Engineering:MG 3
| MG3 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | MG Motor (Nanjing/SAIC) |
| Production | 2008–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact (B) |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | MG ZR |
The MG 3 is a subcompact car produced by the Chinese automotive giant SAIC. The first generation, marketed as the MG 3 SW, is based on the British made Rover Streetwise, which itself was based on the Rover 25, while the second generation, introduced in 2011 is marketed simply as the MG 3. It is the most popular Chinese manufactured car currently on sale in the United Kingdom.
First generation
| MG3 SW | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | MG Motor (Nanjing) |
| Production | 2008–2011 |
| Assembly | Nanjing Automobile Pukou, Nanjing, China |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact (B) |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.4 L I4 (petrol) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 5-speed automatic |
About
The first generation MG 3 SW is essentially a rebadged version of the Rover Streetwise, which had ceased production in April 2005, after the bankruptcy of predecessor organisation MG Rover. It started production in 2008, at SAIC's China factory in Pukou, Nanjing.[1][2] The MG 3 SW is only on sale in the market of China, and cannot be exported by SAIC.[3]
Engines
| Petrol engines | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Top Speed | 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) | CO 2 emissions |
| 1.4 N/K-Series | I4 | 1,396 cc | 76 kW (103 PS; 102 hp) at 6,000 rpm | 123 N⋅m (91 lb⋅ft) at 4,500 rpm | 115 mph (185 km/h) | 9.7s | ___ g/km |
Second generation
| MG3 | |
|---|---|
 2018 MG 3 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | MG Motor (SAIC Motor) |
| Production | 2011–present (China) 2013–2016 (MG Motor Longbridge) (United Kingdom) 2015–present (Thailand) |
| Assembly | Pukou, Nanjing, China Longbridge, United Kingdom[4] Laem Chabang, Thailand (SAIC-CP) |
| Designer | Anthony Williams-Kenny |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact (B) |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.3 L CA4GA1 VTi-Tech I4 (petrol) 1.5 L 15S4C VTi-Tech I4 (petrol) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 5-speed semi-automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,520 mm (99.2 in) |
| Length | 3,999 mm (157.4 in) 4,079 mm (160.6 in) (Xross) |
| Width | 1,728 mm (68.0 in) 1,739 mm (68.5 in) (Xross) |
| Height | 1,517 mm (59.7 in) 1,528 mm (60.2 in) (Xross) |
| uk|uk|Kerb|Curb}} weight | 1,125–1,190 kg (2,480–2,624 lb) |
The new MG 3 was showcased at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, in the form of the MG Zero concept car. The new model uses an all new automotive platform with a wheelbase of 2.5 m, featuring MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle. The development work took place in the United Kingdom, with production initially in China.[5]
The car went on sale in China in the spring of 2011. Engine options at launch consist of a choice of 1.3 (1343 cc) and 1.5 litre (1498 cc), rated at 68 kW (91 bhp) and 80 kW (107 bhp) respectively, with either a five speed manual transmission, or an Italian AMT transmission called e shift.[6]
The MG3 supermini has a low insurance (group 4E), and over a million personalisation options. In Thailand, MG3 and Xross were launched 18 March 2015. It has lower price than other cars in same segment, but equipped with more features, such as Moonroof and ESP.
MG 3 Xross
The second generation MG 3 is also available in a crossover style variant (similar to the Rover Streetwise and MG 3 SW), known as the MG 3 Xross.[7] The Xross is only available with the 80 kW (107 hp) 1.5 litre engine.
Facelift (2013)
A facelifted version of the MG 3, with a revised front design, was announced in the spring of 2013, with sales in the United Kingdom commencing in September 2013, but only with the 1.5 litre 105 hp (78 kW) engine option.[8]
It was claimed that it would be built for Europe at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham alongside the larger MG6. The MG 3 was assembled there from 2014 until 2016.[9][10]
For 2016, the MG3 received several upgrades to improve the refinement of the MG3. The main upgrade is the installation of an EU 6 derivative of the standard 1.5 litre engine, developed by SAIC Motor UK. A stop start was also fitted. There was also an addition of two tone colour schemes, primarily on the red and yellow MG3's which can be equipped with either a black or white roof, similar to the Audi A1.
