New MG GS SUV spotted testing on UK roads

UK sales of MG's first production SUV are planned for 2016, but is already on sale in China

The MG GS SUV has been spotted testing on UK roads, having been unveiled at the Shanghai motor show back in April.

The new five-seat SUV was first previewed by the CS concept at the Shanghai motor show in 2013. It's already on sale in China, with a UK introduction earmarked for early 2016.

The production version of the GS was styled under the stewardship of MG design boss Anthony Williams-Kenny, in a collaboration between the company’s Shanghai and Longbridge design teams.

The first-ever MG SUV adheres closely to the look of the well-received CS concept, with a highly contemporary look featuring a clear family resemblance to the recently introduced MG3, MG5 and MG6.

Key styling elements include a simple grille featuring the traditional octagonal Morris Garages badge, a heavily adorned two-tone front bumper, trapezoidal headlights, sheer surfacing, structured flanks, blacked-out pillars and an angled tailgate.

At 4500mm in length, 1855mm in width and 1675mm in height, the GS is 73mm longer, 46mm wider and 8mm lower than the Volkswagen Tiguan.

While earlier speculative reports suggested the new SUV was based on the same platform as the latest SsangYong Rexton, MG says the GS rides on a new scalable SUV architecture developed in partnership with SAIC. It has a wheelbase of 2650mm – 46mm longer than that of the Tiguan.

MG has confirmed one engine for the GS, although others are planned to follow, according to officials from SAIC’s UK engineering headquarters in Longbridge. The in-house-developed turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivers a class-competitive 217bhp and 258lb ft.

However, the DVLA's records of this latest model spotted on UK roads suggest that a smaller, 1.5-litre petrol engine similar to that offered in the MG3 is also likely. The production version would likely be a more affordable turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 168bhp and 184lb ft.  

On the initial GS model, drive is channelled through a standard six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with buyers set to be offered the choice of either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. In four-wheel-drive guise, the new MG is claimed to accelerate from 0-62mph in “around eight seconds”. However, more detailed performance and fuel economy claims are yet to be made public.

Also planned for selected markets, including the UK, is a diesel variant of the GS. It is earmarked to receive the same turbocharged 1.9-litre four-cylinder unit already offered in various MG models, where it delivers 148bhp and 258lb ft of torque.

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