Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Watch a burning Midget flip at 1,000 frames-per-second]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/watch-a-burning-midget-flip-at-1-000-frames-per-second/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/watch-a-burning-midget-flip-at-1-000-frames-per-second/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/watch-a-burning-midget-flip-at-1-000-frames-per-second/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

burning mg

Why is it that everything looks cooler in slow motion? And the slower the better, especially when you're dealing with one of those new-fangled high frame rate super cameras. Case in point? When you add a MG Midget, a serious amount of explosives and a 1,000 frame per second camera and you have some very compelling YouTube footage.

Hit the jump to look on as Speed TV's Stuntbusters lay waste to what looks like a rather tired (and likely non-running) MG. There is nothing but really slow demolition and some Mary Lou Retton-style tumbling, but it's totally worth your 1:09.

Continue reading Watch a burning Midget flip at 1,000 frames-per-second

Watch a burning Midget flip at 1,000 frames-per-second originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000 fps cameracar explosionexplosionmgmg midgetmidgetslow motionspeedspeed tvstuntbustersvideoWed, 01 Feb 2012 14:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20161376/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/01/watch-a-burning-midget-flip-at-1-000-frames-per-second/20161376/article-detail.xml 20161376 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/flaming-mg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/flaming-mg.jpg <![CDATA[MG goes big with new BTCC entry]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/mg-goes-big-with-new-btcc-entry/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/mg-goes-big-with-new-btcc-entry/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/mg-goes-big-with-new-btcc-entry/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MG6 GT BTCC

The field of cars entered in the British Touring Car Championship has grown incredibly in the last year or two. But as quintessentially British as the series is, few of those automakers represented on the grid are actually, you know... British. But that's all about to change with the latest entry from MG.

Now you might look at MG's current line-up of ho-hum Chinese econo-boxes and lament at how far the brand has fallen since its heyday of building quirky yet iconic roadsters, but MG is pulling all the stops with its touring car effort. The cars - based on the MG6 GT five-door - are being prepared by Triple 8 Race Engineering, the outfit responsible for turning Vauxhall into a powerhouse that dominated the BTCC for years.

If that's not enough to get the job done, the Sino-English automaker has also retained one of the very best drivers in the series. You may know the name and face of Jason Plato from Fifth Gear, the British motoring show he co-presents. But he's also a two-time BTCC champion, winner of 68 races and holds the records for the most fastest laps, pole positions and podiums in the history of the series. Poached from Chevrolet, Plato will be driving alongside up-and-coming talent Andy Neate.

All in all, MG KX Momentum Racing is shaping up as a force to be reckoned with, so the other 22 drivers on the grid had better take notice as the series gears up for its 55th running. Details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading MG goes big with new BTCC entry

MG goes big with new BTCC entry originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy neatebritish touring car championshipbtccjason platomgmg6mg6 btccmg6 gtmg6 ngtcneatengtcplatotriple 8 race engineeringThu, 26 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20156936/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/26/mg-goes-big-with-new-btcc-entry/20156936/article-detail.xml 20156936 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/web01-mg-btcc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/web01-mg-btcc.jpg <![CDATA[MG Motors to launch UK MG6 production next week]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/mg-motors-to-launch-uk-mg6-production-next-week/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/mg-motors-to-launch-uk-mg6-production-next-week/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/mg-motors-to-launch-uk-mg6-production-next-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 MG6
2010 MG6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The MG6, MG's first all-new car since 1995's MG F, will begin UK production next week in Birmingham, England. The new start of English production of the iconic brand marks its return from the dead after MG Rover folded and was bought by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation [SAIC].

According to MG, the first new English MG will roll off the line at 11:00 a.m. on April 13, almost six years to the day since the last MG Rover was built in April, 2005. This rebirth marks yet another chapter in MG's rocky existence, from its inception as a sports car brand in 1924, to its Austin Metro-based econobox days of the 1980s, to the revival of the brand with 1995's MG F, to its new identity as a subsidiary of a Chinese conglomerate.

