British sports car maker Caterham is driving ahead with ambitious plans to conquer Asian markets, according to chief executive Tony Fernandes, who is also chairman of QPR. “We may be a small voice now, but we’re on our way to engineering a decent set of lungs,” he said at the Singapore Grand Prix, where the firm launched its first new ultra-performance model, the AeroSeven Concept. Caterham was bought two years ago by Mr Fernandes with business partner Kamarudin Meranun. They also founded the Tune Group, which opened its first hotel in Edinburgh this year. The pair founded budget airline AirAsia 12 years ago and said the experience would help the motor manufacturer gain a stronghold in the region. “We were told our plans for AirAsia could not work,” said Mr Fernandes. “Today, AirAsia has a growing fleet of more than […]

After a 25-year absence, one of the great names from British sports car manufacturing will return. Lister has announced its comeback to the British car industry after a 25-year absence, with immediate plans to re-introduced the famous Lister Cars is aLister ‘Knobbly’ Jaguar, raced by the likes of Sir Stirling Moss. British sports car manufacturer founded by George Lister in 1954 in Cambridge, England, which became known for its involvement in motorsport. Sold in 1986, Laurence Pearce produced variants of the Jaguar XJS before producing a bespoke sports car, the Lister Storm. Since May 2013 Lister Cars has been purchased by Warranty Wise Insurance Services T/A Warrantywise. Returning to its Cambridge roots, Lister plans to build a 21st century version identical to that of the 1958 race car. The original drawings and manufacturing jigs created by Brian Lister have all been re-commissioned and race proven Jaguar D-Type-specification engines […]

MG is performing well in China but it is missing an SUV, Roewe added an old Ssangyong based vehicle to its line up but the car failed to live up to expectations, the new MG SUV is expected to hit the market by the years end. MG revealed the MG CS concept at the Shanghai Auto Show this year where it was revealed the new car would have a 2.0T powerplant and a slightly redesigned face which is mostly inline with the current MG5. The new SUV will launch in late 2014, a little late to the party considering that international and domestic rivals have already launched SUV offerings. In addition to the new SUV, MG are also planning to give their other product offerings a major overhaul of the MG-Roewe line up. Later this year the MG5 1.5T will […]

The Reliant Robin has been named the worst British car of all time, according to a new survey. The three-wheeled car, which has only remained in the public consciousness thanks to Only Fools and Horses, has topped the poll for its lack of motoring prowess. The Austin Maestro and Austin Metro came a close second and third respectively as the worst British cars of all time. Around 2,000 British drivers were quizzed about their motoring preferences ahead of the start of Wheeler Dealers on the Discovery Channel. Along with the worst cars in British motoring, people were asked about their favourite drives. The Mini was named greatest British car, with 19 per cent of people voting for it. The Aston Martin DB7 came close second, with 18 per cent of people naming it the greatest British car of all time. […]

Britain is accelerating away from its European competitors in the car-making sector with investment flowing into the factories of Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover as Chinese and American demand drives sales. Jaguar Land Rover said on Tuesday it was pumping £1.5 billion (1.8 billion euros, $2.4 billion) into its plant in Solihull near Birmingham, creating 1,700 jobs and giving a welcome fillip to industrial central England. The Solihull plant will make new lightweight Jaguar and Land Rover models made of aluminium. In northeast England, Nissan has been granted permission to extend its already vast plant in Sunderland, securing jobs in an area where major employers are in short supply. The investment decision was announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show by JLR chief executive Ralf Speth, who said it was “further evidence of our commitment to advancing the capability of the UK […]

Accountants Deloitte were today punished with a record £14 million fine for failing to manage conflicts of interest over their advice to collapsed car maker MG Rover. The Financial Reporting Council also severely reprimanded the firm for its conduct over MG Rover, which crashed into administration in 2005 with debts of £1.4 billion and 6,000 job losses. Its damning report said: “These are all very serious matters. The public must be protected from misconduct of this nature.” Four MG Rover directors — the “Phoenix Four” — set up the Phoenix company to buy the loss-making British carmaker for a token £10 five years earlier. But Deloitte and its partner and corporate finance expert Maghsoud Einollahi — personally fined £250,000 and banned from the profession for three years — both failed to properly manage conflicts of interest, the FRC said. Einollahi […]