Engines
The MG 3 is only available with a 1.5L Engine, which has received an EU 6 upgrade to reduce emissions, and also the addition of stop start.
| Petrol engines | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Top Speed | 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) | CO 2 emissions |
| 1.3 VTi-Tech | I4 | 1,343 cc | 93 PS (68 kW; 92 hp) at 6,000 rpm | 118 N⋅m (87 lb⋅ft) at 5,000 rpm | 111 mph (179 km/h) | __._s | ___ g/km |
| 1.5 VTi-Tech | I4 | 1,498 cc | 106 PS (78 kW; 105 hp) at 6,000 rpm | 137 N⋅m (101 lb⋅ft) at 4,500 rpm | 113 mph (182 km/h) | 10.4s | 136 g/km |
| 1.5 VTi-Tech EU 6 | I4 | 1,498 cc | 106 PS (78 kW; 105 hp) at 6,000 rpm | 137 N⋅m (101 lb⋅ft) at 4,500 rpm | 113 mph (182 km/h) | 10.4s | 124 g/km |
Facelift (2018)
The MG 3 was revised in 2018 with a facelift to the exterior and a new interior.[11] The interior redesign now includes space for an eight inch touchscreen unit, which is fitted as standard to some models. The 1.5 litre engine received minor modifications to bring it up to EU 6D standards, and now rated at 140g/km for CO
2 emissions.The facelifded desighn of the MG3 has caused some anger, due to it looking similar to the Mazda2.
Chinese models are available with a slightly more powerful 1.5 litre engine option mated to a four speed automatic gearbox.[12]
| Petrol engines | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Top Speed | 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) | CO 2 emissions |
| 1.5 VTi-Tech EU 6D | I4 | 1,498 cc | 106 PS (78 kW; 105 hp) at 6,000 rpm | 137 N⋅m (101 lb⋅ft) at 4,500 rpm | 113 mph (182 km/h) | 10.4s | 140 g/km |
| 1.5 VTi-Tech auto | I4 | 1,498 cc | 111 PS (82 kW; 109 hp) at 6,000 rpm | 150 N⋅m (111 lb⋅ft) at 4,500 rpm | |||
Popular culture
The MG3 has featured in a series of advertisements for the popular Uruguayan supermarket Tienda Inglesa, where a protagonist is chased across a supermarket by a policeman to the theme tune of The Benny Hill Show, before driving away in a blue MG3 with a roof featuring the Union Jack.[13]
Sales
| Calendar Year | Thailand |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,183[14] |
| 2016 | 5,427[15] |
| 2017 | 6,565[16] |
| 2018 | 5,908 |
References
- ↑ "China Motor Vehicle Documentation Centre – Now in Production". Chinese Cars. http://www.chinesecars.net/index.php?page=5. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ↑ "SAIC MG3 Review". Illustration of Chinese Car. 2010-01-02. http://www.auto-chinese.com/saic/saic-new-mg3-review-appearance/. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
- ↑ Ash (2007-04-26). "Are MG Streetwise?". China Car Times. http://www.chinacartimes.com/2007/04/26/are-mg-streetwise/. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
- ↑ "MG unveils new super-mini at Longbridge". Express and Star. 12 June 2013. https://www.expressandstar.com/lifestyle/motors/2013/06/12/mg-unveils-new-super-mini-at-longbridge/. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ Ash (2011-06-29). "MG3 – in review". http://www.chinacartimes.com/2011/07/29/mg3-in-review/. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
- ↑ "Specification". MG Motor. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130504053729/http://www.saicmg.com/mg3/configure/. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ↑ "MG3 Xross Sighted Out Again". China Car Times. 2011-06-01. http://www.chinacartimes.com/2011/06/01/mg3-xross-sighted-out-again/. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ↑ White, Rory (27 September 2013). "2013 MG3 review". What Car?. http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/mg/mg3/2013-mg3-review/1210266. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ↑ "MG's TF cabrio axed". Auto Express. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/260905/mgs_tf_cabrio_axed.html. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ↑ "MG will end UK production". AutoNews.com. 2016-09-23. http://europe.autonews.com/article/20160923/ANE/160929905/mg-will-end-uk-production. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ↑ "MG gives MG3 supermini extensive makeover with 2018 facelift". 17 August 2018. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mg/mg3/104367/mg-gives-mg3-supermini-extensive-makeover-with-2018-facelift. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ↑ "Features & Specs". http://classic.saicmg.com/english/mg3/configure/. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ↑ "Tienda Inglesa MG Promo". 3 March 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFI_ssJXTRo&gl=SE.
- ↑ "Thailand cars sales report 2015". HeadlightMag.com. Thailand. http://www.headlightmag.com/salesreport_total2015/.
- ↑ "Thailand cars sales report 2016". HeadlightMag.com. Thailand. http://www.headlightmag.com/sales-report-december-2016/.
- ↑ "Thailand cars sales report 2017". HeadlightMag.com. Thailand. http://www.headlightmag.com/sales-report-december-2017/.
External links
 |
