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Motor Authority - blog Tag: Rover

  • MG expanding lineup with three new models

    MG expanding lineup with three new models September 5th, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, September 5th, 2008 Nelson Ireson 4 Comments

    MG expanding lineup with three new models The limited-edition TF is already on sale in the UK, and over 80% of the 500-car production run is sold out. The TF is just the beginning of the Chinese owner's plans for the brand, however. Starting in 2010, the SAIC-owned MG will begin building a range of new cars, with the first to be a mid-size family car based on the Roewe 550.

    Once the limited edition TFs are built, the UK factory at Longbridge will gear up for production of more entry-level TFs through 2009, targeting 4,000 units production and pricing below the Mazda MX-5. The same basic TF is also being manufactured in China, but Europe will only get UK-made TFs. The formerly... The limited-edition TF is already on sale in the UK, and over 80% of the 500-car production run is sold out. The TF is just the beginning of the Chinese owner's plans for the brand, however. Starting in 2010, the SAIC-owned MG will begin building a range of new cars, with the first to be a mid-size family car based on the Roewe 550. Once the limited edition TFs are built, the UK factory at Longbridge will gear up for production of more entry-level TFs through 2009, targeting 4,000 units production and pricing below the Mazda MX-5. The same basic TF is also being manufactured in China, but Europe will only get UK-made TFs. The formerly Chinese-only Roewe 550, however, will see a variant badged as a MG offered in 2010, followed by a small hatch to rival the Ford Focus, a minicar in the style of the Ka and Fiat 500, and eventually a new sportscar to replace the aging TF design, reports BusinessCar. MG's TF roadster has already been canceled for North American sale. The company had planned to send flat-pack kits made in China to the U.S. where they would be assembled in a subsidiary operation in Oklahoma, but the deal has fallen through. Read More

  • MG's TF roadster canceled for North America

    MG's TF roadster canceled for North America August 26th, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, August 26th, 2008 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    MG's TF roadster canceled for North America Excitement over the revival of the long-dormant MG brand of sports cars has been cyclically built-up and dashed as the Chinese ownership, Nanjing Automobile Corporation, has repeatedly hit delays in the process. Now the word was come from company officials that the TF roadster won't be making it to North America any time soon, despite a planned kit-assembly factory in Oklahoma.

    The deal to build the kit-assembly plant, which would have built the cars up from Chinese-made pre-packaged kits, fell through and left the company with no feasible way of getting the cars into the U.S., reports Automotive News. "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term... Excitement over the revival of the long-dormant MG brand of sports cars has been cyclically built-up and dashed as the Chinese ownership, Nanjing Automobile Corporation, has repeatedly hit delays in the process. Now the word was come from company officials that the TF roadster won't be making it to North America any time soon, despite a planned kit-assembly factory in Oklahoma. The deal to build the kit-assembly plant, which would have built the cars up from Chinese-made pre-packaged kits, fell through and left the company with no feasible way of getting the cars into the U.S., reports Automotive News. "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there," said Gary Hagen, MG's marketing director. Production for Europe is still underway, however, with 500 of the cars already being built at the Longbridge, England plant. The first market will be local British buyers, expanding to full-production volume and pan-European sales. The news of cancellation for the U.S. market is sure to hit fans of the classic cars hard. Despite the nearly thirty year absence of the brand from U.S. sales, the cars and their enthusiast base are still running strong. Future MG sales in the U.S. are still possible, though it will most likely be with a different model, and after several years of development and expansion of the company's current operations. Europe, meanwhile, will also get three new models, including a new roadster to replace the TF and a pair of sport-oriented sedans, over the next several years. Timelines and specifications for the new cars are still being held in reserve, however. Read More

  • Carroll Shelby's first race car to hit the auction block

    Carroll Shelby's first race car to hit the auction block August 14th, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, August 14th, 2008 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Carroll Shelby's first race car to hit the auction block Barrett-Jackson's series of collector and classic car auctions is unparalleled in its prolific purveyance of prized automobilia. Long-time fans of Carroll Shelby's particular brand of motoring, the event's organizers have announced that they will be offering Shelby's first-ever race car, an MG TC that has been restored and tuned to over 100hp (75kW).

