MG has lifted the lid on its new MG GS SUV. The Nissan Qashqai-rivaling newcomer will go on sale in China next month and will arrive in the UK next year. It will be joined by a Nissan Juke-sized crossover in 2016.
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), MG’s parent company, first gave indications that an MG SUV was in the pipeline by unveiling the MG CS concept at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show.
In addition of the sleek lines of the CS, we can see styling cues lifted from the existing MG3 supermini and MG6 family car with trapezoidal headlamps joined by a slim grille with the MG octagon badge at its centre.
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MG claims that the GS rides on a new scalable SUV platform developed by SAIC which could underpin the 2017 MG Juke-sized crossover.
Dimensions of 4,500mm in length, 1,675mm width and 1,675mm height position the MG GS at the upper end of the compact SUV class in terms of size with the likes of Kia’s Sportage and Honda’s CR-V shaping-up as rivals – although we’d expect the MG to undercut these mainstream players on price.
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The MG GS will go in sale in China with a 2.0-litre direct injection petrol engine providing the power. The 217bhp unit delivers 350Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of around 8s.
Drive will be channeled via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox to either front- or four-wheel-drive mechanicals depending on the buyer’s preference. Additional engine options, including a 1.8-litre diesel, will join the range before the GS arrives in the UK early in 2016.
What do you think of MG’s first ever SUV? Let us know in the comments section below…