The MG6 is a Chinese-designed four-door liftback sedan that shares similar dimensions with the Volkswagen Golf. Power comes from a 133-horsepower, naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder or a turbocharged 160-horse variant.


Gallery: 2010 MG6


[Source: MG]

MG Motors to launch UK MG6 production next week originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birmingham englandmgmg 6mg motorsmg productionsaicshanghai automobile industry corporationFri, 08 Apr 2011 08:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19906366/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/08/mg-motors-to-launch-uk-mg6-production-next-week/19906366/article-detail.xml 19906366 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/mg6saic-lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/mg6saic-lead.jpg <![CDATA[Report: SAIC to sell new MG models through GM showrooms in UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/22/report-saic-to-sell-new-mg-models-through-gm-showrooms-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/22/report-saic-to-sell-new-mg-models-through-gm-showrooms-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/22/report-saic-to-sell-new-mg-models-through-gm-showrooms-in-uk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The notion that Chinese automakers would begin selling cars in competitive export markets seemed laughable only a few years ago. But that's what they said about the Koreans, and before them the Japanese. Also laughable: the notion that a British brand like MG would have no outlet to sell their cars in the UK. But that's the situation that MG Rover found itself in after it was taken over by Chinese automakers SAIC and Nanjing.

A new arrangement, however, could see MGs being sold through GM dealers in the UK before too long. The deal would actually be an extension of the cooperative venture the two auto groups embarked upon years ago in China, giving The General a foothold in the rapidly growing market to sell Chevrolets, Buicks and Cadillacs, of which it has already sold a reported 2.2 million so far this year.

According to reports, MG already has a memorandum of understanding with GM to distribute the Sino-British cars in the UK. If that's the case, it could be just a matter of time before MGs are sold alongside such vehicles as the Cruze and BLS from London to Scotland.

[Source: The Telegraph]

Report: SAIC to sell new MG models through GM showrooms in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainchinageneral motorsgmgreat britainmgsaicukunited kingdomWed, 22 Dec 2010 08:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19771647/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/22/report-saic-to-sell-new-mg-models-through-gm-showrooms-in-uk/19771647/article-detail.xml 19771647 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/web630mg6saic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/web630mg6saic.jpg <![CDATA[SAIC opens design center at MG's Longbridge site]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/26/saic-opens-design-center-at-mgs-longbridge-site/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/26/saic-opens-design-center-at-mgs-longbridge-site/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/26/saic-opens-design-center-at-mgs-longbridge-site/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MG Zero concept
MG Zero Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. has done a stand-up job evangelizing the MG brand with the MG6 and the Zero Concept (the latter slated for production as the MG3). Now, the automaker has added an $8.2 million design center to its Longbridge site.

Antony Williams-Kenny, MG's design director, says the studio "gives us superb tools and facilities to go further forward on projects such as the MG Zero concept and beyond." An MG spokesperson adds, "The designing of new cars and the engineering and technical aspects of the cars is all happening here in the UK."

Along with MG6 production moving back to Longbridge later this year, the forthcoming Zero/MG3 is expected to offer 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines when it's finalized for retail. That kind of news gives folks in the Midlands (and sporty-car folks everywhere) something to look forward to from The Octagon. Finally.


Gallery: Beijing 2010: MG Zero Concept


[Source: BBC, Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

SAIC opens design center at MG's Longbridge site originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>longbridgemgmg zeromg zero conceptmg6mgs4MgZeroMgZeroConceptsaicshanghai automotive industry corpShanghaiAutomotiveIndustryCorpSat, 26 Jun 2010 12:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19527309/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/26/saic-opens-design-center-at-mgs-longbridge-site/19527309/article-detail.xml 19527309 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/mgdesignlongbridge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/mgdesignlongbridge.jpg <![CDATA[Beijing 2010: MG Zero Concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-mg-zero-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-mg-zero-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-mg-zero-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MG Zero Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

MG has its eyes set on the juicy Chinese small hatch segment, and the company's first crack at the market debuted in the form of Zero Concept at this year's Beijing Motor Show. At shave over 13 feet long, the pint-sized five-door is designed to offer up more style than space. MG says the vehicle was penned by Anthony Williams, the brand's British director of design, and offers drivers a unique interior loaded with your standard concept-tech. The Zero boasts a floating center console, complete with touch screen controls, as well as some kind of communication system on the rear of the vehicle. Yeah, we don't get that part, either.

