This is the MG Zero concept. It was designed in by an Englishman in Birmingham and will go on sale here in 2011.
That's right; MG actually looks like it will make some sort of sustainable comeback. The maker, now in Chinese hands, will sell this car - badged MG3 - by the end of 2010.
Only a few of the concept's details will be removed from the production version, including the complicated headlamps, and the concept-spec wing mirrors.
The
Beijing show car is a million miles away from MG's last supermini, the Rover 25 based
MG ZR, and is aimed explicitly at 18- to 28-year olds. Once you hit 29, you're just not cool enough.
That demographic, which MG calls 'G-90 consumers', want a car that not only looks ace but is fully loaded with all kinds of infotainment. A simple aux-in point won't do. Fortunately, it will share the Roewe 350's USP - that car runs the Google Android operating system to allow it to browse the web.
We don't know what the MG3's interior will be like yet, although SAIC claims it will offer class leading space. It sits on an all-new platform, and will be powered by 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines, with 67- and 107bhp, both attached to a five-speed manual gearbox.
It's not sounding very 'twentysomething' yet, granted, but give it a chance - an automatic version and a diesel will be available for the UK launch.
Mark Nichol - 23 Apr 2010