GENERATION three of the favored five-door MG3 gentle hatch has surfaced on the Geneva Motor Present this week, revealing a bigger car styled in simpatico with the MG5 small sedan and a brand new hybrid drivetrain headlining its complete tech improve.
The brand new MG3 is scheduled to reach Down Underneath mid-year after an eight-year run of the present mannequin, which is Australia’s hottest gentle automobile with 15,430 offered final yr – or greater than double the subsequent finest – owing to its standing because the market’s most-affordable new automobile.
Pricing three or 4 months from launch has been all however confirmed with the brand new mannequin tipped to begin at $24,990 (presumably drive-away) whereas the present mannequin will be had from simply $19,990 drive-away.
It’s more likely to change into Australia’s most-affordable new hybrid, undercutting Toyota’s petrol-electric Yaris that begins at $30,190 earlier than on-road prices.
Different rivals embrace the likes of Mazda2 from $22,870 and Suzuki Swift from $22,490 (each excluding on-road prices).
“MG can verify that, attributable to developments in know-how, security and specification, the brand new MG3 revealed on the Geneva Motor Present will imply the favored mannequin will now not be a sub-$20,000 automobile when it launches in Australia this yr,” stated MG Australia and New Zealand spokesperson.
“There shall be a worth enhance of round $5000 related to the brand new mannequin, due to the introduction of latest world-class know-how, security updates and all-new specification.”
Particulars of the UK-spec MG3 issued on the Geneva reveal embrace a punchy 143kW peak energy output with WLTP gasoline consumption of 4.4 litres per 100km.
Energy comes from a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine good for 75kW/128Nm assisted by a 100kW electrical motor fed via a small 1.83kWh battery that gives brief bursts of electric-only vary. For context a Yaris hybrid’s battery pack is simply 0.76kWh.
Curiously, the front-wheel drive MG3 makes use of a three-speed computerized transmission though this seems to not damage efficiency an excessive amount of with a claimed 0-100km/h time of eight seconds (claimed) and a 170km/h high pace.
UK market data on the brand new era MG3 reveals that the electrical motor chimes in for heavy use together with acceleration and when carrying a full passenger load, with the petrol engine there for assist and for high-speed cruising.
The brand new mannequin is claimed to supply improved consolation and refinement however “stays a enjoyable automobile to drive”. It’s claimed to be quieter due to extra sound deadening materials and revised engine mounts for a discount in NVH.
On high of that, the stiffer chassis combines with lightweight suspension elements for improved dynamics and general trip management.
Options embrace a reversing digital camera, 4 USB ports, rear parking sensors and leather-based upholstery within the greater grades that additionally acquire keyless entry, heated entrance seats and wheel and a spherical view digital camera.
The brand new mannequin ought to do higher than the MG5’s zero-star ANCAP score because of the inclusion of autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep help, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise management with site visitors jam help.
When it comes to dimension, the brand new MG3 is 4113mm lengthy (+58mm), 1797mm lengthy (+68mm, 1502mm excessive (-7mm) and rides on a 2570mm wheelbase serving to to yield a good 293 litres of boot house.
Colors out there on the Euro-spec MG3 are York White, St Moritz Blue, Flaming Pink, Morning Yellow, Pearl Black, Blade Silver and Hampstead Gray probably carried over to the Aussie spec’ mannequin.
