Thursday 13th February 2003

MG Express

Souped up vans will be the vehicle of choice for nutter van drivers

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MG Rover are venturing into a new area with the introduction of van versions of the MG ZR. It's a scary thought! Soon, delivery drivers up and down the country will think they're invincible as they pilot the new MG Express on the UK's highways and byways.

Three models will be available - a 103bhp petrol version, a 99bhp diesel vesion and courier's dream - the MG Express 160!

A plain version derived from the Rover 25 will also be offered and is known as the Rover CDV (Car Derived Van).

Prices start at £8,995 rising to £11,468 for the MG Express 160. A large range of extras are available.

[Podie]

...but can I get it in WHITE?!?!

[jamesc]

Surely it would be more sense to market this as a Morris???

[Podie]

jamesc said: Surely it would be more sense to market this as a Morris???

Dunno if Rover own the name... got a funny feeling BMW owns it, with stuff like Swift and a few others...

[Pierscoe1]

do the people who think up these ideas not actually ever use the roads!?!?!??!?
as if transits weren't bad enough!! at least they were limited by their crap handling and performance... now we will be plagued buy fast (relatively) psychopaths trying to run us all off the roads!!

[scoule]

This is MG telling the tax man to off .. The taxable benefit is only 500 quid a year on vans ... so depending on income 100-200 quid a year tax compared to a bloody fortune on cars!

A 160hp van ... hmmm ...

[CDP]

I wonder what the weight saving of the van compared with the car is?

[v8thunder]

Just wait till the Max Power boys get their grubby mitts on the second-hand ones. Enough room in the back for a nightclub sound rig, and if you spray the rear window panels gloss black, everyone will think you have tints! I can't honestly see them being much cop as serious vans though.

[Dr.Dre]

Hats off to 'em. At least the boyz at Longbridge are doing something different.

[DennisTheMenace]

Get the rear panels (where the windows go) and it will look just like a normal MG

:gettingcoatnow:

[dejoux]

Am I the only person whos thinking in 15 years time the current range of MGs (TF excluded) will be looked back upponthe same way the Metro/Maestro/Montego range now is.

Supported by a few people but generally ignored by serious MG enthusiasts as not "real" MG's

[james_j]

At least when they pull out in front of you, they might be able to get a move on.

[eddy_hyde]

£12k for a 160bhp lightweight 2 seater thats cheaper to run and insure, sounds fun to me ;-)

Like said above the max crew will be loving this, though you would need all the ice in the boot to haer the bloody stereo, cant imagine its that refined!!!

[Dr Kev]

Hi New Here

The van in question is a full 200 Kg less in weight than its 160 sipling

[VENOM500]

Just ordered one,will have it in 3 weeks,first on the road and first one out of the dealer showroom !Not what i would call a "Proper" M.G ,but so what anything beats my poxy old berlingo van,so i,m a happy bunny,M.G Fan now,was going to wave my Viper Falg at Le-Mans this year but not anymore(still going to drive down in the Viper though).

[robp]

VENOM500 said: Just ordered one,will have it in 3 weeks,first on the road and first one out of the dealer showroom !Not what i would call a "Proper" M.G ,but so what anything beats my poxy old berlingo van,so i,m a happy bunny,M.G Fan now,was going to wave my Viper Falg at Le-Mans this year but not anymore(still going to drive down in the Viper though).

Is it the 160hp version?!!
160hp in a van, sounds good to me!
I bet it will surprise a few hot hatches. Plumbers across the country will be smiling!

[VENOM500]

No ,just the 101 but will be getting it chipped up as an extra 30% power on tap,so should be quicker than my current shed on wheels.Makes the gap between everyday transport and fun weekend transport just that bit closer,but only a bit mind.Still hope to be the first on the road!going for the full 160 body kit and extras in TROPHY BLUE(like my Viper)and will be putting white stripes on it to match(yes very very sad).

[viper]

why stop with paint and stripes ? I'm sure with a few mods you could squeeze 600 or horses out of it