MG’S new Juke rival shaping up
■ Spies catch compact SUV on test ahead of debut next year
Spy shots reveal new ZS SUV out testing for first time
OUR spy photographers have caught the upcoming MG ZS testing for the first time ahead of a production reveal next year. Last month (Issue 1,430), Auto Express exclusively revealed the brand’s plans to revive the ZS name on its new compact SUV, and this is proof the car is in development.
It’s clear this Mg3-bodied development model is riding high on its wheels, hinting that it is indeed the new SUV. It’ll be based on the bigger GS, but with a shorter wheelbase and sportier body, and the big news is that it’s set to offer a new 1.0-litre petrol engine.
When it finally arrives in 2017, the ZS will take the fight to cars like the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008, both of which have enjoyed significant sales success in the UK and Europe.
We can’t tell a lot about the design from this mule, but it does indicate that the car will ride higher than the MG3 supermini.
The ZS’S styling is expected to borrow heavily from the British-designed GS, although the final look will be influenced by the MG Icon concept (far right), first seen at the Beijing Motor Show in 2012. That car featured clear links to the sixties MGB GT, but in a pumped-up crossover package, and was penned by Brit Anthony Williams-kenny at parent company SAIC’S HQ in Shanghai. The look of the forthcoming ZS has been described by a source as “chunky”, much like the market-leading Juke.
We discovered that the test car featured a new 1.0-litre petrol engine when we ran a number plate check; current MGS offer a choice of 1.5 and 1.8-litre units. If the brand is working on a small three-cylinder turbo, it could appear in other models in the range as well as the ZS – including the existing MG3 supermini. Entry-level versions of the
“The look of the new ZS has been described by a source as ‘chunky’, much like the Nissan Juke”
ZS are likely to get the six-speed manual box from the larger GS, while a seven-speed DCT auto is expected to be offered as an option.
Fuel economy of over 50mpg is likely in the lighter Juke rival, but the headline figure will be the price. With the GS starting at £14,995, we expect the MG ZS to cost around £12,000 – much less than the Nissan.
As we revealed last month, the new ZS SUV will mark the revival of the nameplate last used to denote MG’S version of the Rover 45, a saloon and hatch axed in 2005.
The ZS will be an important car for the brand, with marketing boss Matthew Cheyne saying the explosion in popularity of SUVS and crossovers has meant it’s a market MG cannot ignore.
This may also lead to a larger SUV to rival the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, because the GS platform can be scaled down as well as up. Details are scarce, but it’s clear MG will focus on the Juke rival first before developing bigger SUVS and sports cars.