MG hasn't said much about the vehicle's details, including powerplant options, fuel economy or when we might expect to see a production version crop up. While we aren't exactly smitten with the car's nose, the rest of the design would do well in a segment dominated by the drab. Though concrete information is suspiciously absent at the moment, the company says the Zero should be a clear indication of where the brand is headed in the coming years.

Hit the jump for the press release.


Gallery: Beijing 2010: MG Zero Concept


Gallery: MG Zero Concept


Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Beijing 2010: MG Zero Concept

Beijing 2010: MG Zero Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Beijing Motor ShowBeijing Motor Show 2010BeijingMotorShowBeijingMotorShow2010MGMG Zero conceptMgZeroConceptZero ConceptZeroConceptFri, 23 Apr 2010 15:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19452116/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/23/beijing-2010-mg-zero-concept/19452116/article-detail.xml 19452116 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mg-zero-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mg-zero-630.jpg <![CDATA[Rendered Speculation: Will a new Roadster spearhead MG's return to America?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/20/rendered-speculation-will-a-new-roadster-spearhead-mgs-return/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/20/rendered-speculation-will-a-new-roadster-spearhead-mgs-return/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/20/rendered-speculation-will-a-new-roadster-spearhead-mgs-return/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Inside Line has a rendering of that still-in-the-works successor to the MG TF. It isn't exactly a shock, as it looks much like a slightly evolved version of the current and soon-to-be-dead MG TF. The real revolution will be what the body rests on and what powers it - Chinese owner SAIC is reportedly still playing around with platform possibilities, but it doesn't look like the company is any closer than before to finding a partner for that aspect of the project.

The roadster's motivation will be thanks to an engine in front turning the wheels in back, just as God intended. Powerplant options are said to be a small General Motors diesel, a conventional V6 and an in-house hybrid. The natural question posed is: where is the four-cylinder? Who knows, maybe SAIC plans to skip that step and pwn the Mazda MX-5 Miata with its revelatory handling chops. No matter which they choose, if the body in the illustration can be trusted, it will be handsome enough to make the attempt. No hurries on a decision - we still have three years before it goes into production, and we've heard promises of MG's revival in the States before, so we're not holding our breath.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rendered Speculation: Will a new Roadster spearhead MG's return to America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mgMG roadstermg tfMgRoadsterMgTfModern GentlemanModernGentlemanMorris garagesMorrisGaragessaicTue, 20 Apr 2010 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19446353/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/20/rendered-speculation-will-a-new-roadster-spearhead-mgs-return/19446353/article-detail.xml 19446353 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mgustf_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mgustf.jpg <![CDATA[Report: All-new MG roadster in the works with gasoline, diesel and hybrid powertrains]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/report-all-new-mg-roadster-in-the-works-with-gasoline-diesel-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/report-all-new-mg-roadster-in-the-works-with-gasoline-diesel-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/report-all-new-mg-roadster-in-the-works-with-gasoline-diesel-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Hot on the heels of a report from one British car mag declaring the new MG6 - the company's first clean-sheet new product since its acquisition by Chinese automaker Nanjing - possibly the best-handling vehicle in its class come new reports that another all-new product is in the works for the iconic British marque.

According to Auto Express - which has, mind you, been known to jump the gun on the old rumor mill - engineers at MG are working on a new roadster. Unlike the aging Rover Metro-based TF (pictured above) and the plans to update the same, the new MG will go with a front-engine setup with a variety of powertrains on offer. Among them, a GM-sourced turbodiesel, a hybrid system similar to that found on the Honda CR-Z, and a gasoline V6. Sources expect to see the new MG roadster on the road by 2013... in the UK, at least. But if it proves as promising as the aforementioned MG6, we could have another hot Euro roadster to pine for Stateside.

