DRIVER POWER - MG takes a top ten position in the overall category, the naysayers will still whinge.

The MG3 is riding high in this year’s Driver Power customer satisfaction survey after British motorists voted it the tenth best car to own. Off the back of last year’s success, which saw the MG6 awarded ‘best handling’ and MG voted as third best manufacturer, the iconic British brand has done it again and proven its well deserved place on the road.

The Driver Power survey, from the UK’s biggest selling weekly automotive magazine Auto Express, asked the public ‘which is the best car to own?’. More than 61,000 people responded, providing feedback on reliability through to boot space.

Out of 200 cars, the MG3 was voted overall tenth ‘best car to own’ by customers. In the categories, the MG6, despite losing its first place crown for ‘best handling’, fought off 196 other models and found itself amongst the prestigious Porsche 911, Porsche Boxter and Subaru Impreza.

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Marketing, said: “We are thrilled to see that once again our customers have praised MG in the Driver Power survey. The support from our customers is greatly valued and we are continuing to go from strength to strength.

“We are really pleased to see that the MG3 and MG6 have performed so well. We expect that with the recent launch of the new MG6, which has already received rave reviews from the media, it will be loved by the customers too and we’ll be celebrating another success in 2016.”

The new MG6 starts from £13,995 and the MG3 starts from £8,399.

The new MG6, lighter, cheaper, better equipped, better CO2, and now worthy of consideration.

MG’s award-winning MG6 has just got even better with the introduction of the new MG6, which offers ‘more MG for your money.’With much higher levels of specification, the new MG6 offers customers up to £3,000 value-for-money improvement over the previous model. This makes the new car truly amazing value with prices now starting from as low as £13,995.00

The 2015 version of the MG6 offers major advances in every area of the car which first launched four years ago. The new MG6 offers improved performance; a striking new design; higher levels of comfort; enhanced levels of standard specification; and key technical advances.   

Three new trim levels of the new MG6 are offered – all featuring key upgrades from the out-going model. 

The new models are:

• New MG6 S -  £13,995.00
• New MG6 TS - £16,195.00
• New MG6 TL - £17,995.00

Latest engine development

The new model offers higher levels of performance, lower emissions, and improved mpg and results from the intensive development work carried out by engineers based at MG’s Birmingham operation.

The 2015 DTi-TECH engine is the latest generation of MG’s own developed diesel engine. This version still develops 150PS and a strong 350NM from only 1800rpm, but now produces only 119g/km of CO₂ and gives 4.6L/100km (61.4mpg) in combined driving.  Improvements have also been made in driveability making the new MG6 the best balance of driver satisfaction and efficiency yet produced by MG.

In short, the engine on the new MG6 has been significantly improved and the 10g reduction in emissions makes the car ‘cleaner’ but with no loss of performance. 

The new MG6 is, on average, 75kg lighter than the out-going car and is 0.5 secs quicker from 0 to 60mph. Now it takes 8.4 secs compared to 8.9 sec in the previous model. 

New style – more equipment

Striking new designs to the body, particularly the front and rear profile, give the car a new look, while distinctive daytime LED running lights means that the new MG6 stands out from the crowd.

Inside the new and improved model, it looks and feels refreshed. Almost every area of the interior has been enhanced to give even higher levels of comfort and convenience. The new instrument cluster is now clearer; redesigned with a modern tunnel-style analogue presentation.

An electronic handbrake (EPB) has given the designers more scope to refresh the layout between the driver and front passenger seats. The electronic parking brake is incredibly easy to use; it activates manually and automatically releases when you want to move off.

S – heated seats and high specification 

New S models re-write the definition of an entry model – because they are fitted with heated front seats as standard. LED daylight running lights, 16-inch alloy wheels and the electronic parking brake are all part of the package and at no extra cost. 

The interior upgrades, including the addition of bright new silver highlights, give an enhanced feeling of quality and consistency. Meanwhile, the stylish new seat materials give a refreshing new look and style.

Also standard on S models and upwards is an all-new electronic differential, called E-Diff, which works in conjunction with a sophisticated stability control system.  This ensures that wheel spin in cornering is kept under control, giving the driver both increased safety and a more involved feel. 

