Wednesday 30th May 2007

MG production commences at Longbridge

TF Roadster first down the line

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The TF lives...

Car production at the Longbridge manufacturing facility has finally re-started after a break of over two years.

Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) commenced the build of the first new-era MG TF roadster at the plant yesterday (29^th May). The cars will go on sale in the UK market next year.

For now, the factory is little more than an assembly plant with parts arriving from China, a fact reflected in the staff count of just 150. In time, there are ambitous plans to manufacture TF bodies at the facility and even an all-new car.

“We realised from the outset of this project that retaining a manufacturing link with the UK is of fundamental importance,” says Yu Jian Wei, CEO of NAC. “Longbridge will play a leading role in our European operation and the plant is now in a position to commence TF production for the UK market. This is a very exciting time for MG and it’s an important boost to the economy of the Midlands manufacturing region.”

"The UK is home to MG and it has a profound affection for MG. MG is the pride of the British people. It has a glorious past. We are the inheritors of this brand and we will continue to push forward our internationalisation strategy and continue to write new chapters for MG. Longbridge has an irreplaceable role in the MG project. It is in the front line of our internationalisation strategy. This is the rebirth of MG."

MG previous PH story

[stephen300o]

Hopfully they will sell afew more, better looking and more road presence than say, an mx5.

[Vodka Margarine]

Make it good and price it well and they'll be on to a winner. Good to see they are helping the UK industry.

Edited by Vodka Margarine on Wednesday 30th May 10:48

[waynepixel]

Vodka Margarine said:

Make it good and price it well and they'll be on to a winner. Good to see they are helping the UK industry.

Edited by Vodka Margarine on Wednesday 30th May 10:48

I would love to see a V6 in this thing, or even the 2.0L Turbo from VW.

[MartinMGBGTSV8]

Its too effeminate a car to appeal to men though. It won't get the support of the motoring press for that reason (as they are mostly men) and it's handling and performance can't compete with the MX-5 either.

The next car they produce needs to be a modern MGBGT, a front engined, rear drive thing with 2+2 seats and reasonably cheap (>£17000). Think cheaper, less technologically advanced Nissan 350Z.

I own two old MGs and I feel no brand loyalty. I bought them because they are cheap to own and fun to drive. The new MG TFs are neither.

[stephen300o]

MartinMGBGTSV8 said:

Its too effeminate a car to appeal to men though. It won't get the support of the motoring press for that reason (as they are mostly men) and it's handling and performance can't compete with the MX-5 either.

The next car they produce needs to be a modern MGBGT, a front engined, rear drive thing with 2+2 seats and reasonably cheap (>£17000). Think cheaper, less technologically advanced Nissan 350Z.

I own two old MGs and I feel no brand loyalty. I bought them because they are cheap to own and fun to drive. The new MG TFs are neither.

Eh!, the mx5 is alot more ginger beer than the mg

[scotty_917]

My brother used to have one and it was crap....any MG product I've ever been in has been the same....unreliable, poor build quality, so-so performance, questionable dealer care! No wonder they went under!

[bob1179]

I really hope the best for the ne MG. OK so it's not British anymore but they should be offering some well needed jobs back at the old Longbridge plant.

I'd also like to see what the car is like with the new 'N' series engine and if it feels any different to the 'K' series it is based on. I know the engine has only been re-engineered to meet current emissions regs, but will it make any difference?

As for how well the TF drives, I was quite suprised when I borrowed one a couple of years back. Other than the seats being a bit high I had loads of fun chucking it about.

Most importantly, will they make the coupe version that MG-Rover showed just before they went bust? I have a picture but can't post it as for some reason I can't get onto photobucket!

But here is a linky: http://www.netcarshow.com/mg/2004-gt_concept/

RE. Sticking the KV6 into the TF, from what I remember it would have required lengthening the car to fit it and a larger tank in (as with the standard tank the car would have a fairly limited range) and at the time MGR didn't have the funds to do this. But maybe they could now?

[Dogsey]

stephen300o said:

Eh!, the mx5 is alot more ginger beer than the mg

I take it you've never driven one then? The MX5 is probably the best cheap sportscar ever made!

[jezzaaa]

[quote=MartinMGBGTSV8]

The next car they produce needs to be a modern MGBGT, a front engined, rear drive thing with 2+2 seats and reasonably cheap (>£17000). Think cheaper, less technologically advanced Nissan 350Z.

quote]

I disagree...it cannot be a less technologically advanced car if it's going to do well. It needs to compete with the best that Japan and Germany can offer. The MX-5 is available from £16K...and the MG needs to offer all the same benefits for the same price to appeal. It was lacking in terms of handling and build quality in 1998 against the Mazda. It's now lacking a folding hard top option. I see no future for the current MGTF...the whole game has moved on in the 10 years since it was first manufactured.

J.

[PastHim]

scotty_917 said:

My brother used to have one and it was crap....any MG product I've ever been in has been the same....unreliable, poor build quality, so-so performance, questionable dealer care! No wonder they went under!