What about the X120 project, supposedly aborted due to lack of funds? That could be back on the table as well, stretching the TF's mid-engine platform into more versatile dimensions. One roadster at a time, blokes.

[Source: Auto Express]

Report: All-new MG roadster in the works with gasoline, diesel and hybrid powertrains originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mgmg roadstermg tfMgRoadsterMgTfnanjingnew mgnew mg tfNewMgNewMgTfWed, 14 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19439230/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/14/report-all-new-mg-roadster-in-the-works-with-gasoline-diesel-a/19439230/article-detail.xml 19439230 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mg-tf-160-silver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mg-tf-160-silver.jpg <![CDATA[Nanjing's first clean-sheet MG gets tested, better to drive than Ford Focus?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/nanjings-first-clean-sheet-mg-gets-tested-better-to-drive-than/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/nanjings-first-clean-sheet-mg-gets-tested-better-to-drive-than/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/nanjings-first-clean-sheet-mg-gets-tested-better-to-drive-than/#commentsFiled under: ,



This will get some heads turning: after a drive on challenging Welsh roads, Autocar has written "In its poise and agility I'd even say the MG6 is superior" to the Ford Focus Zetec S. There are other compromises: the interior, the gearchange, the NVH, grunt at high revs. But the first bespoke Nanjing-created MG, the MG6, is a certified runner according to the UK mag.

The MG6 hatch was designed at Longbridge, and it benchmarked the Focus for its own handling prowess. The turbocharged 1.8-liter Honda K-series engines isn't new, but the platform is, and this version of the car was tuned for European drivers and roads. As we said, there remain a few niggles, but for a pre-production car to be declared "borderline best-in-class to drive," and by a British pub no less, well, there could be gold in them thar (unlikely) hills.

[Source: Autocar]

Nanjing's first clean-sheet MG gets tested, better to drive than Ford Focus? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocar magazineAutocarMagazineford focusFordFocusHonda K-seriesHondaK-seriesk-serieslongbridgemgmg6NanjingNanjingAutomobilezetecWed, 14 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19434509/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/14/nanjings-first-clean-sheet-mg-gets-tested-better-to-drive-than/19434509/article-detail.xml 19434509 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/nanjingmg6autocar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/nanjingmg6autocar.jpg <![CDATA[Aborted plans for trio of new MG sportscar unearthed in new report]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/aborted-plans-for-trio-of-new-mg-sportscar-unearthed-in-new-repo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/aborted-plans-for-trio-of-new-mg-sportscar-unearthed-in-new-repo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/aborted-plans-for-trio-of-new-mg-sportscar-unearthed-in-new-repo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


MG Project X120 - Click above for image gallery

As recently as five years ago, iconic British marque MG was in the midst of developing three - count 'em, three - new sportscars, according to various reports. Unfortunately, as MG Rover ran out of capital and was sold off to Chinese investors, the plans never saw the light of day. But that won't stop us from wondering what could have been.

The plan - known internally as Project X120 - included a replacement for the aging TF model, a successor to the diminutive Midget, and an up-market sportscar to take on the likes of the Porsche Cayman. The project, however, reportedly got itself into trouble when engineers realized that their plans revolved around using the TF's chassis, among whose shortcomings included a cramped cockpit with an awkward driving position. The injection of an extra £2 million to the £50 million overall budget could have afforded the program a new all-aluminum tub, but they just didn't have the cash.

The real kicker, from an American perspective at least, was that the business case for developing the new line of MGs necessitated the return to the North American market to pursue new potential buyers. And that's where we begin to weep and lament the MGs that could have been.


