MG, the famous British brand of sporting cars, is returning to South Africa and will use the Johannesburg International Motor Show on October 8 - 16 as the launch pad.
It has already previewed the models to dealers and potential dealers as the brand, which is now in the Combined Motor Holdings (CMH) stable, seeks to set up an initial network of about 15 outlets. The first of the new era of MGs is the MG6 which is coming to South Africa in the third quarter of 2011.
The preview of the MG6 took place at CMH’s prestigious Investment Cars premises in Sandton, Johannesburg, on August 11 and the enthusiasm for the return of this famous brand was very evident.
Initially MG will kick off with four-door fastback and sedan variants of the MG6 with a 1,8-litre turbocharged engine. There are three trim and equipment levels – Standard, Comfort and Deluxe. Even the Standard model has a good level of equipment, with the Deluxe being very well equipped.
At this stage there is no information on price or detailed specifications. “All will be revealed at the Johannesburg Motor Show,” said Sales and Marketing General Manager, Sergio Lopez.
In the course of the next few years the MG range is expected to be extended significantly..
MG (Morris Garages) was a popular brand in the post World War II era in South Africa as a two-seater sports car and four-seater sedan but then the factory at Abington in the UK was closed in 1980 as the British motor industry virtually imploded.
The brand was resurrected under BMW ownership but subsequently sold to a British consortium and MG South Africa was established in 2001, with the arrival of the MGF sports car. MG went off the market in 2005 as the company collapsed again.
Now MG belongs to the state-owned Chinese Nanjing Auto, which in turn is part of the huge Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The Chinese company obtained the brand in 2005 and is building cars in Longbridge (UK) and Nanjing.
STORY BY CMH
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