MG is set to reveal its new MG3 supermini at the Geneva motor show next week. A budget rival to the Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo, the new model will be fitted with hybrid power and will go on sale in Ireland later this year.
Technology inside and out
The current MG3 is sold in some markets, but not Ireland. This new one is confirmed to be made available this year to Irish buyers. To help the car along, MG has fitted it with a "pure hybrid" system, although the brand hasn't yet confirmed what form that technology will take.
According to the brand's press material, the car will be known as the MG3 Hybrid Plus and will provide "a class-leading combination of efficiency and performance." MG also says the next-generation MG3 will have the "capability for zero-emissions driving."
As well as adding a new hybrid system, MG is also promising a huge uplift in technology inside the new MG3. The hatchback's cabin features twin-display screens and access to a wide range of connected services. MG has confirmed the inclusion of a broad selection of driver assistance technology, as well as entertainment features.
What's more, teaser images have revealed something of the new model's design, with a front end influenced by the new MG Cyberster sports car. And the MG3's cabin, complete with its two displays, is expected to feel more premium than that of the old car, with MG's images revealing a minimalist design.
Geneva launch
MG will unveil the new MG3 at its press conference at the Geneva motor show on Monday, February 26, where it will sit alongside the forthcoming IM L6 model. That's the debut car in MG's new Intelligent Mobility brand.
Both cars will be headline features at the Geneva motor show, which makes its return to the Franco-Swiss city for the first time since the coronavirus crisis. Having been hosted in Qatar last year, the show is making its way back to the Palexpo halls next to Geneva airport. However, a large number of major manufacturers have not returned, and the halls may look a little threadbare.
As a result, the MG3 Hybrid Plus and the IM L6 are expected to be one of the show's biggest attractions, especially given the popularity of small hatchbacks in the European car market.
"With the MG3, we're set to redefine expectations in the hybrid B-segment hatchback category, offering a superior mix of performance, efficiency, sophistication, and tech features," said Natasha Maher, the marketing and PR manager, MG Motor Ireland. "We're confident it will be a very strong challenger in a market where customers seek both excellent value and practicality."