Posted on Monday 8 January 2007
MG’s new Chinese owner, Nanjing Automobile Group, has decided to change the meaning of the famous initials to help promote the brand in its new home. It’s believed the MG name is derived from ‘Morris Garages’ but Nanjing’s Zhang Xin has commented that the firm “wants Chinese consumers to know this brand as Modern Gentleman, to see that this brand represents grace and style.”
MG was originally founded in 1923 by Brit Cecil Kimber who used to be the manager of Morris Garages, but the only thing that will remain the same for MG since being taken over by Nanjing is the classic octagon logo, reports Reuters. This is sure to be sad news for UK businessman David James, whose Kimber Group lost out to Nanjing in its attempt to buy parts of Rover.
As an owner of an MGB (for over 25 years) and a fan of MG since I can remember, this is indeed sad news. Why did the Chinese want to buy MG and it’s heritage if they were just going to change it? They could have “created” any brand name and made up marketing BS to suit them instead. If they try this revision here in America, as they plan to re-introduce MG, I do not think I will want anything to do with the new “Modern Gentleman.”
Two letters - that’s all Nanjing bought. This trivial transaction did not eviscerate the British motor industry - the British motor industry was responsible for its own demise, and in my opinion the MG name has no relevance any more - the relevance died in the pointless wreck of Austin-Rover. If Kimber Group were serious about producing cars, they wouldn’t let the unavailability of those two letter stop them. Where is the Kimber Group car that might otherwise have been called an MG? Nowhere. I love my LBC (little British car), a 1958 Frogeye/Bugeye, and will preserve it for ever, and will not be parted from it, but please let’s move on and drop the pointless nostalgia.
If the nostalgia is pointless, why do we have these cars?
The MG name has absolutely a great deal of relevance to those who own them and love them. MG means (meant) something and is relevant to an era of classic sports cars.
I personally feel my cars are ‘cheapened’ by this ridiculous name that does not have any history behind it.
Yes, they bought two letters, but what do those two letters mean in the annals of sports car history?
I don’t remember an MG badge on the front of a bugeye.
Sigh.
Typical chinese, useless before it’s out of the package.
Life moves on but there is a certain affiliation with the past. If a large coeporation purchased the “Mona Lisa” and renamed it “Betty” the world would cry foul. The MG Marque is part of the automotive history and culture and to desecrate the history and heritage of it’s name, is disgracefull. Surely there will be an outpouring of complaints and probably calls for a boycot of the new “Modern Gentleman” cars in the USA.
It’s is a sad moment in automotive history.
The MG OCTAGON is sacred to MG Bretheren and no matter what any other entities try to do with IT they can never break that Respect! I have been an MG owner since 1956.
We’ve left the MG cars of the past and the heritage behind with the new “Modern Gentleman” and China has leveled the playing field. This car will simply be placed alongside all the other new cars available today to be judged on its own merits next to Kia, Hyundai and the rest. Personally, I’m going to head to the Saturn dealer to test drive a Sky convertible.