Lola MG LMP675
Corporate Business

Lola Cars Enters Administration

Lola Cars has announced that it is going into financial administration as it continues to search for possible investors. The group, which was formed in 1958, said the latest economic downturn has caused a serious cash-flow problem that had forced it into making the decision. It also blamed the move on the HMRC not paying ongoing R&D tax credits. “It is with enormous regret that a decision has been taken to issue Notices of intention to appoint an Administrator to Lola Cars International Limited and Lola Composites Limited,” said Lola in a statement. “This step allows the board to continue its discussions with possible investors and prospective purchasers with a view to securing the best outcome for the staff, creditors and customers of both businesses.” Lola creations have claimed five LMP2 Le Mans 24 Hours titles since 2000. The company […]

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MG

MG Icon Wins Design Award

The MG Icon has been awarded the ‘Best Concept’ title at the Beijing Motor Show, following its world debut in China. The MG Icon beat the Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe and Honda Concept C in scooping the award. The MG Icon is the first SUV concept car from the company and was created by the MG global design team headed by British director Anthony Williams-Kenny. The designers are said by the company to have taken inspiration from some of the brand’s most famous sports cars including the MGA and MGB GT. Williams-Kenny said: “The MG brand has a unique set of values and heritage and allows us to offer individual design values to our products. The MG Icon represents our vision of a modern MG and we feel that the small SUV canvas demonstrates MG’s capacity for progressive […]

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Racing and Competition

Castrol Joins MG Race Dream Team

Castrol has joined the MG KX Momentum Racing team as a partner sponsor as today the car was unveiled for the first time in full race livery. The announcement was made at a Media Day held at the Silverstone circuit. The news comes just days after MG Motor UK and Castrol established a new partnership. Castrol’s involvement complements the ‘dream team’ of drivers, constructors and sponsors set to challenge for the 2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC championship. Two MG6 GT cars will run in the all-new MG KX Momentum Racing team with double BTCC champion Jason Platoand rising star Andy Neate behind the wheels. The first race in the 10 round series is at Brands Hatch on April 1. The MG6 GT five-door fastback is the first all-new MG in 16 years. It is designed and engineered at MG Motor UK’s plant in Birmingham where […]

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Highlights

New MG Uncovered at Silverstone

The MG6 that will contest the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has made its public debut during the annual season launch at Silverstone. The car, which will be run by Triple Eight under the MG KX Momentum Racing banner, was revealed in the Silverstone pit lane before taking to the track for tracking photos during the morning media launch in the hands of Jason Plato. With work still to be completed on the car to bring it up to full race specification, the team failed to take part in the afternoon test session, with the MG instead being loaded back into the transporter to allow the team to continue work ahead of the season opener at Brands Hatch at the end of the month. Double champion Plato will be joined in the two-car team by Andy Neate.

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Corporate Business

Land Rover Sales Up

Land Rover enjoyed a massive UK sales surge last month – with more than 3,000 vehicles sold. The Solihull-based 4×4 manufacturer sold 3,044 vehicles in October compared to 1,864 in October last year, an increase of more than 63 per cent, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed. The sales rise followed a bumper September for Land Rover, with the company selling 6,230 vehicles compared to 5,788 in the corresponding month in 2010. October’s sales jump followed the success of the Range Rover Evoque and a general increase in the purchase of SUVs amid predictions of another harsh winter. Jaguar saw sales dip slightly last month, with the Big Cat selling 713 cars in October compared to 806 in October last year. SMMT figures also showed that Longbridge-based MG Motor UK sold 15 sports cars last […]

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Classic Cars

HRDC MGB50 Series

The much talked-about HRDC MGB50 Series got underway at Goodwood on 1 November, with an auspicious reunion between four original works MGB competition cars and some of the luminary figures who were instrumental in the success of these fabulous racers. Long-term MGB stalwart Barry Sidery-Smith and Julius Thurgood, founder and race director of the HRDC, hosted this special gathering at Goodwood, with the support of long-term HRDC sponsor CCK Historic. Guests included: works driver Alec Poole, BMC Competition Department guru Bill Price, BMC Competition Department Manager Peter Browning, BMC ‘Comps Shop’ Manager Basil Wales, BMC ‘Comps Shop’ mechanics Den Green and Brian Moylan, MG guru Malcolm Beer, veteran MGB racer Paul Campfield and MG historian John Baggott. The Works MGB cars were not just on static display, but were put through their paces on the Goodwood circuit by Barry Sidery-Smith, […]

