SAIC envisions a brighter future for the MG 5 reboot

The MG 5 name is back and SAIC is hoping for better things with the second generation. Although it is based on the Roewe i5 which first appeared in estate (wagon) form in 2018 and rides on the General Motors Delta 2 platform – the same as the Opel Astra K – the MG 5 is a very different beast at least when it comes to design.

The first generation MG 5 was never a very successful car. A small hatchback looking a bit too much like it should be a Toyota, it was hampered by a poor choice of drivetrains. Sales stalled and the company decided not to risk it on the UK market. Chinese sales commenced in 2012 but by 2018 the car was culled without a whimper. The new model, however, brings a very different offering.

“The MG 5 is for young people who haven’t much money but want to show off their personality and aesthetic taste,” says Shao Jingfeng, SAIC Motor Technical Centre’s vice president of design says of the new iteration. The most noticeable element of that is the new grille and large MG badge from the third generation of the MG frontal design language.

With the i5 it has a traditional frontal end where the lights and grille are connected. “With the MG 5 the lamps and grille are separated. If you view the car from a far distance you can only see a large black “mouth” and no other complicated styling details. The layout is quite close to high end sports cars,” explains Shao. Going with the shark mouth grille is a steeply raked bonnet. Contrasting with the gloss black grille are a range of bold colours including yellow as seen on the show car and a bright green.

MG’s new design language is known as “passionate intelligence.” On the Chinese market SAIC sell passenger cars under the MG, Roewe and Maxus brands but up until now there has been little noticeable differentiation between them. This seems set to change with MG going back to its heritage with sportier cars and an emphasis on higher design quality. The coupe like rear lines of the new MG 5 is further evidence of that change.

As yet the interior has not been unveiled but Shao says SAIC is aiming at making MG cars more intelligent – the interior will likely be unveiled in a month. “We believe a future sporty car is not only a real racing machine on real roads, but also a virtual racer in the digital world. You can feel the passion, the scent, the sweat, the sunshine when driving fast on the highway,” says Shao.

Measuring in at 4675mm the MG 5 is considerably longer than the i5, but the wheelbase remains unchanged at 2680mm. Power at launch comes from a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine along with a 1.5-litre T unit.

One complication is that in many exports markets the Roewe i5 is sold as an MG 5 so for a while there will actually be two different looking versions: one for the Chinese market and another for export. “We are gradually pushing to make the latest design available to all export markets,” explains Shao.