Monday 16th April 2007

New MG on the way?

All-new model follows start of TF production in the UK

---

The TF is about to return

Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) has given further information on it's plans to restore production of the MG TF at Longbridge. It reckons it can, with the help of new models, boost production levels to 50,000 within two years.

The Chinese carmaker has also claimed that a new model will arrive by 2009. It would be a “very good sports car that would fit in with the brand” a top executive in the UK told the Financial Times.

Production at the Longbridge factory in the West Midlands is due to resume in late May or early June and is slated to reach the "lower thousands" this year with levels reaching the 25,000 mark in 2008.

"Within two years we would like to get our market share back, and get good products with a UK focus," said NAC's UK chairman Wang Hongbiao. Some parts such as engines and gearboxes will be shipped from China for final assembly at Longbridge.

MG Rover sold 44,337 cars in 2004 before going into administration in 2005. NAC purchased the brand from the administrators the year after, and started producing MGs in its home country last month. It hopes to re-establish a dealer network in the UK of around 50.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=15800

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14363

[jdelmo]

A model 'in fitting' with the brand? Expect a cardboard bodied, 1 and a half wheel driven 3 cylinder 65bhp sports car for less than £25,000. Oh and made in China but finishing touches including putting the badge on in the UK.

[collateral]

They're flogging a dead one...same as MG Rover were doing with the kitted up old Rovers they tried for a few years before the final death of the company

[TheMarko]

Expect it to be about the size of a large Tonka toy too, as about 7/8ths of the factory has been levelled.....

[MidnightDriver]

Would any one actually consider buyin a knock off MG? or more to the point Does any one actually give two sh#ts any more? Should let MG rest in peace, and if it is to resurected it should be done in an innovative way,using a new model, and a money no issue approach jus like romano artoli did with bugatti.

[Mr Ski]

jdelmo said:

A model 'in fitting' with the brand? Expect a cardboard bodied, 1 and a half wheel driven 3 cylinder 65bhp sports car for less than £25,000. Oh and made in China but finishing touches including putting the badge on in the UK.

As suspected, as soon as I saw this story I thought, "hmmm, wonder how long it'll be before the negative comments start appearing". Well, it didn't take long did it? No-one with any sense will pay attention to your comments anyway.
Sad b*****d.

[jdelmo]

Mr Ski said:

jdelmo said:

A model 'in fitting' with the brand? Expect a cardboard bodied, 1 and a half wheel driven 3 cylinder 65bhp sports car for less than £25,000. Oh and made in China but finishing touches including putting the badge on in the UK.

As suspected, as soon as I saw this story I thought, "hmmm, wonder how long it'll be before the negative comments start appearing". Well, it didn't take long did it? No-one with any sense will pay attention to your comments anyway.
Sad b*****d.

To be honest, id want the best for MG Rover although things seem to have been beyond repair for a while now and im sure many will agree with me that this is just another chapter in a sorry tale of the decline of the British motor industry. Personally, someday i'd love a ZT V8, I just dont see MG Rover as a British brand anymore or even the same one that produced cars for many decades.

[gottabedone]

Hold on Guys!

The MG has a place in the market for people who aren't in the "money no object" and designer sports car group that are so apparent on this forum. No, those of you with your 60/70/80 grand designer sports cars wouldn't put your rubbish in one of these tin cans but not everyone has a mega budget to spend on some fun.

These cars hold their own in their own part of the market and have a loyal following to match.

Also, if a company brings jobs back to the UK car market, then we should be happy for the thousands that lost their jobs in the Rover and TVR fiasco's recently, as they may actually benefit from this. It may be another stunt that lasts a couple of years in order for these people to get a hold and some leverage with their brand in the UK, but this may be a couple of years work for those at Longbridge that currently dont have any!

regards

Steve

[smele]

If a Chinese made MGF was available for £10K-£12K, then I think they might find a space in the market. Keep it simple, make it reliable and offer and 5 year warranty and I am sure there will be enough customers.

[ackbullchang]

Just one though chaps

I regularly drive past the Longbridge factory on the way to London. It appears to me that
a) half the factory is in ruin
b) the other half has been demolished (presumably for residential development-seems to be happening everywhere else)

I'd be surprised (if the cars were shipped over ready made from China) if they could even stick the badge on at the Longbridge plant.

Or am I too unobservant??

[irs]

gottabedone said:

Hold on Guys!

The MG has a place in the market for people who aren't in the "money no object" and designer sports car group that are so apparent on this forum. No, those of you with your 60/70/80 grand designer sports cars wouldn't put your rubbish in one of these tin cans but not everyone has a mega budget to spend on some fun.

These cars hold their own in their own part of the market and have a loyal following to match.

Also, if a company brings jobs back to the UK car market, then we should be happy for the thousands that lost their jobs in the Rover and TVR fiasco's recently, as they may actually benefit from this. It may be another stunt that lasts a couple of years in order for these people to get a hold and some leverage with their brand in the UK, but this may be a couple of years work for those at Longbridge that currently dont have any!

regards

Steve

Agreed, Let's stop all the down talk, let's first see car's being made in the UK. We have to start somewhere.

[silver993tt]

Well,
if the out of date unions in the UK don't understand the term 'competition' the result is a destroyed company such as MG. Constantly being inflexible and trying to negotiate pay rises when their products weren't selling.

Looks like the current management in China are doind exactly what the UK management/unions should have done in the UK about 20 years ago.

