Spy Shots: MG5 Turbo seen testing in China again

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New spy shots of the MG5 Turbo, the last time we saw it testing was in early April. The MG 1.5T was expected to debut on the Shanghai Auto Show, in April as well, but didn’t show. Debut is now scheduled for the Guangzhou Auto Show in November, with a launch on the China var market planned for early 2014. At the same time the MG5 will receive a small facelift with new fog lights and a slightly redesigned front bumper.

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The current MG5.Price starts at 87.700 yuan and ends at 128.700 yuan. Lone engine is a naturally aspirated 1.5 with 109hp mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The new 1.5 turbo will deliver about 135hp and will be mated to a new 6-speed DCT. Chinese sources say the MG 1.5T was delayed because development of the DCT took more time than expected.

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No obvious changes at the back.

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Single exhaust pipe looks sporty enough.

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The new engine hiding under plastic. ‘Turbo’. Yeah…

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New gear lever for DCT box. Otherwise no changes.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. This looks perfectly reasonable but in order for the brand to stay relevant and credible it urgently needs a British designed, engineered and built small sports car (Mazda MX-5 class).

    This should not be too expensive to develop and would give the brand a huge marketing boost. It may even prove a big money-spinner.

    Just selling Sino-British family hatchbacks – and not even premium ones – built in China is going to quickly trash even this illustrious brand and it will quickly be seen as a poor man’s Hyundai.

    SAIC needs to put their hand in their pocket and also be bold.

  2. I must agree with ‘Anon’. The rebuilding of, MG whilst not a task to be underestimated, does seem to rely to date on so-so family hatchbacks and sedans which no matter how worthy or well designed they may be individually fall a long, long way short of what MG could mean. Making a brand truly aspirational – so that large enough numbers actually want to own a product, and will scrimp and save and spend above their normal price point, is something that BMW have achieved with the MINI and VW with the Audi brands – and both include halo sports cars in their midst. Piling ’em high and cheap with a Hyundai chasing spec doesn’t tick the same boxes.

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