As for SAIC MG's SUV products, it currently has two models, HS and ZS. The latter was updated last year; it is undeniable that the HS's market performance is tepid. As a result, SAIC MG has added a new model to its SUV product matrix. Different from the previous model naming rules of simple letters, this new car has a louder and more down-to-earth name - Linghang. The new car made its grand debut at the Beijing Auto Show. It is reported that the new car will be officially launched on October 17. Can the navigation under the new design language lead MG out of a sunny avenue?
At first sight, I believe most consumer groups will be attracted by it. The design of the new car is still led by our old friend Shao Jingfeng, deputy chief designer and global design director of the SAIC Group Technology Center. It adopts SAIC MG's third-generation design language, with "Dynamic Technology Aesthetics" as its theme. Looking at it one by one, the front face of the new car is more three-dimensional, and the center grille and the fang-style chrome plating below are not isolated from each other.
Thanks to the "parametric" design, the middle mesh inside the air intake grille looks so regular, which is much prettier than the star-filled shape. The upward converging shape reminded the professor of airflow. . The internal structure of the LED headlights has changed. The reflective light sheets form a matrix light group design. Together with the light strip design with eyelashes, the headlight design of the new car is more expressive and fierce.
There are no general direction changes on the side, and most of them focus on details, such as the blackened rearview mirror design, red decorative strips on the side surrounds, and the like. As for the tires, red-painted brake calipers are used. The taillight design is narrow and delicate, and does not follow the trend of adopting a through-type headlight design. A diffuser decorative piece is added below the tail, adding some sporty atmosphere.
As for the car paint color, MG Pilot’s treatment is unique. Through BASF’s patented technology of “vertically arranged crystal structure”, it uses a gradient car paint color. Under the sunlight, two different colors of blue and purple will appear at different angles, giving the car a more intense dynamic effect. Although it is relatively novel in style and has good visual effects in daily life, I wonder if it will cause some minor trouble to consumers in terms of maintenance?
The interior design is not as sophisticated as the exterior. The overall design style is relatively similar to that of the HS, and the drumstick-style shift knob is still there. Relatively speaking, it is still quite satisfactory, but the details are handled more delicately. The one-piece German Bader leather sports seats are very delicate in processing, and the shoulder positions on both sides are specially perforated. Overall, the comfort and wrapping properties are good. And the rear seats can be adjusted to a certain angle, which can greatly improve the comfort of rear passengers for long periods of time.
The same as before, the full LCD panel is not absent, the display effect is more delicate and outstanding, and there will be different style displays in different driving modes. All new car series are equipped with the latest Zebra Venus system as standard, making the smart experience more obvious. At the same time, MG Pilot driving assistance functions including AEB automatic emergency braking system, LDW lane departure warning system, RDA rear blind spot system, etc. will not be absent.
When an experiencer with a height of 175cm comes to the front row and adjusts the position to the lowest position, the head space at this time will be about a fistful of space. Coming to the rear seats, the headroom at this time is less than one punch, while the legroom is about two punches. The overall interior space performance is comparable to that of the MG HS. The trunk space is very wide overall, and the overall equipment capacity is considerable. And the rear seats can be folded down to further increase the space expansion capability.
The appearance of the new car is very impressive. Let’s take a look at the core aspects. The new car will be equipped with two engines, 1.5T and 2.0T, and will be matched with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox respectively. The latter will also provide a four-wheel drive system to satisfy some consumers who have higher expectations for a four-wheel drive system. requirements.
The suspension is still the more common front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension in this class. The specific experience depends on the car company's chassis tuning skills.
From the perspective of model characteristics, the competitors of MG Pilot may be Geely ICON and Changan Automobile's UNI-T. These two models are more avant-garde and unrestrained in design. However, there is a big gap between the two in terms of sales. The former may be due to excessive design force. In addition, the whole series has 3-cylinder engines, which has led to a significant reduction in consumer recognition. Although Changan Automobile's UNI-T is also avant-garde in design, fortunately it has no shortcomings in terms of power core. The more avant-garde and fashionable design style can win the favor of young consumers.
From a sales perspective, everyone will pay more attention to compact domestic SUVs. Firstly, the space and power can meet my daily needs, and secondly, the price is also within 100,000-150,000, which will not exceed my price expectations for domestic SUVs. Linghang has been greatly improved in terms of appearance and configuration. Its comprehensive strength cannot be underestimated. It will be a highly competitive domestic SUV in the future.
In terms of product camp, SAIC MG released the third-generation MG 6 plug-in version this year. In addition, there are two new models, MG Pilot and MG 5. The overall product camp and Competitiveness has been improved to varying degrees. In the SUV segment, Linghang has improved its appearance and other details this time to well target young consumer groups. However, in a very competitive market, if you want to stand out, in addition to the stylish appearance, quality interior materials, and powerful configurations, you also have to pay more attention to the price.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.