Andrew B. Lundgren wrote:
<<< Subject: Re: British Motor Heritage... to FORD
>From the sounds of it there may never even be any more MGF cars. If
phoenix didn't get the name, and BMW is sitting on it, then it is more
dead than before. >>>
The MGF is continuing in production as are the Rover 25, 45 and 75. The Rover
75 production is being transferred to Longbridge from it's current home at
Rover Oxford (the old Morris Cowley plant) and an estate car version that BMW
killed is being revived by Phoenix. Phoenix DID get the MG name as well as
Wolseley and Heritage. The Rover name was withheld at the last minute due to
Ford's concerns that transfer of the name opened up the possibility of Rover
eventually coming up with a 4x4 and causing potential confusion with the Land
Rover brand they are in the process of acquiring. BMW retained the Rover,
Riley, and Triumph brands. Phoenix will license the Rover name for now but
say that within 2 years, they will convert to MG. No firm word on MG sports
cars - the MGF continues for now but there has been no word as to a successor
or whether the MGF Super Sports project might be dusted off and brought to
market. And no word as to going back in the market where 70-80% of MG sports
car production was sold in the 50's-70's. Yet. But that seems more possible
than it has in the past - no objections from a technology partner (Honda)
about entry into a major market of theirs and no reservations from a parent
firm (BMW) about competition with their recent two-seaters. If they are going
to sell the number of cars they need to be viable, they have to look to other
markets beyond the ones they are in now - and North America is prime
territory.
Kim Tonry
Editor - MGB Driver-Journal of the North American MGB Register
Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
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