RE: MG to reinvent sports car
Discussion
I may get flammed completely for this, but.....
They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
Edited by Gus82 on Thursday 29th November 12:21
Gus82 said:
I may get flammed completely for this, but.....
They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
I won't flame you for that, what you say makes a lot of sense.They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
Edited by Gus82 on Thursday 29th November 12:21
Gus82 said:
I may get flammed completely for this, but.....
They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
Given that they were styled by Ian Callum so it's not surprising, that sounds not unlike the Ford Puma - which is something the car world seems to be sadly lacking at the moment. A small, frisky, supermini-sized coupe that may be FWD but handles superbly.They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
Edited by Gus82 on Thursday 29th November 12:21
Twincam16 said:
Given that they were styled by Ian Callum so it's not surprising, that sounds not unlike the Ford Puma - which is something the car world seems to be sadly lacking at the moment. A small, frisky, supermini-sized coupe that may be FWD but handles superbly.
There is the Renault Wind, but not enough people in the UK bought them for it to remain on sale.
Gus82 said:
I may get flammed completely for this, but.....
They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
Sensible idea.They would do a lot, lot worse than create a modern and sexy Audi TT rival (i.e. front wheel drive on base models). Give it junior Aston Martin styling inside and out, lots of options and use cheap (but quality) Chinese components to keep prices down to MX5 levels and the car would be a great halo model in the short term.
My preferred option of course would be an actual front engine/rear drive sportscar to take the MX5 on, but I can't see it unless they use SAICs contacts at GM to share costs on a new Chevrolet or Opel sportscar (a modern day Opel GT could be quite a car come to think of it...).
Any new MG sportscar needs to be cheap however and be really slick looking inside and out. However they would need to price the base model well below £20K the way the brand is at the moment or no one will buy - but they probably need this car to revive the companies image.
Edited by Gus82 on Thursday 29th November 12:21
The Crack Fox said:
That's interesting, I didn't think they ever sold the MG TF in China, I wonder if he could get us a pic of this mysterious mid-engined MG.
The MGOC magazine had an article on a Chinese couple who bought a brand new red TF, fully optioned up. Actually it looked pretty smart.andyps said:
Twincam16 said:
Given that they were styled by Ian Callum so it's not surprising, that sounds not unlike the Ford Puma - which is something the car world seems to be sadly lacking at the moment. A small, frisky, supermini-sized coupe that may be FWD but handles superbly.
There is the Renault Wind, but not enough people in the UK bought them for it to remain on sale.
Twincam16 said:
Given that they were styled by Ian Callum so it's not surprising, that sounds not unlike the Ford Puma - which is something the car world seems to be sadly lacking at the moment. A small, frisky, supermini-sized coupe that may be FWD but handles superbly.
I had been thinking a little more upmarket than the Puma but it isn't a bad idea either. You could badge a car like that a Midget, with a 2+2 coupe and a 2 seat convertible and then introduce a proper more expensive sports car later. I wonder how the MINI roadster and coupe are selling?In my mind I was thinking something starting off at £18,000 and being to an Aston Martin what the 90's Alfa Romeo GTV was to a Ferrari. OK it wasn't rear wheel drive and was developed from the Fiat Tipo platform, but it looked and sounded amazing and had a good chassis with a decent amount of steering feel. It felt far more special than it really was, but for a lot of people it did the trick.
I had a GTV for 2 years and wouldn't have got rid of it for a while longer if the reliability had been better....
Edited by Gus82 on Thursday 29th November 17:35
Gus82 said:
Twincam16 said:
Given that they were styled by Ian Callum so it's not surprising, that sounds not unlike the Ford Puma - which is something the car world seems to be sadly lacking at the moment. A small, frisky, supermini-sized coupe that may be FWD but handles superbly.
I had been thinking a little more upmarket than the Puma but it isn't a bad idea either. You could badge a car like that a Midget, with a 2+2 coupe and a 2 seat convertible and then introduce a proper more expensive sports car later. I wonder how the MINI roadster and coupe are selling?In my mind I was thinking something starting off at £18,000 and being to an Aston Martin what the 90's Alfa Romeo GTV was to a Ferrari. OK it wasn't rear wheel drive and was developed from the Fiat Tipo platform, but it looked and sounded amazing and had a good chassis with a decent amount of steering feel. It felt far more special than it really was, but for a lot of people it did the trick.
I had a GTV for 2 years and wouldn't have got rid of it for a while longer if the reliability had been better....
Edited by Gus82 on Thursday 29th November 17:35
AAGR said:
IMHO you are all still missing the central point. In this country, MG no longer has a viable dealer chain which is capable of selling any model in significant numbers. Until that changes, we've got no chance ....
Word on the street is that MG have given up trying to build a UK dealer network and are going to try to move into Europe.odyssey2200 said:
AAGR said:
IMHO you are all still missing the central point. In this country, MG no longer has a viable dealer chain which is capable of selling any model in significant numbers. Until that changes, we've got no chance ....
Word on the street is that MG have given up trying to build a UK dealer network and are going to try to move into Europe.jds32 said:
I can't see them giving up on the dealer network in this country as they have just released the diesel 6. And they have the MG3 and MG5 waiting in the wings.
They are not giving up their existing network, but they have given up on looking for moreIy's too difficult.
Dealer recuruitment is now switching to Europe.
Can you imagine a French Dealer being pitched the MG franchise?
The first question has to be
"How many do you sell in your home market?" (but in French, obviously
)The answer " two thirds of none" isn't going to cut the mustard is it?
AAGR said:
IMHO you are all still missing the central point. In this country, MG no longer has a viable dealer chain which is capable of selling any model in significant numbers. Until that changes, we've got no chance ....
On the other hand that might actually be a plus??One thing that puts me off dealers is all the glitter, glass and mirrors and knowing we are paying for it.
Those who need Ego boosting, wil of course love it, being sucked up too that is.
However, the five new company cars I had were all delivered to my workplace, I never even saw a dealership (well I did pop into the Subaru dealer once) until they needed servicing.
AND that was a big turn off every time!
With independent garages now allowed to service any new car, being able to take an MG to a local trusted garage (I just let my local garaged service my Porsche!) would be a big plus to me.
Some of the big centers like Halfords/Quik Fit would probably jump at doing it?
After all even they can change oil and a filter without feking it up, can't they??
All MG really need is a central stores location and a contract with a decent courier company and get any spares needed delivered FAST.
So MG, get those cars into the Supermarket style dealers now so we can go look at them!!
Get Motoquip to stock the servicing spares even!
Think outside the box! It's what Morris Garages did!
jds32 said:
How popular were MG-rover in the rest of Europe in the past. Was it like it is in china now where products with a British badge on them are popular because they are British ?
They were quite popular in France, certainly as Rover. There are still signs up at what must have been Rover dealers in the past.The Crack Fox said:
uk_vette said:
That's interesting, I didn't think they ever sold the MG TF in China, I wonder if he could get us a pic of this mysterious mid-engined MG
.There are MG TF's in China.
The very first thing I told him was "It will have been a TF". but he replied by saying it was definitely not a TF, but similar.
vette
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