MG first introduced its mid-engine F (later TF) roadster way back in 1995, but new owners Nanjing (SAIC) are still trying to sell the damn thing. Production of 500 TFs for the British market began this month at the Longbridge plant, in a run-up to restarting regular production. And until recently the Chinese firm was planning on opening an R&D facility and factory in Ardmore, OK with an eye towards selling the outdated runabout in the US. But no longer, reports Automotive News (sub). "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there," says Nanjing flack Gary Hagen. Considering the TF hasn't been a competitive product for nearly a decade, yeah, it's safe to assume it might help to jump into the US market with a better best foot forward. After all, the TF's British comeback is gamble enough, despite a number of sales upsides. First, it's still nominally a British sports car, and Nanjing can rely on patriotism to move at least a few models in Old Blighty. Besides, Brits go for underpowered and out-of-date sports cars as long as they're sufficiently charming, as witnessed by the eternal availability of Fiat's Barchetta. The US offers far fewer sympathy-buy opportunities and much higher dealer and advertising costs. Whether Nanjing ever decides to build an all-new MG to make good on its North American ambitions is very much up in the air. At least they haven't already re-killed the brand stateside before even trying.
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Edward and others…
Maybe the Chinese won’t let us have their fake Coke (sorry, MG)…but here is a sight where we can get our old (new) Triumphs!!!!
Forget the Chinese…the British are still out there, somewhere!
http://www.sebringinternational.co.uk/tmx.html
First Peugeot and now MG. Oh the pain…
The ASE is really bumbed out about this.
Besides, Brits go for underpowered and out-of-date sports cars as long as they’re sufficiently charming, as witnessed by the eternal availability of Fiat’s Barchetta. The US offers far fewer sympathy-buy opportunities
Yeah, the US prefers 4000lb, nose heavy V8s and live axles in their sports cars. The light, mid engined, independently suspended MG must seem so out-of-date in comparison.
The continued improvement and sales of the MX5 Miata show there’s still a market for this class of cars if done right (cough Solstice cough), but the boat has long since sailed on this particular iteration of the MG. How history might have been different if BMW hadn’t been so scared that the MG-F would have wiped the Z3 off the map and released it into the US back in ’95.
Ah well lets rise to the yankee bait
Mr Niedermeyer do you know what hydragas suspension is? If you dont know without having to google it then your deeply unqualified to write this article. And have you ever driven one?
America wouldn’t make a car with something as sophisticated as liquid suspension for a presidential hopefull let alone a member of the general public. And yes i’m aware that it was the F and not the TF that had this distinction. Not something that obviously bothers you though as you give the TF a start date of the late 90s.
Like the previous article that set out to debunk the parallel between BL and the live axle pushers of america it comes across as ignorant of the vehicles it was referring to, like the cringe inducing reference to the 1200.
Your far too obviously basing your opnion of the TF on relics like the MGB which was rubbish long before it ceased production and only stayed in production so long because americans bought it
I dont patronise fords pony car by calling it a moosetang so kindly get more of your facts right.
There are many things that are hugely likeable about American cars but mechanical sophistication is by and large not one of them, so dont tar other people with the same brush.
Back in the ’20s, Ettore Bugatti laughed at the huge cartsprung supercharged racing Bentleys, dismissing them as the ‘World’s fastest lorries’.
We eventually submitted to advancing technology and moved on. American manufacturers may also do so one day.