Production version of MG TF for Chinese market.

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http://img.autohome.com.cn/upload/spec/3012/w_3012315697770.jpg


more at:
http://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series/533.htm
http://www.autopic.net/query.asp?markid=668

Those are fantastic pictures Martin, those chameleon cars are realy difficult to photo well. :)


One in normal MG colors:
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-20-foto_4219952_17405830_18166159.jpg
http://img.autohome.com.cn/upload/spec/3012/u_3012316868993.jpg

Is this car to be built in Longbridge or Pukou, Nanjing, China?

Mike

Cars for sale in China will be made in Pukou, Nanjing.
Cars for sale in UK will be made in Longbridge, UK.

Cars for sale elsewhere, it is not clear where they will be made yet.

i hope longbridge gets to build cars for all other countries across the world!

From China Car Times:

MGTF Pricing announced - higher than expected.

According to the Chinese press, NAC MG’s two seater sports coupe, the MGTF was supposed to go on the market earlier this month but delays have set back the launch. Pricing however, has been announced and it seems to be a rather rich 40,000USD.

The previously launched MG7 came in at a bargain 170,000 to the top end 250,000rmb model but the MGTF doesnt seem to be following the low pricing that the MG7 is.

Essentially, the MGTF is a one of a kind sports car in China there are no other Chinese made 2 seater coupes - the only other choice you have in China is something from the Mercedes stable. NAC MG can pretty much charge what they want for the MGTF in China, but what about other countries, such as the UK, where the MGTF is already old hat compared to its competitors (namely the Mazda MX5) Will NAC MG push for a $40,000USD (20,000GBP) price tag for the British and European markets?

NANJING, China — Nanjing Automobile has officially announced that the Chinese domestic version of the MG TF roadster will go on sale this month, priced from just under $40,000.

The Xinhua News Agency reported that the TF's sticker in China will start at 300,000 yuan, or just under $40,000. That's considerably pricier than the recently launched MG 7 sedan, which starts at 171,600 yuan ($22,860). It's identical, though, to the cost of the range-topping MG 7 sedan with a V6 engine.

Before the MG Rover organization collapsed in England in 2005, the TF sold for $32,500.

That price is wrong and too high, we need to wait a few more days for the real announcement, this is just the press jumping ahead of the real announcment in all the excitement of the MG being launched! :lol:

Except from the Beijing Auto Show that starts on Sunday there is another major show going on in Beijing, the Beijing Police Equipment Show.

Nanjing MG suprised with a very nice looking MG TF Policecar, especially the policelights on the back look really good. Nanjing Automotive also makes vans and lightrucks and a lot of them go to the Chinese police and army, so Nanjing decided to return the favour and give the cops something nice to look at.

The Police Equipment Show ends tomorrow and since it is held in the same area as the Auto Show I would not be surprised if Nanjing MG decides to fire the car up and drive her to the next building, we will see on Sunday.


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source: thetycho.com

Wow - they have redesigned the spoiler since we last saw the TF Police Car :lol:

can I assume that the perpetrators/suspect's seat is in the trunk? ;-)

MG TF:
http://news.cheshi.com/gcccs/200805/65303.shtml


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Pictures and info at:
http://auto.sohu.com/s2008/mgmingjuetf/index.shtml
http://picture.auto.sohu.com/@picture_f1238662.html

The first of the new generation of Chinese-built MG TF sports cars are expected to roll off production lines in Nanjing on Tuesday.

In view of that country's current woes the story is unlikely to merit many column inches - in fact more newsprint is likely to be devoured this side of the Bamboo Curtain.

It has been reported during the last few weeks that anticipation for the model in China is high and if the more well-heeled residents of Beijing want to be seen in their roadsters arriving at this summer's Olympic Games then the Chinese plants will have to gear up production.

Nanjing Automobile (NAC) is rightly excited about the car, but it is probably fair to say there is just as much - if not more - anticipation in the West Midlands.

Why? Because there is a lot is riding on the project.

The credibility of NAC - now safely merged into the parent organisation Shanghai Automotive - has taken a severe dent during the past few months as the fate of Longbridge for so long looked to be in the balance.

A lack of comment caused many a sleepless night for workers at the car plant as well as those employed in the wider component supply network.

The company has now come clean and said on the record that production will restart at the south Birmingham factory in August - with a view to getting the first cars in UK showrooms the following month.

