A month after the first MG6 rolled off the Longbridge production line dealers say the public could not have given it a better welcome.

The new five-door fastback is the first all-new model made by MG Motor UK – the first vehicle being produced exactly six years on from the collapse of MG Rover in April 2005.

The dealer launch for the model came a month later and though no sales figures have yet been released, it is definitely a case of “so far so good”, according to MG Motor UK spokesman Doug Wallace.

“Feedback has been strong and hugely positive and several dealers have already reported sales,” said Mr Wallace. “A lot of dealers have reported high interest in booking test drives in the MG6 too.

“We have been absolutely delighted by the response so far and it has been extremely well received.”

The company’s dealer network is still evolving, with 32 outlets, though the firm hopes to have 50 by the end of 2011.

Oddly, given the car is built in Birmingham at what was once one of the world’s largest car factories, there is no dealership in the city as yet.

The nearest outlet for prospective buyers is Dudley’s Summit Garage.

Summit has a long association with the MG brand. It was founded in 1945 by Robert Newey and sold MG, Austin and Morris vehicles. It remains a family-run firm and is now run by Robert’s grandson John Newey.

Mr Newey, the dealer principal at Summit, said reuniting with MG was a natural and easy choice.

“We had a big association with the brand so it made sense to take a franchise when MG was relaunched back in 2008,” he said.

The choice was even easier for Mr Newey, given he is an MG enthusiast himself, owning a 1993 MG R V8, a 2004 MG SDR and an MG ZT 260.

He echoed the views of Mr Wallace in terms of the public’s response to the launch of the MG6.

“We have sold a couple of cars already and the first sold car is going out this week,” he said.

“We are getting a lot of interest from people who want to book a test drive and those who drive it are all rating the ride and drive of the car very highly.

“The handling has been described as class-leading and having done three or four hundred miles in our demonstrator I can say it’s as good as anything I’ve driven of that size and within a similar price range.

“We need to try and attract people who have never looked at MG before – I think they would be quite surprised at what they get.

“With a starting price of £15,495 for the 1.6 Turbo S, it is very good value for money. For someone out there looking for something a bit different to the norm it represents a good choice – it’s a slick-looking family hatchback with good performance and reasonable economy.”

Mr Newey admits there might be diehard MG enthusiasts who would not give the new car “the time of day” but says others have welcomed its arrival.

“You get some people who want to live in the past and remember MG just for what it was but others are moving with the times and saying they like this new interpretation of MG for the 21st century,” he said.

The MG6 is the first of a succession of new models scheduled to be assembled at Longbridge.

In July a four-door saloon car will also be produced there, with plans for further models in the pipeline, though they remain firmly under wraps at present.

As the automotive industry attempts to get back on its feet and the fledgling MG Motor UK gets set to take on the world’s big brands no-one can be certain of what the future holds but a bright start has certainly been welcomed.

Mr Newey added: “At the moment they are looking at really small volumes – they are only aiming to produce around 2,000 cars this year but I think the future looks good.

“All of the things people are saying they would like to see are going to happen over the next couple of years which means they will have a range like most other car manufacturers.”

Mr Wallace said dealers who took part in a special civic send-off from Birmingham Council House after the production line started rolling were particularly heartened by the response they got.

“A lot of dealers have told us how they were cheered and waved at as they drove through the streets by bystanders,” he added.

“There is a tremendous amount of goodwill towards us and that is really heartening.”