TS – MG touch sets new standards

The mid-level TS has the following as standard in addition to the S model; part man-made leather seats; rear parking sensors; automatic lights; windscreen wipers; cruise control; auto dimming mirrors and more. But it’s the introduction of the all-new MG touch infotainment system, which debuts on the TS, that puts the car way ahead of all of its competitors.

TL – tops off the new MG6 range

Move up to the top-level TL, still at only £17,995.00, and the levels of enhanced comfort just get higher.

Luxurious leather seats and powerful HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps are just the start. The 35W Bi-Xenon HID main lamps alone offer a much better illumination of the road ahead and are a major advance on standard halogen bulb or projector-type systems.

‘Bending lights’, which are integrated into the HID units, have a speed sensitive cornering function which follow the turn of the front wheels  giving the driver a clear view of potential hazards when cornering in the dark. It operates from speeds up to 40km/h when reflectors cleverly focus the light source to follow the road as the car turns. This improves both safety and driver well-being by taking much of the stress out of night-time driving.

A rear camera, now equipped with guidelines, dual zone climate control and electric seats are all standard on the top-of-the range MG6 TL, which is distinguished by a new chrome grille.

MG touch

Making its debut in the new MG6 is MG touch – a system developed in collaboration with leading supplier of aftermarket systems NNG iGo.  MG touch embodies a collection of technologies which together provide a highly functional and intelligent infotainment system. 

MG touch comprises

• 7” Touchscreen
• App based operation
• FM/AM tuner with RDS
• CD player
• DAB radio
• Video in
• Bluetooth with Bluetooth streaming
• Mirrorlink v1.1
• iGo by NNG navigation

iGo by NNG

The new iGo Navigation by NNG is an app based navigation system. This has been developed to take advantage of the new MG touch system and is a substantial upgrade over the previous generation. iGo includes:

• European mapping
• 3D landmarks
• Reality junction view
• Enhanced signpost information
• Speed limit advice
• Route selection – fast, short, easy, green    
• 6/7 digit UK postcode entry

Nothing lost

The new MG6 continues the exceptional handling dynamics of the original car, which was awarded the Auto Express Driver Power Best Handling Award. Customers looking for a car with the great cabin and cavernous boot space of a family-sized car, yet yearn for the driving dynamics of a small car, the new MG6 is the perfect package.   

Customers of the new MG6 will find a class-leading car offering exceptional value-for-money, without compromising on quality, technology or MG’s legendary ‘fun to drive’ feeling.

Distinctive new look

From the front the new MG6 looks sharper. The new front graphic includes new lamps, grille, lower vent, and LED daytime running lights framed by a new, dramatic feature line. This gives the front of the vehicle far greater presence than the previous generation while still instantly recognisable as a  modern MG.

On higher level trims, the MG grille is highlighted in chrome. At the rear, the update has been even more dramatic, with a lower black aerodynamically styled bumper and shaped tailpipe. These changes all contribute to make the 2015 MG6 unmistakable on the road. In profile, the 2015 MG6 retains the look of a distinctive, fastback vehicle with the addition of standard 16” alloys across the range. This not only enhances the style of the car, but aids in the efficiency and driver comfort of the new MG6.

The level of detailing that has been lavished on the new MG6 has created a new-look sporting profile, yet the car retains all of its huge practicality and functionality. 

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Marketing, said: “The substantial advances we have introduced on the newMG6 make the car even better value-for-money on their own, but couple this with the reduced prices we have announced and it really is an outstanding package.

“There are so many great things about the new MG6 that it’s impossible to highlight one because so many advances have been made. Probably the best way to sum the new model up is that it simply offers much more car for your money.

“Value-for-money is what customers are looking for now, and we have certainly delivered that with the 2015 MG6.”   

Cheyne added: “The new MG6 continues the MG approach to the market of offering excellent value for money with fixed pricing and market leading levels of specification. New MG6 will allow us to carry on increasing sales and adding to our dealer network as we welcome new dealers to the brand all the time.”

MG announces all new Flagship dealership opens in Piccadilly, London.

MG has announced it will open a prestigious multi-million pound flagship dealership in the heart of London’s Piccadilly. The exclusive showroom, next to The Royal Academy of Arts and directly opposite Fortnum & Mason, is one of the most sought-after retail locations in the world.

MG’s showroom will become a centre of excellence for the iconic 91-year-old brand which is Britain’s fastest growing marque. This is the latest and most significant move in a major expansion of new MG dealerships across the country. In the past 12 months MG has opened 26 new dealerships in Britain, and has declared its intention to continue growing by targeting a further 30 open points.

