In a statement that reads a bit like a script page from Night Of The Living Dead, the resurrected, Chinese-owned MG has stated that it will restart production of the MG TF roadster in the mysterious cemetary... sorry, MG Rover's old factory in Longbridge tomorrow week, Tuesday May 29th.
Nanjing, the Chinese company that bought the MG half of MG Rover (Shanghai Auto got the Rover 75 saloon but not the Rover name. (confused? You should be.) has said that TF production is just days away and that 98 dealers across the UK have shown an interest in taking on the (re)revived sports car brand. No mention has been yet made of Ireland or Irish dealers, but you can bet that someone, somewhere wills how an interest.
Nanjing has already shown production of its MG 7 saloon (neé MG ZT, formerly Rover 75) which is being built in China, and which is also likely to make a return to Europe. Lotus Engineering has worked for Nanjing on getting the creaking, ancient K-Series petrol engines to meet Euro IV emissions standards, and it's likely that MG will approach Volkswagen for supplies of its 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine.
Meanwhile, Shanghai Auto has gotten its ex-Rover 75 into production and it's now known as the Roewe 750. Shanghai was prevented from using the Rover name because Ford bought the rights from BMW to prevent anyone trying to produce a potential Land Rover rival with the word Rover in the name. It's thought that Shanghai Auto will also try to enter the European market with the car, probably through Ssangyong dealers, which Shanghai has a stake in.
Got all that? Good. Now go have a lie down.
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