Roewe 550 unveiled to be MG Badged
 

Roewe 550 unveiled

Chinese firm reveals Ford Focus rival that's set to be built in Britain.

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Auto Express Car Reviews


Text: Mat Watson / Photos: Guy Bird

22nd April 2008


This is the car which will put MG back on the map – in Birmingham. It’s called the Roewe 550, but Auto Express can exclusively reveal that an MG-badged version is on its way, and is likely to be made at Longbridge.
The 550 has been designed to appeal to British buyers – the lines were penned by a team of leading UK stylists working for Roewe’s owner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The Chinese firm recently bought NAC MG, and is now looking to use the famous octagon logo to give it a slice of the lucrative European market, as SAIC has decided not to bring the Roewe badge here. A car based on the 550 will be the first MG to go on sale.
It’s a saloon that’s roughly similar in size to Ford’s Focus, and should cost about the same, too. The sharp lines follow closely from last year’s Roewe W2. But the roadgoing version, which will go on sale in China next month with a 1.8-litre turbo-charged petrol engine, has a new slatted grille. Inside the modern theme continues, with a curved dash and two-tone finish that’s similar to the BMW 3-Series. However, it’s highly unlikely that the Roewe’s build quality will be anywhere near a match for the German machine.
But building the MG version at Longbridge – which has had £39million of investment ploughed into it by NAC MG, and still retains a small but experienced workforce – should ensure this model will deliver the quality demanded by European buyers.
Before the Birmingham plant returns to mass production, it will be used to assemble small numbers of the TF. There had been speculation this plan had been scrapped, but an NAC MG official told Auto Express that things are back on track, and TFs are likely to start rolling out of the factory gates within the next six months.

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It will very nice to see Longbridge back on full production but this seems to be going on and on maybe this time?

Now SAIC owns the whole lot we should see things starting to move rapidly I hope.
The MG7 is now rolling out in China so lets hope not long for us to wait in UK.

It's still SAIC/NACMG though isn't it, it was a merger, not a takeover as such?

That 550 is based on the RDX60 IIRC?

I'm not sold on the nose & front lights but apart from that, looks 'ok' so far.

Wonder what engines are going in it.

It says 1.8 Litre Turbo in Post Above from Auto Express.

Just the one engine then?

For the UK and European market, it should be offered with an LPG fit too.

This thread should be i an "SAIC" section, not NAC !! NAC was completely taken over by SAIC, not merged !!

It says Merger on the NAC-MG website.

As it is to be Built at Longbridge by NAC and Badged MG I put it into what I thought was the appropriate Thread.
It can be moved if it is felt in wrong one. :oh you:
As two Makers are now one anyway?

May be built at Longbridge by SAIC not NAC !! The car is an SAIC design, nowt to do with NAC ! :)