MG to Build First All-New Model in 15 Years at its UK Plant

MG Rover's old Longbridge car plant is set to comeback in a big way when SAIC / MG begins building its first all new car in 15 years at the end of the year. The plant will start producing the MG6 mid-size model from knocked-down kits imported from China, preceding the UK relaunch of MG as a "value brand" in 2011.

The all new car will be available initially as a five-door fastback, with a four-door saloon to follow later on. The automaker optimistically told the Financial Times that customer clinics have compared the MG6 with the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia and even with small BMWs. Prices in the UK are said to range between £16,000 to £20,000 (US$25,425 to US$31,780).

Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) bought the intellectual property rights to some of MG's cars and engines after the collapse of parent company MG Rover in 2005. Meanwhile, Nanjing Automobile bought much of the production equipment back in 2007.

The latter's 2007 estimate of selling 50,000 cars a year appears to have been rather optimistic, with actual sales being more of the order of, "hundreds, not thousands". The two companies are now merged under the SAIC name.

MG's Birmingham office employs some 300 engineers and 30 design staff, who provide design and engineering services to parent SAIC. MG Birmingham has previously contributed its extensive knowhow to the development of the Roewe 550 and 350 sedans and the MG Zero concept car that was shown at the Beijing Auto Show earlier this year.

Chinese automakers have had no success exporting cars to Western Europe and the United States in the past. MG Birmingham's input is especially important for SAIC, with the Chinese still struggling to make large cars that are competitive with the Europeans. David Lindley, Head of SAIC's Technical Centre explains:

"There's still a lack of capability in Shanghai, and probably will be for years, to design a new vehicle from a clean sheet of paper."

The success of the MG6 is essential for the future of Longbridge and for MG's European operations. At present, Longbridge only builds small numbers of the outdated MG TF roadster.

Only time will tell if MG can buck the trend and recapture the hearts and minds of British consumers. The MG6 will hopefully be the first step in this difficult process.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: FT (sub. req.) , Kudos to Aikiv for the tip!

______________________CHINA-SPEC MG6 GALLERY______________________

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/10/mg-to-build-first-all-new-model-in-15.html

Rover 55 Sedan: A Proposal for a British-Flavored Chrysler 300 Than Never Was

Once upon a time, back in the days when the MG Rover Group was alive and fairly hopeful for the future [...] in the hands of BMW, the Bavarian carmaker was dreaming up a new lineup for the British company. Among the plans was one for the development of a replacement for the outdated, fifth-generation Honda Civic-based, 200/400 series, later called the 25/45, positioned under the 75 in Rover's car lineup.

We remember many proposals and concept sketches for the car from the period, but the folks from "Aronline" managed to secure some exclusive photos of a full size clay model that we've never seen before. Named the R55, it's a design proposal for a compact sedan slightly larger than the BMW 3-Series said to have been completed back in the Spring of 1997.

The crew from the British blog talked to the designer of the car, Richard Woolley, who had this to say:

"Yes, I think it was shaping up well. Considering it went from sketch to clay to model in one shot, I think it still looks pretty good nearly 13 years on. But, of course, I may be a bit biased!"

"The car sat on a long wheelbase (c.2800mm), giving maximum rear accommodation, but with an overall length less than R75 – the North South installation enabled a much shorter front overhang. The clay model was completed in Gaydon, spring of 1997, and the composite model build was contracted out to Futura in Birmingham with completion that summer."

The R55 sported a dynamic design with very short overhangs, a clamshell-style bonnet and a relatively low roofline - something like a British flavored Chrysler 300. Only thing is the 300 was introduced as a concept model some six years later, at the 2003 NY Auto Show...

Sure the styling might be polarizing, but in our opinion (feel free to disagree) it still looks fresh today especially when compared to current offerings in the segment.

In any case, the R55, which was supposed to spearhead Rover's attack in the premium segment along with a slightly larger replacement for the 75 (think BMW 5 Series+) was ditched as where many other plans to revitalize Rover in the years to come.

Source: Aaronline , Photos: Nigel Garton

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/08/rover-55-sedan-proposal-for-british.html

Last-Known MGB Works Rally Car Going Under Auction

An extremely rare 1964 MGB which is said to be the last known genuine MG works rally car is being offered for auction, 35 years after bidding farewell to the world of motorsports.