Agreed. But with the efforts of the Chinese now behind them hopefully they can overcome the poor build and really get the investment to make them successful that they always needed. After all, the UK makes some super reliable cars for the Japanese so it is not the workers that will be the problem.

Hopefully MG will have the sort of investment Skoda and Seat have seen. I don't care if the Chinese own MG as long as they make good cars. I have an Elise and I love Lotus but couldn't care less that Proton own them.

[grumbledoak]

stephen300o said:

Eh!, the mx5 is alot more ginger beer than the mg

You, sir, are having a giraffe.

I still, on occasion, miss the MX. Chucking the T350 around is fun, but you don't quite get the sense of invincibility that the MX gives.

[Russian Rocket]

grumbledoak said:

stephen300o said:

Eh!, the mx5 is alot more ginger beer than the mg

You, sir, are having a giraffe.

I still, on occasion, miss the MX. Chucking the T350 around is fun, but you don't quite get the sense of invincibility that the MX gives.

thats cos the T350 have a nscap rating of minus 5

[900T-R]

jezzaaa said:

. It needs to compete with the best that Japan and Germany can offer. The MX-5 is available from £16K...and the MG needs to offer all the same benefits for the same price to appeal. It was lacking in terms of handling and build quality in 1998 against the Mazda.
J.

Maybe, but Mazda were kind enough to lower the bar with regard to the first aspect, with the Mk3.

[Russian Rocket]

interesting how tech moves on + people forget

I remember TG reviewing the MGF when it was new and saying how good the handling was at the time

Ok it hasn't kept up but it was good once

I owned a supercharged mgf, it was great fun, biggest problem was there are just hudered of them everywhere and it just looks bland because of this. if they were produced in small numbers like TVR then I think people would see them differantly

[bencollins]

grumbledoak said:

stephen300o said:

Eh!, the mx5 is alot more ginger beer than the mg

You, sir, are having a giraffe.

I still, on occasion, miss the MX. Chucking the T350 around is fun, but you don't quite get the sense of invincibility that the MX gives.

Agree, half the people on here are obsessed with having 400hp, but the speed limit is 70mph - or close ) so the only way to have fun is in the corners, and the MX5 is awesome there, with progressive breakaway which allows you to push it along the limit even if theres stonewall adjacent. Cant say that for many cars.
Im genuinely amazed TF production has restarted. We shouldnt fear foreign investment, for the UK it's been great, proving it never was "t' workers" or the "design", just production management and investment in quality or lack of.
The TF remains a great alternative car, despite it's age. Get it in the US where they've never seen it, it'll seem like new.

[grumbledoak]

Russian Rocket said:

thats cos the T350 have a nscap rating of minus 5

It helps focus the mind, for sure...

But back to the MG: it wasn't competitive enough then, and it will be further behind now. The Chinese want a UK base for European sales, and it will be good news for jobs in the Midlands, but the MG "as was" won't sell that many now.

[scotty_917]

PastHim said:

scotty_917 said:

My brother used to have one and it was crap....any MG product I've ever been in has been the same....unreliable, poor build quality, so-so performance, questionable dealer care! No wonder they went under!

Agreed. But with the efforts of the Chinese now behind them hopefully they can overcome the poor build and really get the investment to make them successful that they always needed. After all, the UK makes some super reliable cars for the Japanese so it is not the workers that will be the problem.

Hopefully MG will have the sort of investment Skoda and Seat have seen. I don't care if the Chinese own MG as long as they make good cars. I have an Elise and I love Lotus but couldn't care less that Proton own them.

Good luck to them...I don't have any nationalistic hang-ups & take your point over UK workers doing a good job for the Japanese...However, the jury is still out until such time as they can produce a 'new' car, not just an old re-hash?

[ninjaboy]

I've got a TF and i found the performance better than an MX5 and the handling diffrent but just as good its no tail out monster like an MX5 but its got loads of grip and balance. The car has had its day though i love mine so much but it 10 years old now time to move on

[Westyman]

Interesting PR stunt nothing more (Don't quite know who they were hoping to impress with this spin), one question they were unable to answer is, when the British public can buy them, where from and how much will they cost.

Can't see the UK dealer network wanting to jump straight into bed with Kerching Automotive. Warranty claim anyone ?

They couldn't sell enough 10 year old design cars 2 years ago. What hope do they have now ?

[Al 450]

In terms of performance the 1.8 VVT MGTF 160 was quicker than the MX-5 at a 0-60 of 6.9 secs. Being mid engined may have contributed to people's perception of 'worse handling' than the FR MX-5, however I expect this provided greater traction and weight distribution. The MX-5 was for sale 7 years ish before the F and the F was deliberately engineered 'soft' by BMW influence hence the hydrogas suspension (so it didn't hit Z3 sales.) These two things I think pushed the 'enthusiast' towards the MX-5 hence it got a very slightly more masculine image (still ginger beer though!)

I drove several and always had fun in them which lets face it is the point. There was something cool about having a rasping revvy little engine sat behind your head and blasting along with the roof down.

As for reliability I've had two brand new MGs and done over 60K in them without a single incidence or problem so as with any vehicle I think it is luck of the draw.