According to The Telegraph, Jaguar Land Rover is to create another 1,700 jobs at its Solihull factory in Birmingham to support a new range of sports and cross-over cars featuring the latest in lightweight aluminium technology. The UK-based car maker, owned by India’s Tata conglomerate, said it would invest £1.5bn to introduce new one-piece “aluminium vehicle architecture” into its range. Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the move as “fantastic news for Solihull and a huge vote of confidence in the UK. This investment will also deliver another 24,000 jobs in the supply chain – on top of the 1.3m the private sector has already created since 2010.” A Jaguar sports sedan, launched in 2015, will be the first to feature the new technology, as well as the first to use engines from the company’s new £500m engine plant in Wolverhampton. […]

MG Enthusiast, September 2013 Features in this Issue Barmy to Barcelona – Four mates, two MGFs and a fetish for 1970s Martini Racing – did the reality live up to the dream? MGB Trip Preparation – Iain Ayre suggests a sensible plan of action to prepare your classic MG for an extended mountain tour Brian Moylan Interview – Brian recalls his days working at Abingdon, from the Service Department to Competitions Modified RV8 – One owner who felt that he could – and should – get more from his RV8. Quite a lot more, in fact! PA to the Lebanon in 1966 – Last month MGE introduced a nicely patinated PA; this month they go back to the 1960s and explain how some of that patina came about KV6 Transplants – Making the cars MG-Rover didn’t: a ZR and an MGF with KV6 power MG Enthusiast […]

The MG6 was supposed to signal the brand’s return to the UK, but it’s fair to say that car hasn’t quite had the desired effect. So now we have the MG3: a Ford Fiesta rival the company hopes will kick-start its fortunes. The most striking thing about the new car is its low price. AutoXpress drove the top-of-the-range Style model, which comes in at less than £10,000. For that money, you get Bluetooth connectivity, air-conditioning, a DAB radio, 16-inch alloy wheels and cruise control all fitted as standard. A Fiesta or Skoda Fabia kitted out with that much equipment would cost nearly £13,000. But price isn’t everything: the MG3 has to deliver on the road. And in some key respects, it does. The car feels quite sporty, with an impressive amount of grip that allows you to tackle twisty back […]

The UK Royal Mail are celebrating the best in British motor cars with the issue of the ‘British Auto Legends’ stamp collection. Released today, the collection features six of the most stylish and iconic British cars, including a 1964 MGB Roadster owned by John Watson, Chairman of the MG Car Club’s MGB Register. The MG Car Club are delighted to see a MGB included in the collection. John’s Iris Blue MGB is a stunning example of one of the worlds most loved sports cars. John was first approached by the Royal Mail in May of 2011, when his car was selected to make up a six stamp set of thoroughbreds. Twelve months later and just days before the MGB 50 festival at Blenheim Palace, John’s car was in a London studio being photographed by James Mann. Andrew Hammond, Director of […]

Plans to ban most conventional cars from the roads within the next 30 years could feature in the Liberal Democrats’ offering to voters at the next general election.  But the proposal from Nick Clegg’s party to only allow ultra-low carbon vehicles on British roads by 2040, other than for freight purposes, will first have to be approved at next month’s Lib Dem conference. If the conference votes in favour of the plan it will become party policy and may feature in the party’s manifesto for the 2015 General Election, a Lib Dem spokesman said. The proposal was unveiled as Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures showed that car sales, a key indicator of the health of the British economy, had risen 12.7% on last year. The spokesman said: “The way that our party policy is decided is that conference has […]

A ‘hypercar’ built by a British company has broken the electric land speed record that has stood for nearly four decades. Drayson Racing’s car reached a top speed of 204.2mph on the 1.86-mile runway at RAF Elvington, Yorkshire. Driven by entrepreneur and former UK science minister Lord Drayson, it beat the previous record by around 40mph. “This is the future,” he told Sky News after climbing out of the cockpit. The car, known as the Drayson B12 69/EV, is based on the Lola LMP1 which competes at Le Mans in the famous 24-hour race. Its V10 Judd engines have been removed and replaced with two huge A123 battery units connected to electric motors.