Gallery: MG Project X120


[Source: Auto Express and Austin Rover Online]

Aborted plans for trio of new MG sportscar unearthed in new report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mgmg midgetmg project x120mg rovermg tfmg x120MgMidgetMgProjectX120MgRoverMgTfMgX120midgetproject x120ProjectX120roewerovertfx120Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19405522/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/18/aborted-plans-for-trio-of-new-mg-sportscar-unearthed-in-new-repo/19405522/article-detail.xml 19405522 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/web630-x12006_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/web630-x12006.jpg <![CDATA[SAIC wants you to help rename streets at Longbridge]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/21/saic-wants-you-to-help-rename-streets-at-longbridge/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/21/saic-wants-you-to-help-rename-streets-at-longbridge/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/21/saic-wants-you-to-help-rename-streets-at-longbridge/#commentsFiled under: ,



Pictured above is one tiny corner of the formerly mammoth Longbridge factory complex that last made MGs. Now owned by SAIC, the site is meant to be undergo extensive repurposing. To help keep it British - and perhaps pick up a little more interest in MG - SAIC has called for help in naming five access roads that will grace the new site.

The only requirement looks to be that the names "reflect the heritage of the MG brand." You have until Friday, February 26 to get your submissions in. A friendly tip, though: you can probably skip names like "Leyland," "Phoenix," and "Do They Still Make Those?"

[Source: Motobullet | Image: Sludgegulper - CC2.0]

SAIC wants you to help rename streets at Longbridge originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mgsaicshanghai automotive industry corpShanghaiAutomotiveIndustryCorpSun, 21 Feb 2010 13:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19366882/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/21/saic-wants-you-to-help-rename-streets-at-longbridge/19366882/article-detail.xml 19366882 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/mglongbridgename_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/mglongbridgename.jpg <![CDATA[Rumormill: Chinese-owned MG planning TF roadster successor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/rumormill-chinese-owned-mg-planning-tf-roadster-successor/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/rumormill-chinese-owned-mg-planning-tf-roadster-successor/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/rumormill-chinese-owned-mg-planning-tf-roadster-successor/#commentsFiled under: ,



Although it probably plummeted off your radar around the time "My Humps" and "Don' Cha" were topping the charts, the MG TF remains in production. Well, kind of - the factory was idled last year, but it will restart in April. After this year, however, the owners of MG, China's SAIC, have called full-time on the mid-engined convertible. As an encore, MG is considering building a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive convertible that has the cojones to say "I'm looking at you, punk" to the Mazda MX5/Miata.

Of course that will necessitate light weight chassis, peerless dynamics and a cozy cabin. It also necessitates a new RWD platform, which is something SAIC isn't currently in possession of and doesn't want to foot the bill for alone. Assuming SAIC can hook up with a partner or the MG6 and its sibling sell like bottled water when they're introduced to Europe, the new roadster will come online around 2013. The odds are long, surely, but the fact that we're still talking about the possibility of a brand new MG warms the cockles.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Chinese-owned MG planning TF roadster successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mgmg tfmg6MgTfsaicshanghai automotive industry corpShanghaiAutomotiveIndustryCorpMon, 15 Feb 2010 08:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19357595/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/15/rumormill-chinese-owned-mg-planning-tf-roadster-successor/19357595/article-detail.xml 19357595 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/mgtfreprise_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/mgtfreprise.jpg <![CDATA[Report: MG X-Power revivalist arrested]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/04/report-mg-x-power-revivalist-arrested/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/04/report-mg-x-power-revivalist-arrested/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/04/report-mg-x-power-revivalist-arrested/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Just when there was beginning to be good news associated with MG, tales of woe return. This time it has to do with British entrepreneur Will Riley, who somehow established himself as the force behind the MG X-Power even though MG branding rights had been purchased by China's Nanjing.

Riley is in boiling water on three counts: Nanjing is suing to prevent him from using the MG name, employees are suing him for non-payment, and a Canadian man is suing him for theft. Riley bought a subsidiary division, MG Sports and Racing, from the failed company's administrators, PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Nanjing contends that the subsidiary never had the right to use the logo and image of the parent company.

The employees say that they haven't been paid for their time, with Riley's second-in-command claiming that he nearly lost his house for having not been paid and that the company never produced even one car beyond the prototype. The Canadian, who was working to raise investment for Riley, was given that one prototype in exchange for his assistance. When he sent it back to the factory to have work done on it, he later discovered the car was put up for auction and sold to someone else who crashed it. The court proceedings have only just begun in all cases, meanwhile Riley claims he is still committed to bringing back the brand.

