New
MG GS SUV
The
new five-seat SUV was first previewed by the CS concept at the Shanghai motor
show in 2013. It's already on sale in China, with a UK introduction earmarked
for early 2016.
Key
styling elements include a simple grille featuring the traditional octagonal
Morris Garages badge, a heavily adorned two-tone front bumper, trapezoidal
headlights, sheer surfacing, structured flanks, blacked-out pillars and an
angled tailgate.
At
4500 mm in length, 1855 mm in width and 1675 mm in height, the GS is 73 mm longer,
46 mm wider and 8 mm lower than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
While
earlier speculative reports suggested the new SUV was based on the same
platform as the latest SsangYong Rexton, MG says the GS rides on a new scalable
SUV architecture developed in partnership with SAIC. It has a wheelbase of
2650 mm.
MG
has confirmed one engine for the GS, although others are planned to follow,
according to officials from SAIC’s UK engineering headquarters in Longbridge.
The in-house-developed turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
delivers a class-competitive 217 bhp and 258 lb-ft.
However,
this latest model spotted on UK roads suggest that a smaller, 1.5-litre petrol
engine similar to that offered in the MG3 is also likely. The production
version would likely be a more affordable turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
petrol engine producing 168 bhp and 184 lb-ft.
On
the initial GS model, drive is channelled through a standard six-speed
dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with buyers set to be offered the choice of
either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. In four-wheel-drive guise, the
new MG is claimed to accelerate from 0-62 mph in “around eight seconds”.
However, more detailed performance and fuel economy claims are yet to be made
public.
Also
planned for selected markets, including the UK, is a diesel variant of the GS.
It is earmarked to receive the same turbocharged 1.9-litre four-cylinder unit
already offered in various MG models, where it delivers 148 bhp and 258 lb-ft of
torque.