    The car was driven by Shelby to a road-race victory in Norman, Oklahoma in 1952. It will be the third super-rare Shelby-associated vehicle to cross the company's auction ramp. Last year the 427 Shelby Cobra Super Snake sold, followed by Shelby's personal 1969 Mustang GT500 convertible earlier... Barrett-Jackson's series of collector and classic car auctions is unparalleled in its prolific purveyance of prized automobilia. Long-time fans of Carroll Shelby's particular brand of motoring, the event's organizers have announced that they will be offering Shelby's first-ever race car, an MG TC that has been restored and tuned to over 100hp (75kW). The car was driven by Shelby to a road-race victory in Norman, Oklahoma in 1952. It will be the third super-rare Shelby-associated vehicle to cross the company's auction ramp. Last year the 427 Shelby Cobra Super Snake sold, followed by Shelby's personal 1969 Mustang GT500 convertible earlier this year. "We’ve sold some special cars during our 37-year history, but this MG ranks among the most significant vehicles to ever cross the Barrett-Jackson auction block," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. According to Shelby himself, the car was actually owned by a man named Ed Wilkins, from Texas. Shelby credits the MG with awakening his life-long love of motorsports. It will be on display and auction at the inaugural Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Even in Las Vegas, scheduled for October 15-18.Carroll Shelby's MC TC Read More

  • MG TF production finally restarts in UK

    MG TF production finally restarts in UK August 1st, 2008 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, August 1st, 2008 James Martinez 2 Comments

    MG TF production finally restarts in UK Update: Following a number of false starts and several niggling quality issues, new owners of the MG label, China’s Nanjing Auto, have finally restarted production of the MG TF roadster at the company’s Longbridge plant in the UK – three and a half years after the factory closed. The latest version of the car is called the MG TF ‘LE500’ and is set to begin deliveries as early as next month.

    Nanjing has confirmed that the price of the revamped sports car will start at £16,399 ($32,610). Only one model will be available, powered by a 1.8L 136hp (101kW) four-cylinder engine. Nanjing, together with its parent... Update: Following a number of false starts and several niggling quality issues, new owners of the MG label, China’s Nanjing Auto, have finally restarted production of the MG TF roadster at the company’s Longbridge plant in the UK – three and a half years after the factory closed. The latest version of the car is called the MG TF ‘LE500’ and is set to begin deliveries as early as next month. Nanjing has confirmed that the price of the revamped sports car will start at £16,399 ($32,610). Only one model will be available, powered by a 1.8L 136hp (101kW) four-cylinder engine. Nanjing, together with its parent company Shanghai Auto, has already selected 50 dealers to sell the car in the UK and officials are planning to follow with a U.S. launch within the next one to two years. The TF won’t be the only car built at Longbridge for long, however, as engineers at Nanjing’s SMTC design facility in Leamington, Warwickshire, are developing three new MG models including the next-generation TF due in 2010. The new TF will be available in both coupe and convertible bodystyles and will be based on the same platform as that used by the Chinese-market Roewe 550 hatch. Original: After briefly rekindling production of the MG TF roadster at the carmaker’s Longbridge plant in May of last year, new owner Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) quickly stalled operations because of quality issues with some of the components it had bought from the bankrupt MG Rover. SAIC is now hoping to start building the TF at one of its plants in Nanjing, China, by May of this year but it still hasn’t fully overcome the initial quality problems. Once production is finally up and running at Nanjing officials hope to kick start operations at Longbridge just three months later, SAIC president Chen Hong revealed to the Financial Times. "We want to begin production of cars at Longbridge as soon as possible, but the first priority for us is the quality of the product," Hong explained. SAIC is wary of China’s reputation of poor quality and doesn’t want to tarnish its image by launching the TF without the quality customers expect. SAIC has already selected 50 dealers to sell the car in the UK and officials are planning to follow with a U.S. launch within the next one to two years. The carmaker definitely has ambitious plans. Officials are considering launching at least three new models, including a replacement for the TF, which it hopes to produce as early as 2010. Read More