[Source: Birmingham Post via China Car Times]

Report: MG X-Power revivalist arrested originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mgmg x powermg x-powerMG X-Power SV-S WRCMgX-powerMgX-powerSv-sWrcMgXPowerNanjingwill rileyWillRileyx powerx-powerx-power conceptX-powerConceptXPowerMon, 04 Jan 2010 08:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19300928/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/04/report-mg-x-power-revivalist-arrested/19300928/article-detail.xml 19300928 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/mgx_riley_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/mgx_riley.jpg <![CDATA[SAIC-owned MG launches MG 6, first all-new car in 14 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/saic-owned-mg-launches-mg-6-first-all-new-car-in-14-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/saic-owned-mg-launches-mg-6-first-all-new-car-in-14-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/saic-owned-mg-launches-mg-6-first-all-new-car-in-14-years/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 MG 6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The last new MG was the MGF sportscar way back in 1995, and oh, what a difference 14 years makes. The MG6 is the first new MG by the company's new owner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC), and they've chosen a four-door liftback for their coming out party. About the size of a VW Golk/Skoda Octavia, the MG6 will be powered by either a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four-cylinder with 133 brake horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque, or a turbocharged 1.8-liter with 160 bhp and 158 lb-ft. Shifting is said to be via five-speed automatic.

The MG 6 will go on sale in China first, but it has reportedly been engineered to meet global safety standards and is expected to be exported. SAIC hasn't given any numbers or even locations for export yet, but the company president said they plan to produce it in the UK by the end of next year.


Gallery: 2010 MG6


[Source: Autoblog China (translated)]

SAIC-owned MG launches MG 6, first all-new car in 14 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 mg62010Mg6chinaGuangzhouGuangzhou 2009Guangzhou Auto ShowGuangzhou2009GuangzhouAutoShowhatchbackMGMG 6mg6saicMon, 23 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19251131/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/23/saic-owned-mg-launches-mg-6-first-all-new-car-in-14-years/19251131/article-detail.xml 19251131 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/mg6_saic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/mg6_saic.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: Production lines halted at MG's Longbridge plant. This is not a repeat from 2005.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-production-lines-halted-at-mgs-longbridge-plant-this-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-production-lines-halted-at-mgs-longbridge-plant-this-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-production-lines-halted-at-mgs-longbridge-plant-this-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It is a travesty that the initials "MG" are coming to be a convenient epithet for the term "woe." The British sportscar maker has had an exceedingly trying history recently, and things haven't got any better with word that its owner, MG Motor UK Ltd. (which is really Nanjing Automobile Corporation), is reportedly closing the company's Longbridge plant.

Production of the MG TF was back in order early last year, but economic turbulence made the factory's fortunes equally bumpy. It hasn't helped that the last couple of special editions the company has put out, the MGTF LE500 and the 85th Anniversary MGTF, haven't been so well received. MG Motor said it couldn't guarantee stability and now, 2009 production has ceased. There were rumors of a new 2010 MG model coming out... but that was a long time ago, and things have lately been as quiet as the now-shuttered Longbridge factory.

[Source: BBC]

REPORT: Production lines halted at MG's Longbridge plant. This is not a repeat from 2005. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainconvertiblelongbridgemanufacturingmgmgtfnacNanjingperformanceplantssportsukTue, 06 Oct 2009 18:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19185460/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/06/report-production-lines-halted-at-mgs-longbridge-plant-this-i/19185460/article-detail.xml 19185460 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/longbridge_done-09_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/longbridge_done-09.jpg <![CDATA[FOLLOWUP: MG Rover execs reportedly strike back amidst fraud accusations]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/followup-mg-rover-execs-reportedly-strike-back-amidst-fraud-acc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/followup-mg-rover-execs-reportedly-strike-back-amidst-fraud-acc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/08/followup-mg-rover-execs-reportedly-strike-back-amidst-fraud-acc/#commentsFiled under: ,



The soap opera that is unfolding in the United Kingdom regarding the death of the once-proud MG Rover automobile company continues unabated. Four former MG Rover executives who purchased the automaker from BMW back in May of 2000 for a £10 fee have responded to Lord Mandelson's decision to send the aging case to the Serious Fraud Office with a terse statement. Here's a snippet:
The announcement is mystifying given that at no stage during the last four years of the government inspectors' investigation has there been any suggestion of fraud or criminal activity of any kind.

