Category: MG Rover

MG to launch a new TF in 2010
SAIC is determined to become a major player on the European market thanks to the MG and Roewe labels. After the promising 550 saloon unveiled at the recent Beijing Motor Show, the Chinese carmaker plans to launch an all-new MG TF according to Auto Express.
Expected in 2010, the future roadster, presented as the roadster of the next decade by the magazine, will also be available as a coupé. it will take its styling cues from the MG SV and X80 models. Despite sharing its underpinnings with the Roewe 550, the future model will be a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Two petrol engines will be available, a turbocharged 1.8-litre unit and a 2.5-litre V6 unit, both from former Rover.
Without a doubt, the future roadster/coupé will be sold at a competitive price, competing with the Mazda MX-5. a bit larger than the Japanese roadster, the next TF will also try to compete with the more expensive Alfa Romeo Spider and the Audi TT.
May 8, 2008
MG TF delayed, again, again and again

Will the reborn MG TF roadster roll off the production line in Longbridge? Nothing is certain as the car maker has announced it will delay the car once again.
In an interview with the Financial Times, SAIC president Chen Hong said “We want to begin production of cars at Longbridge as soon as possible, but the first priority for us is the quality of the product.”
Aware of the negative brand image promoted by Chinese car makers in Europe, Hong wants to ensure that the build quality of the MG TF will meet the demanding expectations of western customers.
SAIC has already selected 50 dealers among the 100 inquiries received until now but wants to have a network of 70/80 dealers by the end of 2008.
February 8, 2008
MG TF delayed (again)

A spokesman for Nanjing has announced that the production of the long-awaited TF roadster is likely to be delayed until the first quarter of next year. By the time the roadster goes on sale, it might be too old to compete with the ubiquitous Mazda MX5.
The new delay would be due to the new merger between NAC and SAIC dictated by the Chinese government. In the muddled Rover collapse, both Chinese carmakers bought a part of the British company. Since then, they have been fighting each other to be the first to relaunch the Rover cars on the Chinese market. SAIC kicked off the battle by unveiling the Rover 75, newly labeled Roewe 750, while NAC presented the same Rover 75, naming it MG7. In the face of such silliness, Chinese bureaucrats banged their fists on the table and initiated the merger.
Despite the new delay, the spokesman also declared that there has been considerable interest in MG products from car dealers. NAC has so far received 100 inquiries and forty have already agreed to sell future products. By the end of 2008, NAC is expecting to have a network of 70-80 dealers. They will have to be very forward thinking to sell the first crop of MG TF. The car will initially be sold first as a limited edition, high spec LE 500 for £15,000. It will be quite a challenge to sell a 13 year old car at this price when Mazda sells the MX5 for £15,730.
November 13, 2007
Rover carved up
PriceWaterhouseCoopers’s administrators have announced that before the deadline of May 13 th, 12 companies had made serious offers for taking over parts of the Rover Group.
Iranian Secretary of Sate for Trade and Industry Es-Hagh Jahanguiri made it clear that Iran was no longer interested in Rover since what made its value, its licence, had already been taken over by the Chinese company SAIC.
This being said, there still are numerous possibilities as to who might buy parts of the dead group, the most interesting of them being MG. Some say Russian investors, such as Nicolai Smolenski, who owns TVR, or Ruspromavto, which owns Volga, may be ready to purchase Morris Garage. Besides, 2 Biritish consortiums, Chapman Automotive and Welford-Winton have gone public with their statements of interest.
Anyway, nothing is certain yet, waiting for an official declaration by PriceWaterhouseCoopers seems a better bet.
May 31, 2005