This actually looks fairly serious, folks. The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that HFI, the British-American consortium that purchased the rights to the Healey name, may launch a new "Healey 3000" at this year's London Motor Show. Is that the new Healey above? Read on to find out why we think it might be... Meanwhile, icWales (via the Western Mail) revealed that HFI is considering a site near Cardiff "for production of an updated Austin Healey 3000." Warwick, England, is also being considered for the facility, which will employ up to 400. According to icWales, HFI paid in the neighborhood of $1.8 million to the Healey family for the rights to use the Healey name for the new car.
So, what will it look like? HFI managing director Paul Fenna is reported to have said that the new design would be instantly recognizable as a Healey, in the same way that BMW's MINI recalls the original.
We're wondering if HFI's Healey 3000 is based on the "Project Tempest" concept (pictured) of Prof. Krish Bhaskar, who led a failed bid for MG Rover, before the company was ultimately acquired by Nanjing Automobile. Professor Bashkar is the founder of the Motor Industry Research Unit, an automotive industry forecasting firm.
When information on Project Tempest was released in September 2005, Bashkar indicated that design of the car was "in an advanced stage" and that he was "currently in discussions with a number of potential partners, to re-establish a well-known brand from the heydey of the British motor industry."
Sounds to us like Project Tempest has found a home.
So, what will it look like? HFI managing director Paul Fenna is reported to have said that the new design would be instantly recognizable as a Healey, in the same way that BMW's MINI recalls the original.
We're wondering if HFI's Healey 3000 is based on the "Project Tempest" concept (pictured) of Prof. Krish Bhaskar, who led a failed bid for MG Rover, before the company was ultimately acquired by Nanjing Automobile. Professor Bashkar is the founder of the Motor Industry Research Unit, an automotive industry forecasting firm.
When information on Project Tempest was released in September 2005, Bashkar indicated that design of the car was "in an advanced stage" and that he was "currently in discussions with a number of potential partners, to re-establish a well-known brand from the heydey of the British motor industry."
Sounds to us like Project Tempest has found a home.
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