MG Icon Concept Revealed

Chinese-owned British carmaker MG reveals its Icon crossover concept in Beijing, production prospects remain unclear.

This is the MG Icon, a new crossover concept designed by the British brand's new owner, China's Shanghai Auto Industry Corp (SAIC).

The concept's designers say the Icon is inspired by the hardtop MGB GT of the 1960s, but the connection is clearly a slim one.

"We have balanced familiar brand cues, such as the wide and powerful front-end graphic interpretation and, as one would expect, with a strong focus on the unique MG octagon," MG's design boss, Anthony Williams-Kenny said.

"The MG Icon clearly demonstrates a progressive and soulful British spirit and has a lithe and powerful stance – its proportion harmonised by feature lines interpreted from MG's iconic greats."

Details for the high-riding new car are thin on the ground, although its proportions suggest the concept is roughly the size of Nissan's similarly-styled Juke crossover.

Plans for the Icon have not been revealed, although reports out of China point to a 2014 production debut for the Icon - but don't expect it to hang onto those over-sized wheels when it hits showrooms.

"The MG Icon highlights a global vision for MG's design and represents a milestone for the brand, particularly this year which marks the 50th anniversary of the MGB," Williams-Kenny said.

For now, the international MG line-up is headlined by the MG 6 sedan, built and sold in the UK since 2011. 

As for Australia, the MG brand will reportedly return to Australia in the coming year, with Australian Design Regulation compliance testing still to be carried out.

A local distributor for the brand has not been announced.