MG6 (automobile)
Compact car produced by SAIC under the British MG marque since 2010.
The MG6 is a compact car that SAIC has built under the British MG brand since 2010. It sits between the smaller MG GT sedan and the MG 5 hatchback in the lineup. The first generation debuted as a five-door fastback at the April 2009 Shanghai Auto Show, and a four-door notchback saloon followed at the October 2010 Shanghai Expo. The car shares its front subframe with the Roewe 550, making it a distant relation to the Rover 75.
The five-door fastback, sold as the MG6 GT, went on sale in the United Kingdom in May 2011, while the saloon, called the MG6 Magnette, arrived on 16 July 2011. A diesel model joined the range at the end of 2012. Thai assembly began on 4 June 2014, with capacity for 5,000 cars per year. UK sales fell short of expectations, and the model was dropped from the British market in 2016, though it continued elsewhere.
Development and styling were partly handled at the SAIC UK Technical Centre, but the main design contract went to EDAG in Shanghai. Originally planned as a Roewe model (project IP22), the nearly finished car was facelifted after SAIC took control of Nanjing Auto, which owned the MG brand, making it the first Chinese-built MG. Production started in China in 2010, with partial knock-down assembly at Longbridge, UK, from 13 April 2011. From 2013, the MG 3 supermini also saw limited final assembly at Longbridge until 2016. The Magnette name revived a badge used by MG in the 1930s and again from the 1950s to 1960s.
In the UK, the car launched as the MG6 but was renamed the MG6 GT for the fastback version. Three trim levels were offered: S, SE, and TSE. All shared the same mechanicals, though the TSE got 18-inch wheels instead of the standard 17-inch. The launch petrol engine was the 1.8-litre TCI-Tech, available with 133 bhp or 158 bhp with a turbo; the turbo version was the only option at the UK launch. All models had a five-speed manual gearbox, front MacPherson struts, and multi-link rear suspension. The turbo car reached 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, achieved 35.6 mpg combined, and emitted 184 g/km of CO2. Top speed was limited to 120 mph for a lower insurance rating. Minor improvements in April 2012 raised fuel economy to 37.7 mpg and cut emissions to 174 g/km.
A 1.9-litre diesel DTi Tech engine arrived at the end of 2012, producing 148 bhp and 350 Nm, with emissions of 139 g/km.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- MG Motor (SAIC Motor)
- Production
- 2009–present
- Class
- Small family car (C) / Compact executive car (D)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Rover 45 / MG ZS / MG 7
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The first-generation MG6 was derived from the Roewe 550, sharing its front subframe and being distantly related to the Rover 75. Development and styling were partly done at the SAIC UK Technical Centre, but the main design and development contract was given to EDAG: Shanghai. Originally designed as a Roewe-badged model (IP22 Project), it was facelifted and became the first Chinese MG car after SAIC took control of Nanjing Auto. Production began in China in 2010, with partial knock-down assembly at Longbridge, United Kingdom, from 13 April 2011. The five-door fastback was sold as the MG6 GT, and the notchback saloon as the MG6 Magnette, a name used by MG in the 1950s–1960s and also in the 1930s for the MG K-type. The MG6 sold below expectations in the United Kingdom and was dropped from the range there in 2016, while continuing in other markets. The second generation was unveiled in November 2016 at Nanjing Wanchi race track, incorporating MG's 'Emotional Dynamism' design language and sharing a platform with the Roewe i6. A plug-in hybrid version, the eMG6 PHEV, was also produced.
Reader's Guide
The MG6 marked SAIC's first production of a Chinese MG car, reviving the brand after SAIC took control of Nanjing Auto. Its development bridged British and Chinese engineering, with design work split between the SAIC UK Technical Centre and EDAG: Shanghai. The car achieved notable success in the British Touring Car Championship, leading to a BTCC Special Edition for the UK market. The MG6 won several awards, including the What Car? 2012 Security Award, the Auto Express Driver Power Best Handling Award in 2014, and three awards in 2016: Auto Express Driver Power Best Family Car Bronze Winner, Auto Express Driver Power Road Handling Silver Winner, and The Caravan Club Tow Car of the Year Class Winner under £17,500. Despite positive reviews for its handling and value, the MG6 struggled with slow UK sales, attributed to lack of advertising, perceived low quality, and the absence of a diesel option at launch. Production at Longbridge was brief, and the model was withdrawn from the UK in 2016, though it continued in other markets. The second generation introduced a plug-in hybrid variant and a 350 hp concept, the MG6 XPower, shown at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show.
Did You Know?
- The MG6 was originally designed as a Roewe-badged model (IP22 Project) before being facelifted into the first Chinese MG car.
- The notchback saloon version revived the Magnette name, previously used by MG in the 1950s–1960s and the 1930s for the MG K-type.
- The MG6 BTCC Special Edition featured a matt black roof, black-gloss sills, and a multi-coloured MG KX Momentum Racing team decal.
- The eMG6 PHEV plug-in hybrid has a combined power output of 228 hp and 622 Nm of torque, with a pure electric range of 53 km.
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