Midland Automotive

[Joe Brody]

Originally Posted by smysticed

Did you get that out of a fortune cookie?

Monkey. As in...the nature of Monkey was irrepressible....etc.

Buddhist TV show a quest with characters who were half human half pig/horse/monkey and half the other one. The monkey could call a cloud up by whistling

Or was that an acid trip

[Biosonic]

Midlands Today reported that SAIC are intending to build 4 new models at Longbridge within 5 years, and they have 70+ dealerships lined up to sell the new MG TF.

[blahblah]

Originally Posted by Biosonic

Midlands Today reported that SAIC are intending to build 4 new models at Longbridge within 5 years, and they have 70+ dealerships lined up to sell the new MG TF.

I have pictures of the all new MG TF too. Will get them on here tonight.

[Biosonic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...ds/7389350.stm

[U475 Foxtrot]

Funk me! That's a bit different

Reborn MG TF is ready at last!
Revival of TF roadster shows the spirit of MG is still alive and well.
07th May 2008

It's the roadster revival of the decade! Auto Express can exclusively take the wraps off the car that’s sure to get British fans hot under the collar: the new MG TF.

Emerging from the ashes of the famous company, the roadster is the first sign that the spirit of MG is alive and well, even though the brand is in the hands of Chinese owners.

This stunning model is set to replace the existing TF – production of which is back on track at MG Rover’s old home of Longbridge in the West Midlands – and will go on sale around 2010. And there’s not only a convert*ible planned, but a coupé, too!

The new TF is based around the Roewe 550 compact hatch, which made its debut at the Beijing Motor Show (Issue 1,009). It will feature a rear-wheel-drive version of that model’s platform – and this should ensure it has plenty of appeal for enthusiasts.

Although it will be slightly bigger than the Mazda MX-5, the MG will be targeting the Japanese convertible, as it’s likely to carry a similar price tag. However, also in its sights are the likes of the Alfa Romeo Spider, Audi TT Roadster and Volkswagen Eos.

If it looks a little familiar, that’s because the new TF takes some of its styling inspiration from the MG SV supercar and X80 concept. Those models were both based on the Mangusta – a sports car from Italian maker Qvale, which MG Rover bought in 2001.

As you can see from our pictures, produced using insider information, the new TF updates that shape with a striking front end incorporating a deep-set four-piece radiator grille and quad headlamps. At the rear, the curvy tail completes the look.

Under the skin, the TF features a chassis based on a design that was created by MG Rover – one which would have underpinned a replacement for the 45/ZS, had the company not gone into receivership.

When Shanghai Automobile Corporation (SAIC) bought the rights to the 25 and 75, it also acquired projects such as the unfinished 45. It has since produced the Roewe 550 and the 75-based Roewe 750.

There has always been the desire within SAIC to build a replacement for the TF, but with rival Nanjing Automobile Corpor*ation (NAC) owning the rights to the MG badge, there was never any chance of it wearing the famous octagon emblem – until the two Chinese giants joined forces.

Featuring a rear-wheel-drive platform dev*eloped in conjunction with British engineering expert Ricardo, plus MG Rover-based engines – including a 1.8-litre turbo and 2.5-litre V6 – the TF will deliver a great driving experience. And as SAIC-NAC are looking to form a UK Roewe dealer network in 2010, the stage is set for the TF’s comeback.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...y_at_last.html

[U475 Foxtrot]

Beijing Motor Show
Roewe 550 unveiled
Chinese firm reveals Ford Focus rival that's set to be built in Britain.
22nd April 2008

This is the car which will put MG back on the map – in Birmingham. It’s called the Roewe 550, but Auto Express can exclusively reveal that an MG-badged version is on its way, and is likely to be made at Longbridge.

The 550 has been designed to appeal to British buyers – the lines were penned by a team of leading UK stylists working for Roewe’s owner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The Chinese firm recently bought NAC MG, and is now looking to use the famous octagon logo to give it a slice of the lucrative European market, as SAIC has decided not to bring the Roewe badge here. A car based on the 550 will be the first MG to go on sale.

