A new MG HS is due in Australia in August, and the next-generation mid-sized SUV has been approved for sale by the Australian Government.
Approval documents don’t reveal any images of the vehicle, set for a global unveiling at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed that’ll be held between July 11 and 14.
However, the documents do note the MG HS will be offered in five variants: three listed as having a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and a dual-clutch automatic transmission, and two with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and a nine-speed torque-converter automatic.
MG HS prototype in Australia
The outgoing HS is also offered with a choice of turbo 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre engines, however the latter uses a six-speed dual-clutch auto.
A plug-in hybrid version is expected to follow soon after the local launch of the petrol-powered model.
The new MG HS is expected to be a lightly restyled version of the latest RX5 from fellow SAIC Motor brand Roewe, with patent filing images from Europe showing an MG-badged vehicle that looks almost identical to the Roewe apart from a slightly different front fascia.
We’ve also spied the new HS testing locally.
MG HS patent filing 
In China, the RX5’s turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine produces 138kW of power and 300Nm of torque – 19kW and 50Nm more than the current HS 1.5T – and is mated to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission.
There’s no 2.0-litre turbo currently available in the Chinese RX5 lineup, though SAIC Motor offers such an engine – complete with a nine-speed auto – in other products like the MG 7 sedan that’s also set for an Australian launch.
The MG 7’s 2.0-litre produces 192kW of power and 405Nm of torque, up 24kW and 45Nm on the 2.0-litre in the outgoing HS.
Roewe RX5 
The RX5 is also offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, using a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine mated with an electric motor and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
This develops total system outputs of 183kW and 570Nm – down 6kW but up 200Nm on the HS Plus EV.
This electrified variant can achieve a claimed 61km of driving range on the lenient NEDC cycle from its 12.3kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.
It’s unclear how much of a price rise will come with the new generation.
At present, the MG HS starts from $29,990 before on-road costs, while the HS Plus EV is priced from $49,690 drive-away.
The HS is the least popular member of the current MG lineup in Australia, despite the mid-sized SUV segment being Australia’s largest by volume.
To the end of May, MG has sold 1404 examples this year, down 63.1 per cent on the same period last year.
Current MG HS 
MORE: Everything MG HS
