SAIC Mulls Front-Drive MG Sports Car

China’s SAIC Motor Corp. is “seriously” considering adding a halo model to its MG-badged lineup of cars and crossover vehicles that pays homage to the venerable British brand’s sporty roots, Motoring reports.

There are ongoing internal talks about a roadster-type model, Zhu Chao, who heads MG Motors Australia, tells the Australian enthusiast magazine. But he cautions that such a vehicle likely would keep costs down by sharing a front-wheel-drive architecture with one of MG’s current offerings.

No timeframe was given for a decision on the program or when such a vehicle could be launched if approved.

The former MG Car Co. began making rear-wheel-drive MG (Morris Garage) sports cars in the 1920s. In 1952 MG merged with Austin to form the British Motor Corp. and was later part of British Leyland and MG Rover Group.

Nanjing Automobile purchased the rights to the MG brand in 2005. SAIC, which acquired Nanjing in 2007, moved all production of MG-badged vehicles from England to China last year.