MG expands it's design team to cope with all the new models that will be coming out of China, Thailand and Longbridge.

A growing company with a growing product line-up calls for more designers to play their part in developing new models.

MG Motor UK’s design centre, based at Longbridge, Birmingham, has expanded and is continuing to expand its team of designers who play a key role in the MG models on the road of today and the future.

Director of Design, Anthony Williams-Kenny, is now back in the UK after being based in Shanghai for three years. Anthony will be focusing on MG Motor in the UK, as well as on a global level.

The expansion of the team has allowed the design centre to take on more work and to focus on continually improving the products as well as keeping up with trends.

The newest members of the team are Pierre Luigi Ferrari, exterior team lead, and Paul Matthew, interior team lead. Both Pierre and Paul will lead the two teams to design and develop new models as well as ensure that market trends are kept up with and the quality of the products designed is exceptional.

The digital model and clay model teams have expanded, almost doubling in size. Colleagues from China also often come to work in the studio, allowing the team to benefit from cultural influences and shared learning.

Carl Gotham, Chief Designer Advanced, said: “Whilst we have to remain tight-lipped about the products we’re working on, it is certainly an exciting time for MG as we look ahead to future models.

“By bringing in our new team members, we’ve gained incredible talent with a vast amount of experience that can ensure we keep on top of areas such as quality and interior.”

There are currently over 50 people permanently based in the design centre at Longbridge, Birmingham. 

Are you ready, are we ready, is MG ready is more to the point, the MG GS must succeed, from day one.

Dynamic. Sporty. Modern. Three words given to the MG car designers before putting pen to paper. From those first sketches, which were pinned to the wall of the Birmingham based design centre, the MG GS was born and this June it launches in the UK.

Over the years, the British motor industry has evolved. Research has shown that the cars we are now buying have changed drastically. Consumers are no longer looking to sports cars for freedom and adventures, as SUVs are offering that and much more.

SUVs and crossovers are the fastest growing segments in the UK and globally. Every car company that has an intention to be successful has gone down this route. So, with these cars offering people the same sense of freedom that sports cars do, bringing out an SUV is a natural fit for MG.

Anthony Williams-Kenny, Global Design Director for MG, said: “The world is changing quickly in terms of what we expect from a product, so our goal is to bring the most up-to-date design trends to our own.

“With MG’s first SUV, we wanted to design a car that would fit in with the MG family and have a slightly different look, of confidence and dynamism, that sets it apart from the other models.”

The MG GS, which will grace the UK roads in June this year, will go on display for the first time at the London Motor Show in May (6/7/8^th). Potential customers of this highly-anticipated car will be able to get up close and take a look at what is a real turning-point in the history of MG.

Designers, based at Longbridge, Birmingham, relished the opportunity to get involved in what was a core project for MG. Martin Uhlarik, Deputy Design Director for the UK, described it as the ‘next big leap’. He said: “The team were full of enthusiasm when the brief was given to them and, with their passion, it translated into their designs.

“The GS came to life in Longbridge, as this is where the design themes started and the interior and exterior looks were pulled together. Consideration for the customer has happened from the very beginning and we’ve aimed to give them what they want.

“We truly believe that we have created a competitive car that shows MG as forward-thinking, consumer-conscious and a great producer of cars that can appeal to anyone at any point in their life.”