http://www.mgenthusiast.com MGE AUGUST 2019 7or some time, SAIC has been
ploughing a different MG furrow
in the important Gulf region
with models seldom seen outside
South America. The local distributor
SAIC Motor Middle East FZE has sold a
series of MG-badged Roewes, notably
the sharply-styled ‘MG RX5’, currently
selling well there. Recently we learned
that the Middle Eastern MG range,
which already includes the MG ZS
and MG6 alongside the RX5, will grow
dramatically before the end of the year,
with the addition of three more models.
Least surprising is the much-
anticipated MG HS, which is also due
in the UK soon. Another two ‘all-new’
offerings announced by the company
are a ‘new-generation’ MG5 and an
MG RX8, the latter being a bigger
seven-seater SUV similar in size (but
unrelated to) the the Maxus D90. The
rugged 4x4 RX8, already a Roewe
flagship model, is said to have the
largest third-row seating in its class.
There was less detail on the smaller
MG5, other than the fact that it will be
a ‘compact saloon’ which sits in the
so-called ‘B’ segment, but SAIC says:Middle Eastern moves: three more new MGs
“The sporty looking MG5 will be offered
with an efficient 1.5L petrol engine
and an impressive level of hi-tech
features, including rear view camera,
10.1-inch touch screen, push button
start and a 360-degree surround-view
camera for ultimate safety.” From
our exclusive photo, we suspect it
may be an MG-badged Roewe i5...
MG is doing well in the Gulf region,
with 21 showrooms and 21 service
centres, and record sales in 2018.
Tom Lee, Managing Director for SAIC
Motor Middle East, told us: “With these
three new models arriving soon, our
continued expansion into new markets
and eye-catching marketing initiatives
we’ll be rolling out, we are really
upping the intensity of our activity and
I think that the coming months will be
an exciting time for the MG brand.”ABOVE: The MG HS is planned to be
on sale in the Middle East, and also in
other markets, before the end of 2019.F
SAIC owns outright two
substantial buildings in central
London; one in Piccadilly and
the other in Marylebone. As
we’ve mentioned in previous
issues, both gained showrooms
on the ground floor, whilst the
Marylebone building is also home
to both the SAIC London Advanced
Design Studio and MG Motor UK’s
sales and marketing HQ. Recently
both sites have seen the opening
of the all-new ‘Roadster Café’,
restaurants which offer, counter-
intuitively, ‘Japanese Fusion’
cooking, with an eye on the exotic.
http://www.roadstercafe.co.ukMG Roadster Cafés
open in London
ABOVE: This substantial five-metre-
long 4x4 is the Roewe RX8-based ‘MG
RX8’ for the Middle East market.ABOVE: Here is our exclusive image of the ‘all-new’ MG5 set for the Middle
East market; at first sight it appears to resemble China’s Roewe i5.If you fancy some Japanese Fusion
food whilst browsing an MG
brochure in London, you can
combine the two at one of the
new Roadster Cafés situated
in Piccadilly or Marylebone.