Both the National Audit Office and the MG Rover administrators, PWC, carried out thorough investigations into the company's affairs and concluded there was no evidence whatsoever of any wrongdoing.

Lawyers advising the directors who have sat through all of the interviews and read every scrap of evidence have confirmed there has never been any suggestion of fraud during the investigation. At all times, the directors have willingly and openly accounted for their actions.
Sounds like the former execs are none too pleased with the delay in publishing the findings of the four-year investigation into the automaker's final days, not to mention the inference that there may have been some sort of fraud on their watch. As an added bonus, the execs are openly questioning why the government has declined to discuss its own dealings with MG Rover around April of 2005 as the company collapsed into administration. As we said before, this case sounds like it's far from over.

[Source: Autocar]

FOLLOWUP: MG Rover execs reportedly strike back amidst fraud accusations originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord mandelsonLordMandelsonmgmg roverMgRoverphoenix 4phoenix fourPhoenix4PhoenixFourRoverserious fraud officeSeriousFraudOfficeWed, 08 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19089658/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/08/followup-mg-rover-execs-reportedly-strike-back-amidst-fraud-acc/19089658/article-detail.xml 19089658 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/mg_rover_75_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/mg_rover_75.jpg <![CDATA[FOLLOWUP: Serious Fraud Office reportedly called in to investigate MG Rover collapse ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/06/followup-serious-fraud-office-reportedly-called-in-to-investiga/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/06/followup-serious-fraud-office-reportedly-called-in-to-investiga/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/06/followup-serious-fraud-office-reportedly-called-in-to-investiga/#commentsFiled under: ,



The saga that is the collapse of MG Rover and the subsequent four-year government probe into what went wrong has just taken another sordid and oddly-timed twist. Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for the British Labour Party, has told the Financial Times that he was under "obligation" to pass the case to the Serious Fraud Office (is there a "Not So Serious Fraud Office?") following his review of the findings into the last days of MG.

In response, the so-called "Phoenix Four" executives that had purchased the brand from BMW for a a nominal £10 fee have called into question Lord Mandelson's motives in stalling publication of the report even further. A representative of the businessmen said, "We suspect that this is a government ruse to conceal its own failings."

Political motives aside, there are serious questions as to how many leads there will be for the SFO to follow now that four years have passed since the last MG rolled out of the brand's plant in Longbridge and the company collapsed into administration. Further, if there were legitimate suspicions of criminal activity, many wonder why the SFO wasn't called into action at a much earlier date.

Somehow, we have a feeling this case is far from over. Ah, well... what's another four years?

[Source: The Financial Times]

FOLLOWUP: Serious Fraud Office reportedly called in to investigate MG Rover collapse originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fraudlord mandelsonLordMandelsonmgmg investigationmg probemg roverMgInvestigationMgProbeMgRoverphoenix fourPhoenixFourrover carsRoverCarsserious fraud officeSeriousFraudOfficeMon, 06 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19087238/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/06/followup-serious-fraud-office-reportedly-called-in-to-investiga/19087238/article-detail.xml 19087238 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/mg_tf_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/mg_tf.jpg <![CDATA[Findings from inquiry into demise of MG Rover finished... only took 4 years and $26M]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/findings-from-inquiry-into-demise-of-mg-rover-finished-only/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/findings-from-inquiry-into-demise-of-mg-rover-finished-only/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/findings-from-inquiry-into-demise-of-mg-rover-finished-only/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The final days of MG were disastrous and disastrously expensive. The British government finally has an accounting of what happened, but it only adds to both sides of the disaster: the report took four years and £16 million ($26 million U.S.) for CPA firm BDO Stoy Howard to compile.

