A new MG sports saloon is to be launched at Longbridge next year just months after the eagerly-awaited debut of the MG6 hatchback.
The second MG will be aimed at buyers as an alternative affordable model to the likes of upmarket brands such as BMW and Audi – and will retail for less than £20,000.
The Chinese-owned MG Motor UK has now approved the launch of a second car at the Birmingham car factory in 2011 following an enthusiastic reception from dealers to a clay model of the saloon.
The second new MG will take annual production at Longbridge into the thousands rather than hundreds of cars which have been produced so far under the Chinese era, said sales and marketing director Guy Jones.
“The sports saloon will be a big development for us.
“We have just had a board meeting where we have reviewed the status of the project and the production launch of the sports saloon has been accelerated to within six months of the MG6.
“We feel that it’s a nice looking sports saloon – it’s not a direct competitor to the likes of BMW and Audi; it’s a completely different price position to those vehicles, an alternative affordable price.”
He said the car firm had now pencilled in March for the official production launch of the MG6, with it available to UK dealers from April.
Mr Jones said the firm had now built up a database of 11,000 MG fans who had expressed an interest in the rebirth of car making at Longbridge.
He said: “We cannot tell yet how many people are potential MG6 prospects, but it’s encouraging.”
The firm has already signed up 39 UK dealers while a further 27 are considering taking on the franchise.
>David Bailey Blog: GM lined up to help with UK launch of new MG