It’s a saloon that’s roughly similar in size to Ford’s Focus, and should cost about the same, too. The sharp lines follow closely from last year’s Roewe W2. But the roadgoing version, which will go on sale in China next month with a 1.8-litre turbo-charged petrol engine, has a new slatted grille. Inside the modern theme continues, with a curved dash and two-tone finish that’s similar to the BMW 3-Series. However, it’s highly unlikely that the Roewe’s build quality will be anywhere near a match for the German machine.

But building the MG version at Longbridge – which has had £39million of investment ploughed into it by NAC MG, and still retains a small but experienced workforce – should ensure this model will deliver the quality demanded by European buyers.

Before the Birmingham plant returns to mass production, it will be used to assemble small numbers of the TF. There had been speculation this plan had been scrapped, but an NAC MG official told Auto Express that things are back on track, and TFs are likely to start rolling out of the factory gates within the next six months.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...otor_show.html

[U475 Foxtrot]

[Biosonic]

Originally Posted by U475 Foxtrot

Funk me! That's a bit different


http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...y_at_last.html

That's rather lovely!

[Erebus555]

Wow, this is all great news! The TF looks stunning! MG Rover's problem was that they were to slow to adapt to the ever changing model and whenever they released a new model, it was just a previous one with a new bumper. These new designs look fantastic though. I only have one worry, would they really suit the UK market?

I think the 550 has a better chance of doing so, but not too sure on the TF.

And choppy chop blahblah, we're waiting for them pictures!

[NeilM]

Hams Hall keeping up the good work.

Hams Hall scoops lands Top Engine award again
May 7 2008 By John Cranage, Automotive Correspondent

BMW’s engine plant at Hams Hall in the West Midlands has won a top engineering award for one of its products for the second year running.


It took the International Engine of the Year Award 2008 in the 1.4 to 1.8 litre category for the 1.6 litre turbo-charged petrol engine that goes into the Mini Cooper S Hatchback and the Cooper S Clubman. The plant’s 1,000-strong workforce greeted the award with "enormous enthusiasm".

Hams Hall supplies all of BMW’s four cylinder petrol engines and ships them to plants in Germany, South Africa and the US as well as well as to the Mini plant at Oxford. It is part of the German carmaker’s UK manufacturing triangle centred on the former Rover factory at Cowley on the outskirts of Oxford. The third arm is the Mini body pressings plant at Swindon.

The IEotY honours, which are presented by UKIP, Britain’s biggest group of technical motoring publications, are regarded as the most prestigious in the automotive world recognising engineering excellence

The Hams Hall-built International Engine of the Year combines innovative twin-scroll turbo technology with direct fuel injection to deliver a power output of 175hp while also achieving nearly 41 mpg combined fuel consumption.

Plant director Robert Bolam said: "Winning this prestigious award for the second successive year is a real credit to our workforce. Providing the heartbeat under the bonnet of a car that’s so great to drive gives us enormous pride." The Hams Hall engine plant, which was opened in 2001, is the centre of competence in the international production network of the BMW Group.

Annual production at the plant last year topped 367,000 engines, an increase in output of almost 70 per cent compared with 2006. The massive rise in production was largely the result of producing engines for Mini over a full twelve-month period for the first time.

Mini engines were previously supplied from a factory in Brazil that BMW ran as a joint venture with Chrysler. But BMW later joined forces with French automotive group PSA Peugeot Citroen to develop the new generation of low emission units that power the new generation of Minis launched at the end of 2006.

Current production at Hams Hall is split roughly fifty-fifty between engines built for Mini and BMW.

"The BMW Group’s investment in the particularly fuel-efficient engines being built at Hams Hall for both Mini and BMW gives us a real advantage over our competitors," Mr Bolam said.

"Our great engines, the continuing investment in the development of our highly efficient production facilities and the commitment of our excellent workforce give us a strong basis for continued success in the future."