For now, various government figures are upset about the delay and the cost. BDO is reported to have spent more than £130,000 ($214,000 U.S.) on hotels and expenses, leading to charges of the firm "living like kings" while MG's workers were living on government support. The report hasn't been released yet, so no one knows what it says. When it is made public, if the MG story continues as it has, what's actually in the report will probably be just as hard to swallow as the lead-up to it.

[Source: Sunday Mercury]

Findings from inquiry into demise of MG Rover finished... only took 4 years and $26M originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BDO Stoy HowardBdoStoyHowardbritainenglandmgroverukTue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19081646/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/06/30/findings-from-inquiry-into-demise-of-mg-rover-finished-only/19081646/article-detail.xml 19081646 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/mg_xpower_sv-r_2004-concept_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/mg_xpower_sv-r_2004-concept.jpg <![CDATA[Shanghai Preview: New MG6 is... <i>nice</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/shanghai-preview-new-roewe-mg6-is-i-nice-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/shanghai-preview-new-roewe-mg6-is-i-nice-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/shanghai-preview-new-roewe-mg6-is-i-nice-i/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



This is the MG6, and it's a good looking car. As the sporty version of the Roewe 550 (another good looking car), the MG6 gets a tauter nose with new lights, a slightly more upswept swage line, and a fastback rear end.

The Roewe 550 signified a break from the heavily Rover-based design still found models like the Roewe 750, undoubtedly due to the international design team based in China and the UK. The MG6 continues the trend of independent design, not relying on being merely a tweaked copy of its sibling, or any other car for that matter. It will be debuting at the Shanghai Motor Show, and to you, Roewe and MG, we say keep up the good work.

[Source: Auto Sina (translated) via The Tycho]

Shanghai Preview: New MG6 is... nice originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinamgmg6roeweroewe 550Roewe550saloonsedanshanghai motor showShanghaiMotorShowThu, 16 Apr 2009 17:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1518664/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/16/shanghai-preview-new-roewe-mg6-is-i-nice-i/1518664/article-detail.xml 1518664 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/roewe_mg6_new_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/roewe_mg6_new.jpg <![CDATA[Roadster Rebirth: New bodies available for British classics]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/roadster-rebirth-new-bodies-available-for-british-classics/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/roadster-rebirth-new-bodies-available-for-british-classics/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/roadster-rebirth-new-bodies-available-for-british-classics/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click the image above to view a hi-res gallery of British Motor Heritage bodies

Rust never sleeps, and classic British cars are some of the tinworm's favorite snacks. Lack of a roof on many classics (to effectively seal out the weather) doesn't help floors or unibodies stay rot-free, and proper restorations can run into serious money. Rather than pony up for endless hours with the nibbler and the rhythmic zot, zot, zot of a welder, a wiser starting point might be a reproduction body. Yes, the whole thing. Some vehicles are lucky in that they have a strong enough following to warrant an unbelievably cool aftermarket that will do things like purchase original tooling and dies to turn out factory parts long after said factory ceases to exist.

British Motor Heritage, Ltd. has been making reproduction bodies and body parts for a variety of classic British automobiles since 1988. Much effort and money has been expended to obtain original tooling, technical data, and jigs, and it's got us thinking about building a project car in Neff's garage. Owners of MGBs, Spridgets, and Minis can get an entirely new body from one of BMH's approved specialists either in primer or fully painted, and the prices run between $7500 and $13,000 - a bargain for a rust-free body shell fully painted and like new.

Gallery: New Vintage Bodies


[Source: BMH via Hemmings]

Roadster Rebirth: New bodies available for British classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmc miniBmcMinibody-in-whitebritish motor heritagebritish roadsterbritish roadstersBritishMotorHeritageBritishRoadsterBritishRoadstersmgmg midgetmgbmgb gtmgbgtMgMidgetmidgetmininew bodiesNewBodiesrestorationspridgetspritevintage britishVintageBritishFri, 23 Jan 2009 17:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1438268/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/23/roadster-rebirth-new-bodies-available-for-british-classics/1438268/article-detail.xml 1438268 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/mini-shell_580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/mini-shell_580.jpg -1 2