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Highlights

MG6 Magnette Sports Saloon Road Test

Trying to break into a new marketplace is never easy – and it’s a damn site harder when it’s the ultra-competitive car market. That, though, is effectively what MG is trying to do as the company’s Chinese owners return to the table with the first new models to wear the MG badge in 16 years. Their task is made even harder by the history involved here. The messy demise of the previous company cost the brand a lot of the goodwill and then there was the, perhaps understandable, scepticism as the Far Eastern conglomerates stepped in to pick over the wreckage. However, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation seem to be taking the right steps to woo the army of MG followers back. They have set up their UK headquarters in what is retained of the Longbridge plant, which had become […]

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Corporate Business

MG Names Top Open-Points

MG has exclusively revealed to Car Dealer Magazine the 10 most important towns and cities it wants to find new dealers for. The UK car manufacturer, which was relaunched in 2008 with the backing of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, wants to establish showrooms in the following eight locations in England: Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Northampton, Swindon and South London. The firm, which has recently launched a new range of models that have been designed and engineered at its 69-acre site in Longbridge, Birmingham, also wants to establish outlets in Glasgow and Edinburgh. MG’s list of potential dealership locations also includes more than 20 medium-priority locations, including Brighton, Exeter and Guildford in the south of England, and Blackpool, Burnley and Carlisle further north. And at the bottom of the list are six low-priority spots, including in England, Barnstaple; in Wales, […]

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Corporate Business

SAIC Profits Increase

China Knowledge reported that SAIC Motor Corp Ltd, China’s number one car maker and owner of the MG Motors brand, saw its net profit for the third quarter of this year increase 27%YoY from CNY 3.71 billion to CNY 4.72 billion. In a statement, the Shanghai-listed firm said its revenue reached CNY 97.41 billion up by 19.4%YoY from CNY 81.61 billion. Earnings per share were CNY 0.51. In the first three quarters of 2011, the vehicle maker reaped CNY 13.29 billion in net profit reflecting increase of 38.69%YoY and its revenue grew 22.71%YoY to CNY 281.28 billion. Total vehicle sales for the nine-month period increased 11.77%YoY to 2.98 million units including 722,000 units sold in the third quarter of 2011 up by 6.1%QoQ. Of the total sales, 65,000 units were SAIC Motor self-branded models, which comprise the MG and the […]

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Corporate Business

MG Motor UK Appoints GMAC

MG Motor UK Ltd has selected GMAC UK plc, a subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc., to be its preferred retail financing provider in the UK for manufacturer programmes and standard rate finance. GMAC UK will provide financing to MG customers under the MG Financial Services brand. Guy Jones, sales and marketing director of MG Motor UK, said: “GMAC is a trusted financing source in the industry. As a company with extensive experience, resources and capabilities in the UK market, GMAC will support our brand and help us grow our business. This important development allows us to offer a competitive range of retail finance products for the new MG6 GT, Magnette and following models.” “We are extremely pleased to enter this new retail relationship with MG in the UK,” commented Ed Paulat, GMAC UK managing director.  “We look forward to working […]

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Corporate Business

MG 350 on Israel’s Roads in 2012

The first Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) MG 350 family sedans will arrive in Israel in early 2012. These cars are expected to significantly change the Israeli automotive market in terms of the unprecedented dimensions/accessories/price ratio. The new car, which is produced partly in Europe and partly in China, is 4.52 meters long, 1.79 meters wide, and has a wheelbase of 2.64 meters. The SAIC car will come equipped with a 1.5-liter, gas-powered, 110 horsepower engine, with a Japanese-made automatic gearbox. The car will have high standard accessories, including electronically controlled seats, leather upholstery, and a premium stereo system. The final price has not yet been determined, but the initial target price will be about NIS 110,000, which is the average price for the category of smaller cars, such as Mazda 2. SAIC importer, David Lubinski Ltd., estimates that the […]

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Corporate Business

MG Cars On Sale in Azerbaijan

Official representation of MG cars has already opened in Azerbaijan. Sales manager of MG (Morris Garage) Motors Azerbaijan Ali Ahadov has said that an official representation of MG cars has already opened in Azerbaijan and new models have already been put on sale. ‘As an official representative of MG cars in our country, our key aims is to present MG cars, which is new in our market while it has quite long history in world and European markets, to our customers. High-quality interior materials, modern design and a number of innovative indicators catch the eye,’ Ahadov added. The sales manager said these cars are excelled for their comfort.