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-20877462/

[Erebus555]

Just some more to add to the raft of articles we have!

The MG TF Lives
Date posted: 05-09-2008

BIRMINGHAM, England — Shanghai Auto, the new Chinese parent of Nanjing MG, has dispelled widespread — and apparently premature — rumors in England concerning the possible demise of the TF. The company's British arm announced Thursday that it will release a new edition, the TF LE500, in early August, with the first cars arriving at U.K. dealers in September.

Earlier stories in the British press had speculated on the future of the TF after local body supplier Stadco pulled out of the MG project, leaving the Longbridge plant temporarily idled.

Gary Hagen, MG's director of sales and marketing, said: "The open-top sports car is an iconic image of British motoring and forms the basis of the MG marque's long pedigree. The launch of the TF LE500 signals our determination to keep this class of car at the heart of the brand as we take it forward."

The company said it is working on additional MG models at the Shanghai Motor Technical Centre in nearby Leamington Spa, "to extend the range into additional sectors."

The LE500, as the name implies, is a limited edition of 500 individually numbered copies of the TF, in right-hand-drive only for U.K. customers. Special equipment on each includes revised exterior styling with body-color hardtop, leather seats, air-conditioning, antilock brakes, front disc brakes with red calipers, 16-inch alloy wheels in black or shadow chrome finish, piano-black interior trim and revised instrumentation.

The LE500 is powered by a 133-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 122 pound-feet of torque.

Reports in the British press say the next-generation MGs, due in 2010, will include both coupe and convertible models, sharing underbody components with the recently launched Roewe 550 hatchback.

What this means to you: Now under Chinese ownership, a storied British marque is rescued from oblivion — for now. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=126157

LINES BACK IN PRODUCTION IN LONGBRIDGE

MG REBORN: The MG TF LE 500 will start to roll of the lines at the now Chinese-owned MG plant in Longbridge, England in August.

May 9, 2008

MG has confirmed that it will start to produce the TF LE500 model at its Longbridge factory in Birmingham, England in August and that the first cars will reach showrooms in September.

Piet Rademeyer of Pearl Automotive in South Africa, which also imports Bentley and Proton, hoped MG cars would return to South Africa early in 2009 though most supply would come from China.

He expected to have five dealers.

He Xiao Qing, new chairman of NAC MG UK, said after the announcement: "I'm delighted to talk about a launch date for the TF LE500 after planning, re-organisation, quality improvements and parts optimisation that we recognise resulted in frustration for our stakeholders
'The open sports car is an iconic image of British motoring' - Gary Hagen
.

"We are now fully focused on bringing our hard work to fruition."

Gary Hagen, sales and marketing director added: "The open sports car is an iconic image of British motoring and the basis of MG's long pedigree. The launch of the TF LE500 signals our determination to keep this class of car at the heart of the brand."

The company expects the new car to appeal to buyers looking for the authentic sports-car experience as well as existing small sports car owners looking to upgrade.

Production at Longbridge will focus on the TF LE500 but engineers at the company's Technical Centre in Warwickshire are already working on future MG models, to take the company into new sectors of the market. - Reuters, motoring.co.za

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?...753&fSetId=381

[feltip]

Smart designs

And good potential for sales in Midlands based on Tesco Car survey which found Birmingham most loyal to British brands which it suggests might be due to our motoring heritage.

Tesco: Car choice determined by geography

09 May 2008
New survey shows car map of Great Britain
Customers’ choice of cars is determined by the area they live in, according to a new survey by Tesco.

Tescocompare.com, the supermarket’s independent website for car insurance, found the most popular county for Ford cars is Essex, home of Dagenham Motors.



A quarter of all Tescocompare quotes in the Chelmsford area were for Fords – 50 per cent up on the national average.

The survey claims that in the Romford area almost one in three cars are Fords.

