MOTORING legend MG is returning to zero – with a new small hatchback to help drive forward the long-awaited return of mass car production at Longbridge.

MG Motor UK’s Zero concept car is to give birth to a new hatchback model, the MG3, set to take its place next year among the ranks of the new model range at the Birmingham car factory.

And also in the pipeline is the MG5 concept car, a five-door hatchback which will make its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show next week.

Both new MGs could play key roles in the rebirth of Longbridge, which gained huge momentum yesterday with the first new MG6 finally rolling off the line to bridge a six-year production gap.

The sports car, driven off the track to a rapturous reception by worker Lisa Ponter, marked the relaunch of volume car-making at Longbridge exactly six years on from the collapse of MG Rover in April 2005.

The MG6, which is 80 per cent built in China and shipped to Birmingham for final assembly, will take annual car production figures at Longbridge into the thousands rather than hundreds.

MG Motor UK Sales and Marketing Director Guy Jones said: “There is no essence today of what was here before in the days of MG Rover. We are now part of the world’s eighth largest car manufacturer.

“MG has become world-famous for creating cars that are loved by their owners. For the past six years, the MG story has been about creating a UK centre of manufacturing excellence.

“Today, our story is about the return to volume production at MG Birmingham. We have started from a clean sheet of paper designing these cars.”

Mr Jones said the small MG3 hatchback could come to Longbridge as early as next year to become the firm’s third model after the MG6 and its saloon counterpart, which is due to be launched in July.

“The plan is to bring the MG3 here and, if the public reaction is good, the MG5 as well.”

Dealers were today picking up demonstration MGs for a convoy to a Birmingham council reception.