MG reveals updated MG6 sedan

MG HAS used the Guangzhou motor show in China to reveal the updated version of its MG6 sedan, featuring refreshed styling inside and out, new powertrains, and the possibility of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant ahead of a release in 2018.

The Chinese-owned British marque has given the MG6 a significant styling update, with an updated headlight design that gives it a squarer, more aggressive look, as well as what looks to be an LED daytime running light along the top of the headlight cluster.

The front grille design has been changed completely with the narrow outline of the existing model replaced in favour of a large, patterned shape reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz and its ‘diamond’ grille.

A slicker front bumper finishes of the front-end look, while large thin-spoke alloy wheels add to its sporty exterior.

Changes are more subtle at the rear, with LED strips integrated into the tail-lights, revised C-pillar and a sportier rear diffuser and bumper.

A silver model shown at the show has also been given lime-green accents on the door mirrors, grille bezel, and long stripes along the car’s side and sills.

Inside, the MG6 gets a simplified and modernised interior, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen replacing the smaller existing unit and doing away with the myriad of tactile buttons.

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster also modernises the interior look, while two-tone leather upholstery and circular air-conditioning vents gives the cabin class.

According to British publication Autocar, given the MG6 is mechanically related to the Roewe i6, the new model will share its powertrains, eschewing the turbocharged 1.8-litre unit in the existing models.

Powertrain choices will consist of two turbocharged engines, a 1.0-litre three-pot shared by the upcoming ZS SUV with 91kW/169Nm and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder from the GS and MG3 producing 122kW/249Nm.

The current 1.8-litre donk produces 118kW/215Nm.

There is also the possibility of the MG6 being offered in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) flavour, given such a system exists on the i6.

The PHEV teams the 1.0-litre three-cylinder to a 61kW electric motor, which would make for the first hybrid in MG’s line-up.

The MG brand re-launched in Australia in October 2016 with the MG6 and MG3 hatch, joined later by the GS in March 2017.

To the end of October, MG has sold 352 examples of the MG6, making it comfortably the brand’s best-selling model, over the GS (108) and MG3 (43).

MG Motor Australia is yet to confirm if and when the new model will be arriving Down Under.