Birmingham’s drivers are most loyal to British brands – probably due to the local heritage – with ownership of MGs up 32 per cent on the national average and Rover ownership 74 per cent higher.

http://www.motortrader.com/27249/Tes...mined-by.ehtml

[blahblah]

WARNING!
THIS POST CONTAINS IMAGES OF A PORNOGRAPHIC NATURE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, LOOK AWAY NOW!

Introducing the new...

J A G U A R
F-TYPE

Auto Express: You may want to take tissues.

This magnificent machine is expected to be built at Castle Bromwich, and go on sale in 2012.

[rottersclub]

Designed and engineered in Coventry...

[Erebus555]

Blahblah, I think you're the only person who is affected in such a way by cars! It is a beautiful piece of design though!

[blahblah]

Originally Posted by Erebus555

Blahblah, I think you're the only person who is affected in such a way by cars! It is a beautiful piece of design though!

I think these guys have me beaten though!

[Erebus555]

Sorry, but I think even they can stay under control!

[markmcd1976]

Demolition of the New West Works has now started at Longbridge. It must have been one of the largest factory building ever built in the uk when it opened in 1980.

[Biosonic]

Divine vehicle

[NeilM]

Good News

Second boost for car industry as Nanjing sets a start date
Jun 18 2008 By Duncan Tift, Business Staff

The Midlands automotive sector has received a second major shot in the arm with the news that MG owner Shanghai Automotive has told UK dealers it expects to produce 600 of the new TF LE500 models between the start of production in August and the end of the year.

That came as the new boss of Jaguar told Birmingham executives yesterday that the company is staging a fight back against its rivals .

He spoke out just 24 hours after Jaguar Land Rover revealed plans to launch a recruitment drive to find up to 600 new employees, less than a month after a £1.15 billion takeover by Tata Motors of India was completed.

SAIC’s UK dealers says first of the new sports cars are expected to be in UK showrooms in September and price details are expected to be released in the next few weeks.

Nanjing Automotive, which had previously owned the Longbridge brand, appointed 50 UK dealers last summer ready for the scheduled launch of the model in September last year.

Following its merger with SAIC at the start of this year there had been concerns that the dealership arrangements could change.
However, one dealer has now confirmed that the original supply agreement is being upheld and the first cars will be rolling off the production lines at Longbridge very shortly.

Luffield Cars in Loughborough was the first UK dealer appointed to sell the TF.

Managing director David Woods said: “We had struggled for a long time to get information from China about what might be happening.

“However, following the completion of the merger things have become a lot clearer and SAIC seems to have got its act together.”
Mr Woods said the company appeared to have resolved problems caused by the withdrawal of Stadco from its agreement to supply body panels for the new cars.

“Production has started in China of the steel panels, which are now being produced on new presses. The word is that the quality is much better, which is very encouraging.”

“We have been told that production at Longbridge will be ramped up in July and the cars will be produced from August ready for delivery in September. They are expecting to make around 600 units between now and the end of the year.

“There is no word on costs yet but I have taken part in a cost clinic recently and prices should be released soon,” he added.
Mr Woods said he was also optimistic about the future of the brand with new models said to be in the pipeline.

It has previously been announed that there are plans to produce new models at Longbridge, which will include a replacement for the ageing TF, which first hit UK roads in 1995.

An updated replacement is expected in 2010.

Of the other new models there is speculation they will include a new luxury saloon, possibly an updated Rover 75, plus a new mid-range model, possibly a European version of the Roewe 550 which was one of the stars of the recent Beijing Motor Show.
Meanwhile, Geoff Cousins, managing director of Jaguar UK, said he was confident Indian owner Tata had bought the company “for the right reasons”.

Speaking at the Breakfast Connections event run by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Birmingham Forward, and held at the Botanical Gardens, he admitted Jaguar faced big challenges and was still behind some of its premier competitors.

Mr Cousins admitted: “We have been on the back foot for a long time. We have been beaten up.” But he said the new Jaguar XF had given confidence to everyone at the company.

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/n...name_page.html