MG Teases Electric Hot Hatch Revival Inspired by Metro Turbo
The 'MG Go' concept, unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, signals a potential return for the iconic nameplate as an EV rival to the Renault 5, with a production version expected next year.
MG has unveiled a concept electric hot hatch, the 'MG Go,' at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, drawing inspiration from the 1980s MG Metro Turbo. The British marque, now under Chinese ownership, indicated that a production version is slated for release next year, positioning it as a competitor to models like the Renault 5 electric hatchback.
The Go concept features a boxy, retro design that pays homage to sporting MGs of the past, including the Metro Turbo, the MGB GT, and the MG ZR. MG states the concept is a "contemporary nod to sporting MGs that have come before" and aims to blend heritage with modern electric vehicle technology. The production model is expected to "showcase a mix of its sporty roots with the latest EV technology."
MG executives suggest the production-ready vehicle will aim to bring "genuine aspiration and desirability to the electric mainstream" through a "clever mix of retro-futuristic design." The concept car, measuring around four meters long, shares dimensional similarities with the Renault 5. Its design includes broad wheel arches, a prominent body kit, large wheels, a ducktail spoiler, and a low-slung front splitter, all hallmarks of a hot hatch.
The design team in London, led by design director Carl Gotham, who also worked on the MG Cyberster EV roadster, developed the production model. "With MG Go, we wanted to create something compact and contemporary, but also warm, expressive and immediately likeable, an embodiment of all that we admire about the MG brand," Gotham said.
MG is looking to replicate the success of the electric Renault 5, which has been popular with private buyers in the UK. The original MG Metro Turbo, produced between 1982 and 1990, was known for its compact size and turbocharged performance, powered by a 1,275cc A-Series engine producing 93bhp. Just under 22,000 examples of the Metro Turbo were built, but very few survive today due to rust, with only a small number registered for road use.
The MG Go concept was presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside another MG concept, the MG Cyber SUV. MG has stated that the production version of the Go will arrive in approximately 12 months.