New MG sedan now due in 2023

A model of the MG 5 sedan will now enter Australia’s small automobile phase early subsequent yr, having beforehand been earmarked for a late 2022 launch.

The Chinese language firm mentioned this week it remained dedicated to launching its petrol-powered Toyota Corolla rival, which is known as the MG 5 in most markets, regardless of the apparent delay.

Nevertheless, CarExpert understands the automobile might have a distinct title when it arrives right here.

“We’re presently reviewing the MG 5 for the Australian market and exploring totally different variants. At this stage, we will count on to see this mannequin in Q1 2023,” mentioned a spokesperson for MG Motor Australia.

The corporate confirmed the MG 5 will function an inner combustion engine, however might not put on the MG 5 nameplate.

The MG 5 (or no matter it’s known as) would be the firm’s second passenger automobile bought right here alongside the smaller and cheaper MG 3, which is the long-running light car top-seller.

The corporate plans to increase its non-SUV vary considerably subsequent yr, with its VW Golf-sized MG 4 Electrical hatchback – designed from day one for worldwide exports – additionally due by mid-2023.

It’s unclear what the MG 5 might be bought as right here, although within the Chinese language market there’s a extra highly effective, extra aggressive-looking model of the MG 5 known as the Scorpio.

Within the Chinese language market, the front-wheel drive MG 5 is obtainable with a selection of a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 88kW of energy and 150Nm of torque or a turbocharged 1.5-litre with 127kW and 275Nm.

The much less highly effective engine is obtainable with a selection of five-speed handbook or repeatedly variable transmissions, whereas the turbo mill incorporates a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized.

The MG 5 Scorpio incorporates a higher-output 133kW/285Nm tune of the turbocharged 1.5-litre 4, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds.

It’s unclear whether or not MG nonetheless plans to supply the Australian-market MG 5 from its plant in Thailand, although the corporate previously indicated this would be the case.

Ought to it accomplish that, it’ll be the primary MG to be exported to Australia from the corporate’s plant there somewhat than China.

In Thailand, the one engine is the naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre 4, mated to a continuously-variable transmission.

In a phase in Australia the place, thrifty Toyota Corolla hybrid apart, each rival sedan produces over 100kW of energy, that may be an uncommon selection.

At 4675mm nostril to tail, the MG 5 is 45mm longer than the Corolla, and 14mm shorter than a Skoda Octavia liftback. That places it on the bigger finish of the small automobile phase.

The MG 5 incorporates a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an out there 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, whereas the Chinese language-market Scorpio has a restyled inside that includes twin 12.3-inch screens located inside the identical meeting.

A full suite of energetic security and driver help know-how is obtainable, together with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, lane-keep help, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround-view digicam.

Whereas sedan gross sales are declining yearly now, the MG 5 will nonetheless give the newly minted prime 10 gross sales participant an incremental enhance, and certain undercut all opponents.

The MG 5 will give the Chinese language-owned model a rival to the likes of the Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla sedans, although the small sedan market has fewer choices these days following the departure of entrants from Ford, Holden, Honda and others.

MG presently sells just one passenger automobile in Australia within the ageing however hot-selling MG 3 hatchback. The ZS household of SUVs, together with the electrical ZS EV, is Australia’s top-selling small SUV, whereas the HS has carved out a piece of the mid-sized SUV phase.

The corporate confusingly sells two totally different automobiles globally beneath the MG 5 title: the brand new sedan, which entered manufacturing in 2020, and an electrical wagon primarily based on the Chinese language-market Roewe ei5.

It sells each fashions in Thailand, although the older wagon is badged EP Plus there.

MG has been identified to promote automobiles beneath totally different names outdoors of China. That beforehand talked about MG 4 Electric is known as MG Mulan in China, for instance.

The MG emblem can be affixed to each Roewe and LDV/Maxus fashions, with the LDV T60 bought because the MG Extender in Thailand and the Roewe Marvel X electrical crossover badged as an MG in Europe.

The upcoming introduction of the MG 5 – or no matter it’ll be known as – sees the model return to the Australian small automobile phase.

The virtually mid-sized MG 6 sedan and hatch have been launched right here as a part of the model’s unsuccessful first launch beneath Chinese language possession in 2013, and the hatch was a part of the model’s extra profitable relaunch in 2016.

That includes underpinnings that could possibly be traced again to the Rover 75, the MG 6 (later MG 6 Plus) wasn’t as fashionable because the model’s different fashions. Simply 900 have been bought between 2017 and 2019, when it was discontinued.

We didn’t get the first-generation MG 5 right here, which was a small hatchback bought in China from 2012 to 2018.