  • Nanjing reveals MG TF 'LE500' pricing ahead of September launch

    Nanjing reveals MG TF 'LE500' pricing ahead of September launch July 3rd, 2008 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, July 3rd, 2008 Ralph Hanson 3 Comments

    Nanjing reveals MG TF 'LE500' pricing ahead of September launch Updated: With deliveries of the new MG TF Limited Edition in the UK due to commence in September, Nanjing-MG today confirmed the price of the revamped sports car will start at £16,399 ($32,610). Only one model will be available, powered by a 1.8L 136hp (101kW) four-cylinder engine. It also features a body colored hardtop, leather seats, parking sensors and new ‘LE500’ badging.

    Original: Despite the harried road to production of the MG TF roadster, which has suffered from a number of false starts and several niggling quality issues, new owners of the MG label, China’s Nanjing Auto, are confident the car will recommence... Updated: With deliveries of the new MG TF Limited Edition in the UK due to commence in September, Nanjing-MG today confirmed the price of the revamped sports car will start at £16,399 ($32,610). Only one model will be available, powered by a 1.8L 136hp (101kW) four-cylinder engine. It also features a body colored hardtop, leather seats, parking sensors and new ‘LE500’ badging. Original: Despite the harried road to production of the MG TF roadster, which has suffered from a number of false starts and several niggling quality issues, new owners of the MG label, China’s Nanjing Auto, are confident the car will recommence production in August before hitting showrooms in September. The new car will be called the TF LE500 and will be built both at Longbridge, UK, and Nanjing, China. Nanjing, together with its parent company Shanghai Auto, has already selected 50 dealers to sell the car in the UK and officials are planning to follow with a U.S. launch within the next one to two years. Though the new cars will be assembled at the Longbridge plant, high-cost components such as engines and gearboxes will still be sourced from China. The TF won’t be the only car built at Longbridge for long, however, as engineers at Nanjing’s SMTC design facility in Leamington, Warwickshire, are developing three new MG models including the next-generation TF due in 2010. The new TF will be available in both coupe and convertible bodystyles and will be based on the same platform as that used by the Chinese-market Roewe 550 hatch. Read More

  • MG TF reborn and on sale by 2010

    MG TF reborn and on sale by 2010 May 7th, 2008 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, May 7th, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2 Comments

    MG TF reborn and on sale by 2010 Despite the harried road to production of the MG TF roadster - at times hindered by quality control, at others by legal hurdles - it seems the iconic car will be making a triumphant comeback under the leadership of the Chinese.

    The existing TF, with its outdated looks, has been vastly surpassed by this new offering (a rendering completed by AutoExpress based on insider information) which will go on sale by around 2010. The TF is being produced in its original home of Longbridge in the West Midlands and there are also plans from Shanghai Auto to build a coupe version of the TF.

    The new MG TF sits on the same platform as the Chinese Roewe... Despite the harried road to production of the MG TF roadster - at times hindered by quality control, at others by legal hurdles - it seems the iconic car will be making a triumphant comeback under the leadership of the Chinese. The existing TF, with its outdated looks, has been vastly surpassed by this new offering (a rendering completed by AutoExpress based on insider information) which will go on sale by around 2010. The TF is being produced in its original home of Longbridge in the West Midlands and there are also plans from Shanghai Auto to build a coupe version of the TF. The new MG TF sits on the same platform as the Chinese Roewe 550 hatch but will feature rear-wheel-drive to maintain a sporty driving experience. The TF will be driven by MG-Rover based engines, including the likes of a 1.8-liter turbo and a 2.5-liter V6. Priced in similar territory to Mazda's MX-5, the Japanese roadster is in for a rude shock considering it has had a veritable monopoly on the budget roadster market for some time now. Shanghai Auto, in co-operation with Nanjing Auto who actually owns the MG name, are also looking to expand their British dealings with a Roewe dealer network in future years. Read More

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