With the arrival of three new vehicles, MG is reviving its story

With the arrival of three new vehicles, MG is reviving its story

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Automotive history would be slightly more boring without the two letters of MG. This brand embodied British character and transformed into a carmaker that produced elegant and fun but reasonably priced sportscars for the world to enjoy. To many fans' despair, MG's standing lost momentum in the 80s, leaving exceptional classic driving experiences to tell its story. But like any good story, its comeback is exciting but different, and although the brand is now as British as Biltong, its mindset is fresh and promising.

The return of MG is likely one that you have read or heard about in the last few years, and the day has finally come as MG is officially back in South Africa. Now before you get excited about a possible MX-5 competitor or more affordable sportscars, the new age of MG is more SUV-orientated, but as it begins sales on its first three models, there is one that keeps the MG name exciting.

As much as a fully fledged British sportscar brand would whet the appetite of classic enthusiasts, the motoring world just can't keep up with the staggering production capabilities of Chinese manufacturers. With that being said, the brains behind the operation is SAIC. The Chinese manufacturer and R&D specialist, SAIC, has already proven to be a production powerhouse, and in 2024 alone it produced over 4 million vehicles from its various brands.

What this means for MG is that now it has the means to develop and research with greater depth and resources, allowing for more client-orientated SUVs and high-tech performance cars. Fear not, as the Brits still play a large role in the vehicle development end and, in turn, offer a product that is Chinese at the core but a touch traditional in its execution.

With the brand's arrival in South Africa, three cars are now available for clients. The first is the ZS, which is a B-segment SUV. This is the more affordable offering in the lineup and packs 84kW and 150Nm from its 1.5-litre engine, forcing the power through a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Yes, this does sound like a Tiggo 4 and Suzuki Fronx hybrid, but it looks stylish and comes loaded with tech. The ZS comes in at R289,900, which puts it up against the likes of the Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet.

The second new-age MG that we can get our hands on is the C-segment SUV called the HS, an aesthetically appealing car with a touch of luxurious flair. It sports a similar 1.5-litre engine that produces a stronger 125kW and 275Nm. Fortunately, the HS comes with a 7-speed DCT to alleviate the whine of a 4-speed 'box that we are growing a tad too familiar with. Coming in at R499,900, the HS is an attractive yet rather affordable addition to the C-segment SUV range and one which I am looking forward to testing out.

Now the biggest news comes in the form of a small drop-top 2-seater sportscar that is the first of its kind. The MG Cyberster has had many members of the media's interest piqued over the past few months, and its numbers are rather impressive. Producing 375kW from two motors that drive all four wheels, the Cyberster is certainly no slouch and does a 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds. It's a healthy blend of MG's past and modern vision, as it retains the 2-door, small sportscar appearance that we loved in the old MGs, but with modern technology and aesthetics to appeal to a wide range of buyers, and it's already quite popular with customers.

The Cyberster will set you back R1,399,900, and considering it will outperform the likes of an M2 or A45, at least off the line, it’s a rather tempting deal. Nevertheless, this interesting revival is exciting, and I am excited to see it develop. But for now, we need to hop into the driver's seat and test them for ourselves to see if the new MGs are more than just lookers.

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