Autoblog

Nanjing is still hanging IV bags on the battered carcass of MG, and there's a new hatchback model coming for 2010 that the automaker hopes will breathe new life into the the brand. Based on SAIC's Roewe 550, the new hatchback is about the size of a Euro Focus, and will reportedly be built at the historical MG home of Longbridge, in the UK. The car looks a little flashier than the Roewe version, and engineers from Ricardo are lending development expertise to make sure the suspension settings are all that they should be. Inside, there's a BMW-esque instrument panel, and underhood will be a 1.8-liter four cylinder, either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. With the flurry of new activity at MG -- there's the MG TF and ZS, as well as more models coming soon -- color may be returning to the cheeks of a brand once thought as good as dead.

[Source: Auto Express]

Blame gas prices. Blame the housing market. Blame the dollar for being worth much less than it was in 2005. But ultimately, you'll probably need to blame the Chinese for the total lack of MGs being sold in the U.S.

Despite initial plans by MG's new owner, Nanjing Automobile Group Corp., to sell a U.S. version of the TF roadster, the company now says conditions are just wrong here in the States. "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there," Gary Hagen, marketing director of NAC MG, says in a story on Austin Rover Online. Of course, with the car also goes any hopes of a U.S. assembly plant in Oklahoma. The final twist of the knife is Hagen killing any hope of the company shipping Chinese-made kits to the U.S. for assembly.

Buck up, MG fans. You've waited 20 years. What's another 20? Right?

[Source: Austin Rover Online via Automotive News]

Many speculated that this day would never come, but after six long and expensive months of equipping assembly lines and performing tests, Nanjing Automobile has produced its first MG.

Against a backdrop displaying pictures of Buckingham Palace and the Tower Bridge, the "new" ("new" as in the same design as three years ago) MG7 sedan and MG-TF sports car were unveiled at the plant. These two models will form the basis of some 200,000 vehicles expected to be produced at the manufacturing center each year, with the majority being sold inside the country.

Nanjing Automobile has every intention of trying to export these "new" vehicles abroad, but with prices ranging between $23,300 and $51,700, we doubt we'll see any gleaming TFs on U.S. shores anytime soon.

Thanks for the tip, Ed!

[Source: BBC News]

China has come on quickly in the automotive world. Long known as a nation of bike riders, it now represents the third largest manufacturer and second largest market for cars in the world. As People's Daily Online points out, in just five years since joining the WTO, sales of Chinese made vehicles have almost doubled, and sales of sedans have more than quadrupled.

For 2006 China expects to produce and sell more than 7 million cars. Nissan-Renault, the world's 4th largest car group by comparison, is struggling with getting capacity above 6 million. The study perhaps optimistically estimated that by 2009, production and sales will reach 10 million units. At that pace China could be the world's largest car market by 2015.

China also happens to represent the fastest growing segment of Autoblog categories. What with Chery and Nanjing, Geely and FAW, SAIC and Roewe, and all the others, we can't get enough of this explosion of products and news. While many of our stories have necessarily focused on the derivative styling and problematic trademark issues, we've also tried to point out how important this market really is. Their thirst for premium vehicles is but one example. Like the Koreans, we know it's only a matter of time before we start referring to these companies in the same breath as the Japanese makers.

[Source: People's Daily Online]

More problems to report for Nanjing in its bid to resurrect MG. According to Automotive News, Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile has been told to slow down with plans to sell MGs in Europe. The administrator of the Dutch MG Rover unit has told the company to cease and desist because Nanjing does not own the necessary trademarks to sell MGs in Europe.

Apparently, the Dutch subsidiary of British MG Rover still has the rights to the MG trademarks in several European countries such as Germany and France. At least that's what MG Administrator Anthony Terng said today, but he did add that he was "in negotiations with Nanjing over selling the MG brand to them."

The negotiations have only recently begun and although other parties appear to be interested, Terng said they are dealing with Nanjing exclusively for now, presumably because Nanjing had already taken over control of defuct MG Rover last year. We only hope this eventually gets worked out and more wonderful MGs make their way back into European (and US) dealerships soon.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req]

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• Chinese MG production date set
• SAIC launching new brand without Rover name

Say what you will about Nanjing Automobile Group's ability to revive the MG brand after picking up MG Rover's assets following the British firm's 2005 implosion, but you have to admit they have they have a firm grasp of the art of leaking information to the press. Following on the heels of last week's leak/rumor/announcement that Nanjing will resume production of MGs at the dormant Longbridge plant in the U.K. comes today's word that the company plans to sell MGs in the U.S., and may even manufacture them in North America.

The MG brand disappeared from dealerships on the left side of the pond in 1980, but you can check out the MG model range, circa 2005, at the MG Rover website. The model rumored to head up the brand's relaunch is the MG TF (above).

A formal announcement of the company's plans is slated for July 17 at the British Motor Show.

[Source: AutoWeek]