The MG brand has officially returned to South Africa, with a full range of products on the radar for the local market.
Although drawing on its British heritage, the modern MG is owned by Chinese auto giant SAIC, with the majority of vehicle manufacturing taking place in China, while a portion of the research and development is conducted at the firm’s London design studio.
The carmaker is staging its official launch at an event in Johannesburg on the evening of Tuesday, January 21, where further product plans are due to be revealed.
MG has already announced the ZS and HS SUV products for local introduction, as well as the Cyberster electric sports car.
“All I can say at this stage is that hatchbacks, hybrid and mainstream electric models are definitely on the cards for South Africa as we want our local customers to be able to access the latest in automotive innovation from MG. Watch this space!” Sky Zhang, General Manager for MG Motor South Africa said ahead of the brand’s official launch in the country.
The ZS compact SUV will be the first product to reach showrooms, and although it has been discontinued in some markets, having launched internationally in 2017, it does appear to play a strong value card, with the Comfort variant priced at R289,900 and the Luxury model listed at R309,900.
The ZS is powered by a 1.5-litre normally aspirated petrol engine which pairs with a four-speed automatic gearbox and produces 84kW and 150Nm.
Features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as a four-speaker sound system, reverse camera, multi-function steering wheel, six airbags and ESP stability control.
The Luxury model adds synthetic leather upholstery, a six-speaker ‘3D’ sound system and cruise control to the mix, among other items.
The HS hits the market also in Comfort and Luxury guises, priced at R499,900 and R534,900 in 1.5T guise and R629,900 when fitted with the 2.0T engine.
The 1.5-litre turbo is good for 125kW and 275Nm, pairing with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, while the 2.0-litre turbo produces 170kW and 370Nm, linking up with a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
Buyers can look forward to a 12.3-inch dual-screen infotainment system, 360-degree HD view camera, perforated leatherette upholstery and a full suite of driver assist gadgets, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Change Assist and Blind Spot Detection.
The Luxury gains features such as a panoramic sunroof, dual zone climate control, front seat heating and a wireless phone charger, to name just a few of the additions.
Also on the cards for South Africa is the Cyberster roadster, powered by a dual-motor system that pushes 375kW through the front wheels and 250kW at the back end, allowing for a 3.2-second 0-100km/h sprint. Its 77 kWh battery enables a claimed WLTP range of 443km between charges.
For this sports car you can expect to part with R1,399,900.
As for aftersales, you can expect a five-year or 60,000km service plan on the ZS, rising to 90,000km for the HS, while the Cyberster will be offered with a full maintenance plan, also valid for five years, but with 100,000km worth of coverage.
Stay tuned to IOL on Wednesday, January 22, for further news about the other products that MG Motor plans to bring to South Africa in 2025 and beyond.
IOL