IN the strange and often unbelievable automotive arena brands we thought of as defunct in the UK can spring back with a vengeance. Such is the case with MG which was riding towards its last resting place with the death of Rover some years ago. As fans mourned the passing of this great marque, the new owners of the name in China were already planning the next generation MG saloon which is now on the roads of Britain. The MG6 fastback that I drove recently is an example of what we can expect in the future from Chinese manufacturers. Made by Shanghai Automotive, it is asembled at that Mecca of British car building Longbridge, Birmingham where the design team is also based. The first all-new MG in the UK for 16 years, the MG6 marked the beginning of a new era. The car was designed by a team led by Tony Williams-Kenny and the engineering and development team was headed by David Lindley. A staff of more than 300 are based at the Birmingham operation. Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation is the largest car manufacturer in China, a country which has the largest car market in the world with more than 18-million car sales in 2010. But can this modern version compete with some of the great MGs of the past? As far as performance is concerned the MG6 is a winner. It it surprisingly responsive, with 158bhp on tap from its 1,796cc engine and 60mph clocking up in 8.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 120mph and progressive power steering provides impressive road feel without being intrusive. It is what we might term a driver's car and it also looks good with modern, clean-cut lines providing a visually powerful stance. But a could-do-better mark goes to the interior which would have benefitted from more imaginative styling. The biggest problem the MG6 faces is people opting for used German built sports saloons which can be bought for the price the MG costs new. But there is a part of the market that demands new sports saloons and low prices and this is where the MG6 shines. It would never use the term cheap and cheerful because the car is certainly not in this category, but it does fill the bill for those who want performance on a budget. It is a spacious five-seater with huge boot space and a high standard specification. While most cars neatly fit into specific sectors of the market, the MG6 straddles the family hatch and saloon sectors so it has an even broader customer appeal. There are three trim levels - S, SE and TSE. With front McPherson strut suspension and a multi-link rear set up, it handles like a much smaller sporty car. Low running costs, with particularly low insurance group ratings (13E for the S and 14E for the SE and TSE); mean that the MG6 GT is also a practical five-seater family car. Powered by a 1.8-litre petrol turbocharged TCI-Tech (Turbocharged, intercooled technology), four cylinder delivering 158bhp, transmission is via a five-speed manual box. It may well be thought that the MG6 is a badge engineered version of another car, but it is not, being new from the chassis up. The MG6 is a breath of fresh air on UK roads, not only telling us the way the Chinese Automotive market is heading but driving back with a badge that many mourned as lost for ever. FAST FACTS MG6 GT TSE Price: £18,995 Mechanical: 158bhp, 1,796cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 120mph 0-62mph: 8.4 seconds Combined mpg: 35.6 Insurance group: 14 CO2 emissions: 184g/km BiK rating: 26% Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles | 
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