Longbridge to resume making sports cars in rebirth of MG
Discussion
MILLIONS of pounds will be invested in the former MG Rover car plant at Longbridge under plans to resume production of a sports car, the new Chinese owners announced yesterday.
Nanjing Automobile Corporation, which bought the collapsed car giant a year ago, said the factory will have a key role in the rebirth of the MG brand.
President Yu Jianwei said the company will make an initial investment of £10 million at Longbridge.
About 80 people work at the plant and more will be recruited when the business develops. The workers will assemble the MG TF, with production due to start early next year.
Annual production capacity will be 15,000 and the cars will be sold in the UK and Europe, although they may be exported to other parts of the world.
Cars will be assembled from kits of components, supplied from Nanjing's factory in China, which is currently being built.
Nanjing said it was also re-establishing a research and development centre at Longbridge which will work on new models the company plans to launch in the future.
The company will also build a plant in Oklahoma.
Mr Yu said: "Car enthusiasts all over the world can be reassured that MG, one of the great motoring brands, is safe in our hands. We are committed to rebuilding the marque in major markets, with cars supplied from the UK or China, as appropriate."
http://business.scotsman.com/transpor
Nanjing Automobile Corporation, which bought the collapsed car giant a year ago, said the factory will have a key role in the rebirth of the MG brand.
President Yu Jianwei said the company will make an initial investment of £10 million at Longbridge.
About 80 people work at the plant and more will be recruited when the business develops. The workers will assemble the MG TF, with production due to start early next year.
Annual production capacity will be 15,000 and the cars will be sold in the UK and Europe, although they may be exported to other parts of the world.
Cars will be assembled from kits of components, supplied from Nanjing's factory in China, which is currently being built.
Nanjing said it was also re-establishing a research and development centre at Longbridge which will work on new models the company plans to launch in the future.
The company will also build a plant in Oklahoma.
Mr Yu said: "Car enthusiasts all over the world can be reassured that MG, one of the great motoring brands, is safe in our hands. We are committed to rebuilding the marque in major markets, with cars supplied from the UK or China, as appropriate."
http://business.scotsman.com/transpor
I wonder if they will come with real hooters, or will it be with cycle bells? At work recently, someone had brought in a local paper. In it was a car..............did I say car? nay..a ROCKET!!!! Faster than the Veyron! And built in Britain!
Where?...in an old NW mining village of "Astley" near Leigh just west of Manchester. Sorry folks I forget the details for the mo' but I'll try an' get you the details ASP in a seperate thread.....Just rest assured that the "British" sportscar is NOT yet dead.
Where?...in an old NW mining village of "Astley" near Leigh just west of Manchester. Sorry folks I forget the details for the mo' but I'll try an' get you the details ASP in a seperate thread.....Just rest assured that the "British" sportscar is NOT yet dead.
Sadly MG Rover came good just before it died.
They had the updated MG TF and the 75. The 45 in MG form was OK and even the 25 wasn't bad.
The MG 75 260 gave a hint at what was to come as did the rumored new 2+2 MG and the rumored v6 powered TF.
But this came far too late. Years of churning out awful grot boxes took their toll.
I can't see anyone resurecting the TF or 75 260 as these cars, by the time they actually get into the showrooms again, will have been out of manufacture for nearly two years. If they are resurected they'll be even further behind and made by a new, inexperienced, workforce in an ancient factory.
They had the updated MG TF and the 75. The 45 in MG form was OK and even the 25 wasn't bad.
The MG 75 260 gave a hint at what was to come as did the rumored new 2+2 MG and the rumored v6 powered TF.
But this came far too late. Years of churning out awful grot boxes took their toll.
I can't see anyone resurecting the TF or 75 260 as these cars, by the time they actually get into the showrooms again, will have been out of manufacture for nearly two years. If they are resurected they'll be even further behind and made by a new, inexperienced, workforce in an ancient factory.
Realistically to be regarded as a serious sports car maker again they will new ALL new product right up to date with the best current design and styling out there.
The MGF/TF itself is a 10 year old design and under the skin even that used a great many Metro components and design .
It would be nice to see a small MG sportscar weighing less than 800 kgs with sensational handling, total reliability and costing less than £15000 (Yes you can buy a new MX5 today for that price ) I seriously doubt if the new owners can deliver this.
The MGF/TF itself is a 10 year old design and under the skin even that used a great many Metro components and design .
It would be nice to see a small MG sportscar weighing less than 800 kgs with sensational handling, total reliability and costing less than £15000 (Yes you can buy a new MX5 today for that price ) I seriously doubt if the new owners can deliver this.
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