Wednesday 29th October 2003

MG XPower SV

Now on sale, but can they justify £75K for just 320bhp?

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MG Sport & Racing is blasting the media today with info about the new SV which is now on sale. Launched at the motor show last year, the final product has been eagerly awaited by patriotic car enthusiasts here.

The entry level model is powered by a 320 hp 4.6 litre all aluminium quad cam V8 engine. That's good enough to launch the car to sixty in 5.3 seconds on on to about 165mph.

More powerful versions - and an automatic - will be available next year. There's still plenty of talk of being able to order a 765 hp version although we'll have to wait and see if they'll really deliver such a monstrously powerful car. It would certainly make for good publicity!

Inside the SV gets a sporty cabin - including full rollover protection - with both front seats getting inertia four belt harnesses which can also be locked for serious driving by the flick of a switch. Each cabin is trimmed with the customer’s choice of six leather finishes. Competition seats and fascias are available in a combination of leather and Alcantara allowing each vehicle to be uniquely personalised.

The chassis and carbon body are both constructed in Italy. Carbon provides the same stiffness as steel but is 25% of the weight. Suprising then, that the car still weighs in at over 1500kg. After assembly in Italy the cars are shipped to the UK for finishing at MG Sport & Racing’s newly established HQ at Longbridge, Birmingham by a dedicated team.

Standard fitment in every car is the latest Tracker system from Omitec which not only enables the car to be located and immobilised, in case of theft for example, but also links the vehicle to a central diagnostic control centre at Longbridge.

All good so far until we come to the price. MG are punting this out at a whopping £75K. Whilst exclusivity comes at a price it might prove tough to entice people out of similarly priced exotica into a 320bhp car. What a shame it couldn't have been nearer 400bhp for that price.

The car will be on sale at a network of special XPower dealerships, or directly from the MG Sport & Racing factory.

[docevi1]

Has the design changed since the prototype? It kinda looks a bit Max Powery now where as before it looked, kinda cool!

[Pigeon]

I think it looks like a BMW.

Why is it so flippin' heavy?

Apart from that, I rather like it.

[Bodo]

I see an Audi TT in that (a maxed one)

[errek72]

Mmmh, those Punto headlights, that armadillo styling, more weight and less power than a cheaper TVR.. What are they thinking?

[j_s_g]

It does look as though they've remodelled the front end since the original designs. It definitely seems to be more an amalgam of other designs rather than its own car. i.e. TT profile, Nissan front end (with Punto headlights), Astra coupe rear.

Real shame that the weight & price are up, and the power's well down... I was sorely tempted when I first saw it. Think TVR'll be getting my money again when the time comes!

[civic_legend]

hmm, for that kinda money, you could have a Hartge M3 with a M5 engine!! I know what I'd go for...

[j_s_g]

civic_legend said:

hmm, for that kinda money, you could have a Hartge M3 with a M5 engine!! I know what I'd go for...

Know what I'd go for too at that price, too... a 1 year old DB7 Vantage.

[B10]

So what if it has Punto headlights.

[j_s_g]

[redacted]

[veewhy]

I'd buy a Carerra GT3 and spend the £2.5k change on petrol...

[Marki]

Ridiculous price tag , its not exactly elegant is Max Power meets Mad Max

[dogsharks]

It's a Mustang with a MG badge???

It looks like 100% built on an American Ford Mustang chassis structure. It even has the same proportions as the Mustang. Sheesh, it has a Mustang motor........................?????????????????????????????????????????????

Dogsharks

[mazz]

said:

The chassis and carbon body are both constructed in Italy.

thats funny..
was at longbridge 2 months back and was told that the body was constructed in Isle of Wight?

[Muncher]

mazz said:

said: The chassis and carbon body are both constructed in Italy. thats funny.. was at longbridge 2 months back and was told that the body was constructed in Isle of Wight?

No, there was a feature in MG World magazine where they went to Italy showing it being made.

[mgcrazeee]

mazz said:

said: The chassis and carbon body are both constructed in Italy. thats funny.. was at longbridge 2 months back and was told that the body was constructed in Isle of Wight?

Originally the bodies were going to be made by an Italian company (company name is something like Opec or Opac - they make the bodies for all Lamborginis) but instead MG gave the contract to some carbon fibre specialist based in the Isle of Wight - can't remember their name. However I think the bodies are then shipped from the Isle of Wight to Italy where they are fitted to the chassis. The chassis's are made in Itay by a company that also manufactures chassis's for Ferrari.

[Fux74]

MG SV---> MG X80 ---> QVALE MANGUSTA.
All products made in modena, Italy.
(see www.qvaleauto.com/)
Greetings.

>> Edited by sb-1 on Saturday 9th April 12:32

[Alicatt]

it's the supply train for the engines that gets me...
Ford US --> MG-R UK --> Dreadnought, Scotland, where it is disassembled and the heads go to --> SHM Canada to be reworked --> Dreadnought, engine re-assembeld run up and tested and shipped --> Qvale Italy fitted to rolling chassis --> MG SnR for final fit out ---!