Autoblog

There's a new MG TF on its way to replace the current TF, which is once again rolling out the doors at its Longbridge, UK ancestral home. The new TF will be available as a roadster, natch, and as a coupe, and based on the Roewe 550. AutoExpress has worked up some renderings based on insider information about the new rear-drive MG, and the car amounts to a smorgasbord of cues from a variety of unfortunately styled vehicles. There's a lot of X80 concept, a dash of the crosseyed Qvale Mangusta, and a peppering or two of the MG SV, too. The end result looks like something Noddy assembled in a candlelit workshop, but then again, so does the existing MG TF.

The underlying platform for the new TF is one of the last vestiges of MG Rover, and would have been used for the MG ZS/Rover 45 replacement. Ricardo also played a role in the development of the chassis, which will have a turbocharged 1.8-liter four and a 2.5-liter V6 as power options. Still, more coupes in the MX5's sandbox can't be a bad thing, so we wish the new MG TF well, and hope that it comes to the United States for a proper taunting.

[Source: Auto Express]

It appears that despite the incredulous whining and snarky commentary about Britain's MG being purchased by Nanjing and renamed Modern Gentleman, the Jiangsu, China based automaker has the best interests of MG in mind. They've been exceptionally careful stewards so far, quickly ramping up production in a huge, modern facility in China so that MGs could once again roll off the assembly line for the 60th anniversary of the brand. The familial MG homestead in Longbridge, UK has been reinvigorated as the UK and European headquarters for NAC MG. Cars will once again be manufactured in Longbridge, and the location will also play a role in R&D, engineering, workforce recruiting and of course, sales. Not only has the move garnered goodwill for the Chinese parent company, it shows that they're committed to MG and have a long term plan in mind.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: NAC]

Do you remember the fight over the scraps of the once-proud Morris Garages (MG)? Remember how Nanjing Automobile Group ended up with the rights to produce MG vehicles? The ones that ended up being relabeled Modern Gentleman? And remember how there was a joint venture formed to build MG cars in the United States out of Chinese or British-made kits? Well apparently you're not the only one who forgot that last bit. After reading reports out of the UK that said the joint venture was dead, the venture's largest investor, Marc Nuttle, did a Mark Twain and told those involved that it is very much alive.

The apparent confusion resulted from the fact that Oklahoma Global Motors doesn't have its licensing proposal finalized. They fully expect to have it ironed out by April 16, however. Nuttle says the group is also looking to start establishing its 40 dealer network starting in April. Company President and former head of Lotus, John English, will conduct the dealer search. Nanjing recently restarted production of the "new" MG TF and MG7 sedan at the old MG works plant in the UK, nearly one year to the day after MG went on the block. The "new" TF is the model that should make it Stateside. If all goes as hoped, kits will be shipped to Oklahoma where they will be assembled and sold to U.S. customers.

[Source: Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

The first Modern Gentleman has come off Nanjing's reconstituted assembly line in China, but we're getting conflicting reports about whether or not a rumored factory in Oklahoma will happen. Nanjing has been offered $20 million in incentives to come and build the MG TF where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain, but according to a recent report, the Ardmore, OK plant plans have been scrapped.

Nanjing hasn't made any formal response, but it appears that officials in Oklahoma are still working toward bringing the Chinese carmaker stateside and the Ardmore Development Authority is continuing to make efforts to bring the plant, as well as a parts distribution center, to Oklahoma.

Nanjing is China's oldest automaker, so it's not like they're neophytes; but, there's likely a learning curve about our emissions and safety regulations. Judging from how quickly the MG tooling was up and running after being shipped to China, we have no doubt that there will be a determined Chinese automaker offering cars for sale in the US in the near future.

Work continues on developing the airport and corralling the details among companies on three different continents, and supposedly they're currently completing due diligence before finalizing agreements. At least that's the rhetoric. We'll see how it all shakes out.

Thanks for the tip, Luis!

[Source: KOTV]

The Chinese owners of defunct British carmaker MG Rover have confirmed that car production will resume at the former MG Rover factory in Longbridge. Nanjing Automotive will build cars in China and the U.K., with Autocar suggesting that the MG TF Roadster (right) is the most likely vehicle to come out of the Longbridge plant.

A formal press conference is scheduled for the British Motor Show later in July.

[Source: Autocar]

Related links:
Rover vs. Rover in Chinese cage match!
Britain coughing up £660,000 to Nanjing to help restart MG-Rover factory
Nanjing Auto signs long-term lease for MG-Rover plant