Brand pulls at your heart as well as wallet


MG is reborn. The legendary name has risen from the ashes of British Leyland and Rover at Longbridge, Birmingham and the 85 year old brand is now under the control of the Nanjing Motor Group (NAC), part of Shanghai Automotive. The UK arm became NAC MG Ltd in time for the public launch of their only UK model last year, the reworked TF mid engined soft-top sports car. At the start of this year the company name changed again to MG Motor UK, but still remains part of Shanghai Automotive (SAIC). Also based at the Longbridge site is SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre (SMTC UK) the engineering and R&D company undertaking work to bring more new models to world markets, not just the UK. MG currently has just over 100 employees at Longbridge covering management and car assembly functions and SMTC UK has 240 staff working on R&D. Worldwide SAIC now produces 2.3 million cars a year. In the UK there are currently 45 MG dealers including Advantage MG part of the MG Owners Club. Since the re-launch of the £16,055 MG TF in LE500 form (a 500 unit limited edition) last September that has been the only model for sale. But as the 500 limited edition comes to an end so the company has announced two new versions of the classic TF, an entry level £13,511 TF 135 and the £15,664 MG TF 85^th Anniversary. MG Motor UK say that around 50pc of the components for their TF models come from China, bodyshell, engine and transmission, and the rest from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. The engine blocks are actually cast in the UK, shipped to China for machining and assembly and then sent back to the UK for fitting. Continuing their designed and built in Europe philosophy MG are also working on bringing their mid-sized MG6 four and five door models (loosely based on the Rover 75) to market with the N-series 1.8-litre petrol and later 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine options. Like the TF range the MG6 will have a sporting DNA say MG Motor UK. Even the Chinese owned MG Motor UK based at Longbridge in Birmingham has joined the £2,000 Scrappage Scheme which belatedly struggled into life on Monday 18 May. So expect long-term lovers of the MG brand to be looking to trade in their Maestros, Metros, Midgets, Montegos, unrestored MGBs and MGB GTs, early MGFs, TFs and perhaps ZR, ZS and ZT saloons. Well, perhaps not, because any model can be part-exchanged and it's a golden opportunity for MG lovers to get behind the wheel of their dreams with a dose of help from the UK Government. Of course, owners of other older non MG cars will be making their way to one of the 45 UK MG dealerships to buy the last few remaining TF LE500s priced at £16,055, less £2,000 ‘scrappage'. Or perhaps MG customers will be placing orders for the new and well priced, attractively equipped TF 135 which will cost a tempting £13,511. Later in the Summer the highly ‘specced' MG TF 85^th anniversary model will go on sale at £15,664 or £13,664 with the scrappage allowance.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Getting behind the wheel again of a re-engineered and rejuvenated MG was a trip down memory lane, although the mid-engined rear wheel drive TF is vastly different in the handling and ride comfort department from the MGBs and MGB GTs of old. Not knowing what to expect from the TF LE500 experience prior to its arrival I have to admit I was reasonably impressed. The TF has a classic modern sports car design, mid-engined for near perfect balance and rear wheel drive for relatively sharp handling. The 1.8-litre 133bhp petrol engine is very willing and ideally matched to a five-speed manual gearbox. The gear ratios are well chosen to give responsive acceleration yet relaxed performance in top gear. Cruising at motorway speeds is relaxed and quiet considering the engine is positioned right behind the two seats. In performance terms the TF is more of a cruiser than a modern, needle sharp handling sports car such as the Mazda MX-5 which has filled the gap in the market after the demise of the original MG TF in 2005. The ride is much more accomplished than the previous TF and the Chinese company, through it UK based R&D department, have done a good job on the suspension upgrades and reconfiguration. At the front are double wishbones, coil springs and gas filled dampers with an anti-roll bar. At the rear is a four-link system with coil springs, dampers and anti-roll bar. The steering is electronic power assist which is light and easy to use at all speeds without being vague. The brakes are progressive and well balanced.
"The interior of the LE500 is very familiar and there are still control stalks, switches and the general cockpit layout that bring MG memories flooding back. The classic style MG seats are comfortable and there is even the chrome plated centre ashtray. Instruments are modern MG and bring the car up to date in a retro sort of way. "
The ignition key, not one of those modern chunky ones, is old-school Leyland, very slim and thin and was showing signs of bending and twisting from use. Mainly wear and tear I suspect from it being needed to open and turn the fuel filler cap. Remember the days when those Mini keys used to snap off? The position of the pedals is not perfect and perhaps the seats are positioned a bit too high in the car but the headroom is still good enough even for six-footers. The steering column only adjusts for height, not reach, because the age of the TF's initial design does actually limit what can be done with this body in the way of modernisation. There is the usual manually operated folding black canvas roof with heated rear window and windstop. A hard top is also available. One of the limitations of the TF's design is the lack of luggage space. Being a mid engine layout only allows for a pretty small rear boot with just 210-litres of space, just enough for two small overnight bags. There is a bit more storage space provided by a rear parcel shelf and there is a secure lockable glovebox. The TF has quite a long bonnet where I would have expected to find more load space, but no this area is filled by the full-sized spare wheel and the battery. Other fixtures and fittings include 16-inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres, ABS braking, air conditioning, parking distance sensors, colour coded bumpers, alloy gear lever and foot pedals, a sound system with six speakers but the unit looks an aftermarket fitting rather than the modern integrated ones, black interior upholstery and leather trim and of course the limited edition badge with the production number of the car. The quality of the interior is good; the fitment of interior trim also looks perfectly acceptable as does the exterior panel fit. There is nothing that says this car is not built to better standards than the original TF. The price looks a bit steep without the scrappage allowance but it is a sound purchase of a modern piece of British history. The motoring world is better off by having MG back in the market than it would be without it.

MILESTONES	MG TF LE500 £16,055 before scrappage allowance
Insurance group: 14. Engine/transmission: N-series/Euro 4, 1796cc, 4-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve, 133bhp at 6,750rpm, 165Nm of torque at 5,000rpm, 5-speed manual, rear wheel drive. Performance: 124mph, 0-62mph 9.0-seconds, 35.8mpg, (32.1mpg actual), CO2 185g/km, VED Band I £175. For: MG Lives on, retro motoring but with a modern feel, classic mid-engine, rear wheel drive layout, attractive price with the scrappage allowance, more comfortable, better to drive and better built than I expected. Against: Few UK MG dealers, not much luggage space, pedal/seat positioning, flimsy ignition key.
*©DAVID MILES*