Looks like the best thing that could have happened to MG.

[bencollins]

Hmmm "it was the unions" excuse had a sell by date circa 1990. How about "it was the management" or "lack of prelaunch testing"?
Specifically, things like a bursting head gasket (fixed only after many years of abortive production) which disuaded revving an engine in a sports car (DUH!) is more relevant. For every repair under warrantee, the profitability of several cars evaporated, not to mention resale value, lease costs and repeat customers.
The TF was a very nice looking car, but design without the ability to produce quality is not enough to achieve a critical mass of sufficient production volume (ask TVR).

www.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgoc&a=&p=emg/mgfheadgasket.html

Edited by bencollins on Monday 16th April 13:40

[pasthim]

gottabedone said:

Hold on Guys!

The MG has a place in the market for people who aren't in the "money no object" and designer sports car group that are so apparent on this forum. No, those of you with your 60/70/80 grand designer sports cars wouldn't put your rubbish in one of these tin cans but not everyone has a mega budget to spend on some fun.

These cars hold their own in their own part of the market and have a loyal following to match.

Also, if a company brings jobs back to the UK car market, then we should be happy for the thousands that lost their jobs in the Rover and TVR fiasco's recently, as they may actually benefit from this. It may be another stunt that lasts a couple of years in order for these people to get a hold and some leverage with their brand in the UK, but this may be a couple of years work for those at Longbridge that currently dont have any!

regards

Steve

[Al 450]

article said:

MG Rover sold 44,337 cars in 2004 before going into administration in 2005.

I think you'll find that MGR sold around 120,000 vehicles in 2004.

[Mr Ski]

gottabedone said:

Hold on Guys!

The MG has a place in the market for people who aren't in the "money no object" and designer sports car group that are so apparent on this forum. No, those of you with your 60/70/80 grand designer sports cars wouldn't put your rubbish in one of these tin cans but not everyone has a mega budget to spend on some fun.

These cars hold their own in their own part of the market and have a loyal following to match.

Also, if a company brings jobs back to the UK car market, then we should be happy for the thousands that lost their jobs in the Rover and TVR fiasco's recently, as they may actually benefit from this. It may be another stunt that lasts a couple of years in order for these people to get a hold and some leverage with their brand in the UK, but this may be a couple of years work for those at Longbridge that currently dont have any!

regards

Steve

Well said that man. Agree entirely.

[andymadmak]

Al 450 said:

article said:

MG Rover sold 44,337 cars in 2004 before going into administration in 2005.

I think you'll find that MGR sold around 120,000 vehicles in 2004.

and it posted a profit for the last year in operation.........

[mark a]

ackbullchang said:

Just one though chaps

I regularly drive past the Longbridge factory on the way to London. It appears to me that
a) half the factory is in ruin
b) the other half has been demolished (presumably for residential development-seems to be happening everywhere else)

I'd be surprised (if the cars were shipped over ready made from China) if they could even stick the badge on at the Longbridge plant.

Or am I too unobservant??

You need to actually understand what part of Longbridge did what.

East works where they built the engines and gearboxes has gone, but these will be shipped in from China.

CAB 1 & 2 where the assembly took place is all still there, as is the flightshed where they did most of the development.

There are some offices on the edge of the plant being knocked down, but again these weren't greatly used and there is still the main engineering block in the middle of the site. West works was body panels and that again isn't required especially as MGTF bodies were built elesewhere anyway. The paintshop is still there as well. there is no problem whatsoever with the plant having space and capacity for what Nanjing plan.

[rimmer]

smele said:

If a Chinese made MGF was available for £10K-£12K, then I think they might find a space in the market. Keep it simple, make it reliable and offer and 5 year warranty and I am sure there will be enough customers.

i totally agree

[collateral]

pasthim said:

gottabedone said:

Hold on Guys!

The MG has a place in the market for people who aren't in the "money no object" and designer sports car group that are so apparent on this forum. No, those of you with your 60/70/80 grand designer sports cars wouldn't put your rubbish in one of these tin cans but not everyone has a mega budget to spend on some fun.

These cars hold their own in their own part of the market and have a loyal following to match.

Also, if a company brings jobs back to the UK car market, then we should be happy for the thousands that lost their jobs in the Rover and TVR fiasco's recently, as they may actually benefit from this. It may be another stunt that lasts a couple of years in order for these people to get a hold and some leverage with their brand in the UK, but this may be a couple of years work for those at Longbridge that currently dont have any!

regards

Steve

Truth, although to most of us it's called a 2nd hand MX-5

[bigbadbikercats]

collateral said:

Truth, although to most of us it's called a 2nd hand MX-5

I recently bought a 2nd hand, 10 year old MGF VVC (and yes, I did drive an MX-5 first) - 5K miles on I'm still more than happy with the F, it's a somewhat more practical proposition than the MX-5 (more cockpit space, more comfortable, much better ride, and astonishingly for a mid-engined car a more useful boot!), significantly faster and you can get a very nice example for significantly less[1] money. It really is a much better car than most people give it credit for and with the MR2 on its way out, and the MX-5 steadily getting bigger and fatter I can definitely still see a place in the market for the more modern looking, sharper handling TF at the right price.

[1] More than enough to pay for several head gasket replacements should the worst come to the worst...

--
JG

Edited by bigbadbikercats on Monday 16th April 18:25