Shanghai, December 16 (Gasgoo.com) China's leading automaker SAIC Motor, is set to launch its self-developed MG6 model in the Chinese market on December 22, media reported. Its price will likely start from 130,000 yuan ($19,000).
The company said the MG6, unveiled at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show in April, is specifically designed for Asian and European markets. It will rival the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Sagitar in the highly competitive mid-class auto segment in China.
The MG6 hatchback is equipped with a 1.8-liter turbo engine and produced by SAIC Motor at its Lingang plant, Shanghai. SAIC also plans to start producing the MG6 in a UK plant next year as it tries to revive the 85-year history of the British icon globally.
The MG6 will be sold in the Chinese market at first, and its retail prices, to be announced next week, is likely to range from 130,000 yuan to 190,000 yuan. SAIC has also confirmed that the car has been engineered to comply with European and U.S. safety standards.
SAIC began to operate MG Rover's Longbridge plant in Birmingham, central England after a merger in late 2007 with Nanjing Auto that acquired the UK brand four years ago. The UK facility will serve as a platform for SAIC to tap the European market.
Styled at SAIC's UK headquarters in Warwickshire, the MG6 represents a clear departure from earlier MG models, with a fresh looking exterior and modern interior, all aimed at appealing to much younger buyers.