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Corporate Business

MG Takes Center Stage in Nigeria

Renowned British automobile brand, MG has joined the growing number of automobile brands in the country courtesy of Coscharis Motors, a leading automobile marketing company which also represents BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar and Ford, in Nigeria. Presenting the MG models to members of the Nigerian Motoring Press over the weekend in their Victoria Island Lagos office, Mrs. Helen Alechenu, Deputy General Manager Coscharis Motors described the MG as typical British brand, through manufactured in China by SAIC Motors. According to her, “The MG, as the best representative of the United Kingdom automobile industry, has significant leverage in the United States Sports Car Market, hence MG brand history is the Chronicle of the world automobile industry.” The Deputy General Manager who ones had a stint in the BMW, Land Rover and Ford sections of the Coscharis Auto Group, explained that the […]

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Classic Cars

Classic MG Featured in New Ad

The MG Motor Company is using images of the past to stir desire for its new models. In a new advertising campaigned titled “It’s Time To Fall”, the company uses romantic images of the classic MGA extensively, but also the MGB, MGBGT, and MG T Series. While obviously playing to the nostalgic feelings for one of Britain’s most beloved brands, the ad makes it clear that the new MG6 can stand on its own to capture the driver’s heart. You can view the shorter TV advertisement or the full “extended brand film” on the MG Motor site.

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Highlights

Team RLR and MG Head to Silverstone

Planet LeMans is reporting that boosted by a new driver and a major sponsor, Team RLR will enter the 6 Hours of Silverstone determined to impress in front of a home crowd at the penultimate round of the 2011 Le Mans Series next weekend (September 9-11). The mid-season break proved to be a productive one for the Lancashire-based squad as it added former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Warren Hughes to its line-up alongside regular drivers Barry Gates and Rob Garofall, and also confirmed famous British car brand MG Motor UK as an official sponsor. Read the complete story over at Planet LeMans.

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Classic Cars

Frontline Drags MGB Into 21st Century

This in from the TopGear site…  To be honest, the presenters weren’t that impressed with the new MG6 during the show on Sunday. Or its recycled-racing-horse badge adhesive. However, this latest old-car-new-tech offering from Frontline Developments seems like a valiant use of the brand. And a rather more affordable alternative to the Eagle Speedster. Each car uses a new British Motor Heritage MGB shell, into which Frontline shoves a 2012 2-litre VVC MX-5 engine. It’s got billeted con-rods and crankshaft, forged fully-skirted and Teflon-coated pistons and it’s been hopped up with a 45mm direct injection throttle body and closed-loop Lamda set up. That equates to 215bhp and 170lb ft at 4000rpm. That means 240bhp per ton (it only weighs 900kg). 240bhp. IN AN MGB! But don’t worry, the sixties shell’s been uprated to cope with the 130bhp power boost (the B […]

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Corporate Business

New MG Model

While visiting the United Kingdom, the Premier of China helped launch the first new MG model in 15 years. The Premier visited the MG car plant in Longbridge, England where the new MG6 will be assembled. The factory is now owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, which is China’s largest automaker.  He hailed the launch as a potent symbol of friendship between China and the U.K. The plant is expected to serve as a platform for tapping the European market in the future.

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Corporate Business

MG Motor UK Cuts Losses

Longbridge has drastically cut its annual losses from over £12 million to just £392,000 as the rebirth of Birmingham’s most famous factory gathers pace. Results for MG Motor UK for 2010 showed that sales of parts to China had helped slash cash losses at the car firm, which launched production of the MG6, its first all-new MG, in April. Meanwhile, a capital injection of £7 million from the Chinese parent company also helped to bolster the firm’s financial status, the report revealed. The vastly improved results came as sales of Longbridge’s first all-new MG for 16 years generate increasing revenues for the Birmingham factory following the relaunch of volume production. The MG6 generated over £3 million of business in its first two weeks in showrooms, leaving many buyers facing a waiting list of up to six weeks for customized vehicles. […]

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Corporate Business

SAIC Starts Selling MG in Brazil

MG Motors UK, which is majority-owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), has started selling two of its models – the MG550 and the MG6 – in Brazil, the Brazilian press reported. The MG motors models, which are represented in Brazil by Sao Paulo based company Forest Trade, will be sold for between 94,000 and 100,000 reals (between US$59,000 and US$63,000), with a number of items as standard including DVD player, satellite navigation, ABS brakes, light and rain sensors and 17-inch tyres. The MG Car Company was founded in the 1920s and produced cars continuously until the autumn of 1980. After two attempts to re-launch production, the second of which was commercially successfully, the MG brand and the Rover brand, merged to become the MG Rover group in May, 2000, and production came to a stop in April, 2005 […]

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Corporate Business

Over £3 Million In Orders For New MG

Longbridge’s first all-new MG for 16 years has drummed up over £3 million of business in just two weeks – with 180 cars sold. The MG6 has got off to a flying start since the official VIP launch in April, with buyers facing a waiting list of up to six weeks as dealers cope with a flood of orders for new MG model. Sales of the new MG6 follow the relaunch of volume car-making at the Birmingham car factory six years on from the collapse of MG Rover in April 2005, when 6,500 jobs were lost. MG Motor UK PR and Events Manager Doug Wallace said the Chinese-backed company was delighted with the response to the MG6, which sells for between £15,495 and £18,995. “The value of MG6 GT fastbacks sold or ordered is just over £3 million – we […]