London was a key goal in MG’s ambitious plans to substantially build its dealer network. It was considered vital for MG to have a flagship presence in the UK’s capital city, right at the heart of the growing UK economy. This is a statement of intent that MG is back in Britain and playing a significant role in the thriving British automotive sector.

MG’s Piccadilly showroom will become one of the most important centres of excellence for MG, a brand that now sells in more than 40 countries globally and is instantly recognisable as an icon of great British design and engineering.       

The six-car showroom will be housed in a seven-storey Georgian-fronted building at 47/48 Piccadilly and will incorporate a state of the art showroom with interactive media centre so customers can configure their own car.

As part of the investment, totalling almost £30-million, the building has been sympathetically refurbished and substantially upgraded to accommodate the MG showroom.

MG will run the flagship showroom on the ground floor with offices in the basement. Above are six floors of executive offices. The MG showroom will open in a few weeks time.

The whole of the historic building, just 400yds from Piccadilly Circus is much closer to the landmark statue of Eros than Audi’s flagship showroom. It will give MG an extremely prestigious display showroom in one of the busiest cities in the world.  

Matthew Cheyne Head of Marketing, said: “This really is a fabulous central London location where the City of Westminster and the West End theatreland merge. It shows that MG is really back and is becoming a major force again in the British automotive industry.

“This address is, without a doubt, one of the most sought-after international locations and we can’t wait to do business from there.”

Cheyne said that the choice of the prime address in the heart of the nation’s capital was highly significant. He added: “If anyone had any doubts about MG’s commitment to the future, this is a hugely positive statement that MG is back and here to stay.

“This is a very significant investment by MG and we are immensely proud of this fantastic showroom. You simply could not get a more prestigious location in Britain.”   

New dealership opens on April 1st for MG, and thats No Joke.

It’s no joke – MG’s latest dealer will start trading on April 1 as the brand’s surge in sales continues. Normandy Garage, in Guildford, will become the 26^th new dealer to be appointed within the last 12 months as sales of modern MG’s hit new record levels.

Last year MG was the fastest growing automotive brand in Britain and results for the first quarter of 2015, due out soon, are expected to show an even further acceleration of sales.

Ian Richards, Managing Director of Normandy Garage, said: “It’s thrilling to be involved in this fantastic resurgence of such a great brand. We don’t want to waste any time in selling the cars, that’s why we want to go live on April 1 just as soon as our cars arrive - anyone interested in a brilliant new MG would be a fool to miss out!

“We will have 11 new MG3s at launch and in fact we’ve had a lot of interest from customers because our MG signage is already in place. This is a brand that is going places.”

Normandy Garage is a family-owned business which was started by Ian’s father, John Richards in 1966. The modern, six-car showroom, backed by four workshop bays, is in Guildford Road, Normandy; mid-way between Guildford town centre and Aldershot. It has a staff of 18 people.

Ian said: “Having driven the new MGs and been to see the operation at Longbridge, I’m really positive about MG. In fact, I’m already looking ahead and thinking of expanding our showroom to cope with the new MGs products that are coming along.

“It’s too easy to under-estimate just how good the new MGs are. You only have to drive them to understand what brilliant dynamics they have and you just have to look at the price and high standard specifications to see why MGs make so much sense to so many people.” 

Latest MG dealership beats targets and opens new state of the art showroom.

MG has been celebrating at fantastic showrooms on one of Europe’s largest automotive retail parks. But 10 months ago a massive fire looked as if Hendy MG, on the vast Marsh Barton automotive retail park in Exeter, might have destroyed all hope of the dealership opening.

For months Hendy MG worked from a set of Portacabins while a huge £500,000 refurbishment of the fire ravaged showrooms got under way. Now the plush showrooms are a flagship on the Marsh Barton complex, where almost every major automotive brand has outlets.

Despite the problems caused by the showroom blaze, Hendy MG has met its quarter one target for 2015 and decided it was time to celebrate. At the official opening of the totally refurbished building, MG Motor UK’s Managing Director, William Wang, praised everyone at Hendy MG for their efforts to carry on selling cars.

He cut the official opening ribbon watched by the Hendy Group’s Managing Director, Paul Hendy. 