The MG 3 is set to cost less than £10,000 and will be offered with “hundreds” of different styling and customisation options. The MG 3, showcased in the UK for the first time at an event at MG’s Longbridge plant in Birmingham today, will go on sale in the UK this autumn. Initially, three trim levels and 10 exterior colours – with names such as ‘Hello Yellow’ – will be offered. The top two trim levels will come as standard with equipment that includes Bluetooth connectivity, air-con and DAB digital radio. Hill-start assist will be optional. MG’s new hatchback will also launch with the ‘MG 3 Collection’ offer. It allows buyers to personalise the car’s bodywork with various patterns, decals and stripes, including large RAF roundels. The European version of the MG 3 was first seen at the Shanghai motor […]

Every year classic sports car and racing enthusiasts gather in the hill country near Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate the full spectrum of historical and contemporary motorsports. Road Atlanta has been home to the Classic Motorsports Mitty since its inception, and there’s no better place or time to enjoy a motorsports daydream. Historic Sportscar Racing, Ltd and  and Classic Motorsports magazine is once again hosting the Classic Motorsports Mitty at Road Atlanta on April 26-28. This year features David Hobbs as grand marshal, and the featured marque will be MG. The Classic Can-Am reunion should feature some pleasant exhaust notes, and the event is known for how many car clubs fill the parking and display areas with interesting cars. The Can-Am reunion will feature over 20 cars on the same track. That is David Hobbs in the #73 Can-Am beast below. He is sure to […]

The first pictures of the MG CS concept have leaked to the web, ahead of a possible debut at the Shanghai Motor Show. Designed to preview the company’s upcoming crossover, the model eschews the retro styling of last year’s Icon concept. As a result, it echoes the rest of the MG lineup with angular lines and a familiar grille. We can also see front fender vents, an upward sweeping beltline and blacked out A-pillars. There’s also a sporty rear bumper, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a center-mounted dual exhaust system. Speculation suggests the CS concept is based on the MG5 and could use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 135 bhp (101 kW). Nothing is official as of yet, but we should learn more later this month.

Thorough Events Ltd, organiser of last year’s inaugural UK Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle, has announced an extraordinary new location for the 2013 event. To take place from September 5-7, the 2013 Concours of Elegance will be held in St James’s in Central London in an area that encompasses the gardens of 300 year-old Royal Palace Marlborough House, adjacent to The Mall and St James’s Palace, official residence of the Sovereign. Special permission has been granted for the Concours of Elegance to use this rarely accessible space and it will follow a similar format to last year’s flagship event: 60 of the rarest and most historic cars from around the world on display on the lawns of Marlborough House’s vast walled garden. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has agreed to become Patron of the annual Concours of […]

We will be going to the Carolina British Classics VII show on Saturday, April 6. This event is being held at the historic Columbia Speedway just outside of Columbia in Cayce, South Carolina. This year the British Car Club Midlands Center will again be merging their event with the popular Tartan Day South Festival at the Historic Columbia Speedway. There will again be many interesting and entertaining diversions throughout the day, as well as a variety of Celtic themed merchandise and food vendors. Entry fee to the Festival is included in the Registration Fee for drivers and all passengers pay $5.00 each. As always this is a charity event with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project and Hidden Wounds. We will be driving Catherine, our 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100, up from Charleston, so please stop by and say […]

It may seem like only yesterday when Mini entered the US to sell its cars, but it’s been 11 years since the car maker began selling its vehicles in the states. In that time frame, Mini has sold 500,000 of its cars in the US, marking a new milestone for the British car manufacturer, which is owned by BMW. Mini has increased its US sales from 24,590 units in 2002, to 66,123 units last year. The Mini Cooper has easily been one of the company’s most popular vehicles, but they also have a small selection of variations of the popular car, including the Hardtop, Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Coupe, Roadster, and Paceman. As for Mini dealership around the US, there are currently 116 locations spilled out over the states, but the car maker plans for a total of around 130 locations […]