MG Preparing an Array of New Models to Conquer Europe

SAIC Motor Corporation, the owner of MG Motors, plans to develop several new models for the British brand in order to boost sales outside its home market in China. The Chinese owner of MG Motors has already spent £1 billion ($1.64 billion) to re-launch the MG and Roewe brands (former Rover) and intends to invest another £2.2 billion ($3.6 billion) to achieve annual sales of 700,000 by 2015.

In 2010, the two brands sold 160,397 cars, most of which were delivered in China, with only 2,000 units exported to other markets. This past April, MG launched its new mid-size MG6 in the UK, the first new car to be assembled at the British firm’s Longbridge plant in 16 years. The company said that when it completes the development of a diesel version, it will offer the car to rest of Europe. "We will not go into mainland Europe without a diesel," UK managing director, William Wong, told Autonews.

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VW to Launch New Luxury Sedan and EV Model in China

Lending even more evidence to China’s growing importance for automakers, Volkswagen is planning to develop two new bespoke vehicles, one with each of its partners in the Middle Kingdom, Autonews said in a report today. Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co., which is a joint venture between China’s SAIC Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG, will produce a new luxury sedan, while VW’s second joint venture in the country with the China FAW Group Corp., FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., will develop a dedicated electric vehicle for the partnership's newly launched Kali brand.

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GM's New China Brand Baojun Launches first Car, the 630 Compact Sedan

SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), GM's mini-commercial vehicle joint venture with China's SAIC and Wuling Motors, today rolled out the first Baojun branded passenger vehicle at its plant in Liuzhou, southern China. The Baojun 630 is a low price, four-door compact sedan developed locally using GM technology that will go on sale in early 2011 through a new network of dedicated Baojun dealers.

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MG to Build First All-New Model in 15 Years at its UK Plant

MG Rover's old Longbridge car plant is set to comeback in a big way when SAIC / MG begins building its first all new car in 15 years at the end of the year. The plant will start producing the MG6 mid-size model from knocked-down kits imported from China, preceding the UK relaunch of MG as a "value brand" in 2011.

The all new car will be available initially as a five-door fastback, with a four-door saloon to follow later on. The automaker optimistically told the Financial Times that customer clinics have compared the MG6 with the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia and even with small BMWs. Prices in the UK are said to range between £16,000 to £20,000 (US$25,425 to US$31,780).

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China's SAIC Considering Buying Stake in General Motors

Industry insiders are reporting that China's SAIC has expressed interest in buying a stake of General Motors come its public offering in November, though it has yet to make a solid commitment. GM has declined to comment on the matter.

The U.S. government is eager to unload its 61% stake in GM after taxpayers bailed out / loaned the iconic automaker to the tune of US$50 billion. This comes despite the political ramifications of selling part of the brand to foreign investors or sovereign-wealth funds.

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MG Rover MG6 Concept Based on Roewe 550 to Debut in Shanghai

Having already announced the Roewe N1 Concept, China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) that owns the rights to the MG Rover brand, revealed that its 2009 Shanghai Auto Show booth will also host the world premiere of the MG6 Concept. The five-door liftback model is based on the underpinnings of the Roewe 550 which was designed as SAIC's successor to the Rover 45.

Although details are still sketchy, the MG6 will most likely lead to a production version that might very well find its way into Europe where MG Rover already sells the resurrected TF LE500 in the U.K.

Powertrain options for the MG6 will be identical to those offered in the Roewe 550 including a 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine.

NAC MG TF Pricing Announced – More Expensive Than an MX-5!

Chinese carmaker NAC MG has announced UK pricing for its British built TF LE500. The mid-engined, rwd roadster that's due to arrive in dealerships across Britain this September has been priced at 16,399 GBP (that's $32,700 or EUR 20,600 with the current exchange rates). For that money you get a 136Hp 1.8-liter engine and several standard amenities like air-condition, ABS, leather seats, windstop, 16-inch alloy wheels, a body colored hardtop, parking sensors and a Pioneer MP3 compatible CD / radio.

But we ask; more than 16,000 pounds for a car that's practically a facelifted version of the original MG TF that was introduced in 1995? That's a lot for a car that was already outdated compared to its rivals when it went out of production in 2005, let alone in 2008. For example, prices for the Mazda MX-5 1.8 start from 15,750 pounds while you can get a nicely equipped MX-5 1.8 Icon for 16,825 pounds. We drove the last TF130 back in 2005, and while the MG had its fun side, even then, it showed its age in more ways than one.