One of two only official MGB rally cars built in 1964, the specific example made its racing debut in the Spa-Sofia-Liege rally in August 1964. It then went on to race another five times as a works entry, at the Tulip Rally, The Acropolis Rally, Geneva Rally, the Castrol Danube Rally and the RAC Rally, all in 1965.

The hardtop MGB was consigned to a garage for several years before being meticulously restored to its former glory and returning on the road for its first public appearance at the Le Mans Classic in 2008.

The organizers of the Historics at Brooklands auction on June 2 say that the British rally car is expected to fetch in offers in the region of £90,000 - £130,000, or more than 100 times greater than the price of the standard road-going MGB in 1964.

1964 MGB Roadster Ex-Works Rally Car Specs

The engine is a 4 cylinder BMC B Series with 3-bearing crankshaft fully balanced. Original Leyland Special Tuning 770 camshaft with vernier timing gear. Special Tuning AHT 100H cylinder head, gas flowed with big valves. Twin 2-inch SU carburetors fed via Filter King to accurately meter fuel flow, by twin SU pumps. In turn, the transmission is a 3 Synchro, helical close ratio box with competition overdrive. MGB Banjo axle, 3.9:1 ratio with limited slip differential.

This competitive car sports suspension with front up-rated and lowered coil springs, up-rated lever arm shock absorbers. ¾inch anti roll bar. Rear competition leaf springs, specially re-manufactured Armstrong Adjustaride lever arms and up-rated bushes throughout. The wheels are bespoke Competition 72-spoke 14 x 5½ J wire wheels from Motor Wheel Services, and are running on Dunlop 5.5 x 14L section racing tyres.

The electrical system is run off a 12-volt (single battery) system with heavy-duty dynamo. Included in the car is a hand built wiring loom to accommodate auxiliary equipment, switches and fuses, which are in the cockpit. Extra items include flexible map reading light and foot operated horn switch for navigator. Five Lucas driving lamps, two SFT 700, 7-inch (bottom mounted), two SFT 576, 5½-inch (bottom mounted) and one SFT 576, 5½-inch (back mounted) adorn the front of the car.

Link: HistoricsatBrooklands

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/05/last-known-mgb-works-rally-car-going.html

MG XPower to be Well-Represented at UK's Historics Auction

Set to hit the block at the UK's Historics at Brooklands event are these two MG XPower SVs.

The carbon fiber-bodied MG XPower Sport Veloce, based on the less aggressive X80 concept, was designed by Peter Stevens (responsible, among others, for the McLaren F1 and Jaguar XJR-15) and is underpinned by a platform from Qvale's Mangusta.

Powered by Ford's 4.6 liter 4-valve Cobra V8, the standard SV made 320 horsepower with an advertised top speed of 165 mph when new.

Roughly 82 of the rear-wheel drive MG coupes were built and sold to consumers before a lack of sales forced MG to stop production. At around £75,000 when new, it's easy to see how that could happen.

The light silver example here is a 2003 model with ~9,000 miles on it and was used by MG as a development car. It's expected to bring in £18,000-£24,000.

The dark silver one in XPower Grey is a Roush-tuned 2004 SV-S (one of three) and has covered ~10,000 miles. Historics says it could fetch as much as £45,000.

Why such a difference in price? The SV-S is one of three built, getting an extra bump to 385 horsepower thanks to a Roush supercharger. With the forced induction, it can reach 175 mph and hit 60 in 4.9 seconds.

Historics at Brooklands will be taking place on June 2.

By Phil Alex

Source: Historics

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/05/mg-xpower-to-be-well-represented-at-uk.html

Beijing Show: MG Zero Supermini Concept

This year's edition of the Beijing Motor Show saw China-owned MG unveiling the 'ZERO', a thinly disguised concept of an upcoming production model in the supermini segment -most likely called MG3- that could go on sale in China first and then in Europe as early as next year.

The company emphasized the fact that the 4m long supermini was developed in the UK by MG Global Design team, led by British MG Design Director Anthony (Tony) Williams-Kenny, based in Birmingham.

MG's release is all about the Zero concept's styling and how it "will appeal to a wide audience across the global market" avoiding any reference to the car's underpinnings and mechanical hardware.

However, when the car enters production next year, it's safe to assume that it will be offered with a range of small displacement naturally aspirated petrol engines, and possibly, a sportier version with a turbocharged inline-four.

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/04/beijing-show-mg-zero-supermini-concept.html