brand, so it is fitting that we take the all new MG6 there as part of the celebrations surrounding the MG brand. The MG6 will be the centre piece of the MG Motor stand at the heart of the action for the weekend at Silverstone.?

MG Car Club Chairman John Day said:

? We are ecstatic that MG Motor UK have chosen MGLive! to officially preview the MG6. I know that our members will be excited by this announcement and the presence of the manufacturer at MGLive! continues the exceptional relationship between the MG Car Club and MG Motor UK.?

Tickets for the event are available to purchase by visiting www.mglive.com

[the Teuton]

It looks nice enough in a Proton/Prius sort of way. But I wouldn't touch it; it'll also have the depreciation of a Chinese or British car. Let's see how it holds up as a used car.

[r0tor]

so thats what happens when you combine an audi interior with a BMW interior....

[68_427]

With a GM steering wheel.

[Xer0]

so thats what happens when you combine an audi interior with a BMW interior....

Thats the first thing I thought too.  It doesn't look half bad though.

[giant_mtb]

What a stupid steering wheel. bahahaha

[Raza]

I hope no one is stupid enough to buy one of these. 

[Xer0]

I hope no one is stupid enough to buy one of these. 

Its already on 2o6's first car list.

[nickdrinkwater]

I read this article before I think.  I think the jury will be out still about the handling.  Autocar like to make sensationalist claims as headlines, to get people interested.  Also, there is inevitably some bias in there, given that that this is a project with British influence.

That said, I think the car looks pretty decent and if it's priced right I could see it doing reasonably well.  The key will be having a good sales and service network, good warranties that inspire confidence, and actually building the things properly.

They're saying they'll build it at Longbridge so you'd think they must have fairly ambitious volumes for this to be able to work.

[2o6]

I hope no one is stupid enough to buy one of these. 

Why?

[cawimmer430]

What a hideously ugly car. MG's used to look so classy and British.

This looks Chinese. 

[2o6]

What a hideously ugly car. MG's used to look so classy and British.

This looks Chinese. 

Considering the British designed it, your bias is showing.

[cawimmer430]

Considering the British designed it, your bias is showing.

I have every right to be biased: there's not a single Chinese car out there that can be considered "beautiful". The design looks Chinese to me, and I believe the Chinese now own MG/Rover, right?

[2o6]

I have every right to be biased: there's not a single Chinese car out there that can be considered "beautiful". The design looks Chinese to me, and I believe the Chinese now own MG/Rover, right?

The only thing the Chinese did was provide funding.

[Submariner]

The only thing the Chinese did was provide funding.

They could have just made sandwiches for the designers, and the car could have wound up looking Chinese. 

Oh, and Roewe needs to fuck themselves, hard. 

[cawimmer430]

The only thing the Chinese did was provide funding.

It might be a great car, but in terms of styling it just looks Chinese to me. Or Malaysian (like a Proton). 

[2o6]

It might be a great car, but in terms of styling it just looks Chinese to me. Or Malaysian (like a Proton). 

I think the Roewe 550 is a more successful design.

[Raza]

Why?

You shouldn't be stupid enough to put your life in the hands of the Chinese. 

[2o6]

You shouldn't be stupid enough to put your life in the hands of the Chinese. 

Okay.


Considering how much crap is made in China, I'm fine with it.

[Raza]

Okay.


Considering how much crap is made in China, I'm fine with it.

A car is a lot different than a battery or a toy.  And hell, they can't even make our toys and toothpaste reliably without poison in them.  I'm sure as hell not going to get into a car and drive somewhere everyday in one of them.

For whatever reason, you think these pieces of shit are cute.  But you really should distrust the Chinese in a big way.  

[Submariner]

A car is a lot different than a battery or a toy.  And hell, they can't even make our toys and toothpaste reliably without poison in them.  I'm sure as hell not going to get into a car and drive somewhere everyday in one of them.

For whatever reason, you think these pieces of shit are cute.  But you really should distrust the Chinese is a big way. 

Signatureized.

[Raza]

Signatureized.

Please sig the one where I fixed my typo.

[2o6]

A car is a lot different than a battery or a toy.  And hell, they can't even make our toys and toothpaste reliably without poison in them.  I'm sure as hell not going to get into a car and drive somewhere everyday in one of them.

For whatever reason, you think these pieces of shit are cute.  But you really should distrust the Chinese in a big way.  

Everything is solely related to money.



Pay them crap and you get crap. Pay them well, and you get a good product. It's nothing personal, but if you do this elsewhere, you will get the same result.

[Madman]

MG is dead.  This is just an impostor hijacking a once-great name.  It is the automotive equivalent of identity theft.


Madman of the People

[AutobahnSHO]

The back looks like a Crosstour ripoff.

I actually kinda like it.

[2o6]

MG is dead.  This is just an impostor hijacking a once-great name.  It is the automotive equivalent of identity theft.


Madman of the People

Especially since they paid for it.

[Payman]

Yes... this car was made with Chinese money. Therefore it's a horrid piece of crap. Give me a Caliber instead.

[Rupert]

This car feels dirty.

And yet,

I hope no one is stupid enough to buy one of these. 

makes me a little.

[Rupert]

Also, if you have a heart attack when looking at this car, just have a look at my sig, and you should be right back to normal.

[Laconian]

I will be interested to see what other magazines have to say.