Hendy MG is part of the huge Hendy Group, one of Britain’s largest automotive companies. It has a turnover of £261-million and is ranked at 44 in the Motor Trader top 200 list of automotive groups.

The Hendy Group is a family-owned company which can trace its history back to a cycle repair shop in 1859. Today the group has 20 retail sites in the south of England and employs more than 590 people.

Craig Winton, Dealer Principal at Hendy MG, said: “It was heartbreaking to see the devastation the fire caused and it was really hard work trying to run the new business from the Portacabins.

“But as soon as the MG totem went up we had customers coming in. The brand has a terrific following in Exeter and we exceeded our initial targets. So that’s given us plenty to build on.” 

Paul Hendy, the Hendy Group’s Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be representing the iconic MG brand. We have every confidence in the new MG brand and the MG6 and MG3 products – which are simply superb.”

New Kent MG dealer has exceeded targets before official opening.

It’s triple celebration time this weekend as Maidstone MG toasts the dealership’s official opening.

Extensive refurbishments of the showroom in Sutton Road, Parkwood, have been completed in time for this weekend’s major opening event. In fact so many guests want to come along that the celebrations have had to be spread over three days from Friday to Sunday!

Celebration number two will be the display of the all-new MG Pirtek racing car replica as part of Maidstone MG’s special weekend. The car is fully dressed in the racing livery of the new team car, which will be fighting for honours in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The 2015 season starts on April 4/5 and MG are hoping to successfully defend the Manufacturers title which they won last year.

But Maidstone MG’s Director of Operations, Bala Waran, says that the third celebration is closest to his heart. He explained: “When we started trading a few months back I set a target of 50 sales by the time the official opening came around.

“But I’m delighted to say that we have sold more than 60 new MGs and the interest from customers is growing every day. With the NEW MG6 just around the corner, things are looking pretty good for MG and for us.

“Joining the MG franchise was a great decision for us, so I think we deserve this triple celebration.”

Maidstone MG is run by the F.G. Barnes and Sons group, one of the region’s best-known family firms which operates seven automotive sites across Surrey and Kent.

The Parkwood site covers more than three acres and employs 50 people.

F.G. Barnes started in 1899 and the third generation of the family now run the business. It has a turnover of more than £60-million and is in the Motor Trader Top 200 list of automotive companies. The company employs more than 200 people.

Bala, who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years, said: “I remember lusting after an MGB GT when I was young, but I was always too tall for the car.

“It’s a different story with the much more spacious MG6 and MG3 models, which I am really impressed with. These cars offer so much value-for-money, driving quality and character.”

MG announces that the new MG6 will be launched imminently, and about time too !

MG is launching an improved NEW MG6 which will further boost the brand’s remarkable revival.

The new car, which will go on sale next month, comes as MG sales in the UK continue to increase rapidly, boosted by the opening of a wave of new dealerships across the country. Last year MG was the fastest growing automotive brand in Britain.

MG launched the original MG6 in 2011 but the 2015 NEW MG6 offers major improvements in every area of the car.

The 1.9-litre DTi-TECH diesel engine has been developed to give lower CO₂ levels and improved mpg figures. Exact figures will be revealed at the car’s launch.   

Comprehensive updates have been made to the body styling of the car while it retains the driving dynamic qualities that won plaudits from drivers who voted the MG6 the Best Handling car in the 2014 Auto Express Driver Power Awards.

Interior upgrades and enhanced equipment levels are introduced on the New MG6 which will arguably have one of the best intelligent infotainment systems of any car in its class. A state-of-the-art navigation system will also set new standards.  

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Marketing, said: “This is a totally different car to the original MG6 with a host of new technologies and major advances in every area.

“We will reveal the full story and prices when the car is unveiled shortly. But the New MG6 is a big leap forward from the original car which has been the result of thousands of hours of dedicated work from our designers and engineers.”   

Cheyne said that the New MG6 would have broad appeal to both retail and business customers. He added: “The MG6 was always a comfortable, roomy car and offered rewarding driving.

“But the New MG6 takes the car to a different level again with a host of great improvements and advances, most of which have never been seen before on an MG.

“With the MG3 selling really well, the New MG6 will give MG another great boost. Last year was a really significant year for MG in terms of sales performance, but 2015 is already shaping up to be a cracking year for MG.”