MG’s new Chinese plug-in hybrid will give rival firms sleepless nights

He does admit, however, that "This volume is probably where we would choose to stay; after you pass 100,000 a year you require a different sort of operation."

The HS

It's a nice place to be, and MG's bestseller (worldwide and in the UK) is the HS; a medium-size, five-door family SUV-crossover. Less SUV really - it drives from the front and despite an increased ride height, it hasn't much more off-road ability than a mackerel. It's a fashion, of course, but there's big money to be made.

C-segment SUVs occupy more than a third of all new car registrations in the UK. The market is well over half a million and, as David Allison, MG's head of product and planning systems, says, "It shows no sign of abating." Traditionally, these car buyers tend to adopt alternative drivetrains more than the rest, with just over half plumping for combustion engines (increasingly petrol), while 12 per cent go EV; 26 per cent hybrid; 10 per cent plug-in hybrid.

In the four years since it was launched in the UK, the MG HS has sold more than 57,000. So far this year, it is the UK's eighth best-selling car and third best-seller in its class - behind the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai; ahead of the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Kuga.

Second generation

So this is a new car based on a new floorpan/chassis. It's slightly longer and wider than its predecessor and will be available with a new 1.5-litre petrol engine with manual or dual-clutch gearboxes, or as a plug-in hybrid.

A full hybrid is expected by the end of the year.

There are two trim levels, starting with the SE.

Trophy, which costs another GBP2,500, is likely to be a popular choice since it gives dual-zone aircon, electric driver's seat adjustment, the possibility of leather upholstery for an additional GBP500, heated front seats, an eight-speaker sound system, a 360 degree camera, powered tailgate, wireless phone charging and one-touch operation for all the electric windows.