A little late for the British summer but nevertheless, still welcome.

If as was widely thought the case, the quality of Chinese-built components was not up to scratch then it is hoped this problem has been resolved because the company can ill afford any more problems.

Every day that goes by and the TF is not in the showrooms allows competitors to steal a march and with a model that is already 13 years old - and looking its age - this is something the company cannot afford.

Will there be a market for the car once it is available? Who knows?

As previously stated, it is an old design and its appeal to a new generation of drivers may be limited.

Dealers say they have had interest from potential buyers but they are not breaking down the doors of the dealerships, waving their chequebooks and demanding to put down a deposit.

What a contrast to the region's other major automobile manufacturer, Jaguar.

For so long in the doldrums because of misguided marketing from parent Ford, the brand is at last re-establishing itself as an automotive force to be reckoned with.

Sales of the company's cars rocketed by 70 per cent in Western Europe last month and although it doesn't take a genius to work out why, the results are nevertheless very welcome indeed.

The XF is fast proving itself a world-beating design and one in the very best traditions of the marque's sporting heritage - grace, pace and space personified.

Sir William Lyons would rightly be proud - to say nothing of Ratan Tata.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/business-comment/post-business-desk/2008/05/19/first-chinese-built-mg-tf-eagerly-awaited-in-west-midlands-65233-20929522/

July 3rd, 2008 - MGTF LE500, £16,399 on the road in the UK.

The MGTF LE500 pricing has been announced for the UK, and its a little higher than most were anticipating.

With deliveries of the new MG TF Limited Edition due to commence in September, NAC MG UK Ltd have today, 2nd July 2008, set the price of this new sportscar at £16,399 on the road.

Sales and Marketing Director for NAC MG UK Ltd, Gary Hagen, said; “We are delighted to be able to bring in such a highly specified car at such a reasonable price. When you consider the level of specification that comes with the LE500, the package is extremely competitive.”

A new look, upgraded engine and a host of design refinements and extras have brought the MG bang up to date. A body coloured hardtop, sports styled leather seats and a piano black interior give the car a stylish new look.

The mid car configuration for the 1.8 16v EU4 compliant 136ps engine combines with rear wheel drive to ensure the LE500 delivers an authentic British sportscar driving experience. Parking sensors, a Pioneer MP3 compatible CD / radio unit and last but not least unique LE500 badging, graphics & trim complete the package. Full details of the specification are available at www.mg-uk.co.uk.

Gary concluded; “The backing of SAIC, China’s largest car maker, and the fact the LE 500 has been designed, engineered and is being built in the UK, will play a major role in the car’s success.

“When it was last available, the MG was the UK’s best selling small sports car. We are confident that the indicated demand for the return of the marque from dealers, enthusiasts and most importantly new customers will see it reclaim that position”.

The mid-engined MG TF roadster will be relaunched in September courtesy of Chinese company owner NAC after a hiatus since 2005 from the U.K. market. The British-built two-seat roadster was MG Rover’s answer to Mazda’s Miata, although the basic design is aged, having been around since 1995.


Only one trim of the lightly revised TF will be offered, the LE500, priced at an equivalent of about $32,600, or nearly $1,400 more than a base Miata, its main competitor. Back in 2005, a base TF with the same-size engine cost about $35,200. NAC claims it has taken 300 pre-orders for the car, according to Autocar reports, but the platform’s age should restrict buyers to hardcore fans of British sports cars.

Powering the TF will be the same 1.8-liter K-series engine as in years past, tweaked to meet Euro IV emissions standards and producing 134 horsepower. Changes since the last TF included a body-colored hard top, air conditioning, leather interior, parking sensors and a CD player sourced from Pioneer.

The cars will begin production at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham this August. Next year, NAC will unveil less expensive models of the reborn TF. The Chinese owners are also planning to bring out more MG models in the future.


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sources: China Car Times and leftlanenews.com

Review of TF from The Sun:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/motors/ken_gibson/article1532116.ece

DRIVING the new MG TF was like meeting an old friend for the first time in years – who had not aged at all.

In fact you have to scrutinise the car to see the subtle exterior changes, which include tweaks to the headlights and a double-honeycomb mesh grille, plus small LE500 badges on the front wings.

The good news is that, despite its age, the MG TF still looks good. It has sharp, crisp styling and is perfectly proportioned for a sports car.

Unlike many of the modern coupé/cabriolets, it looks just as good with the canvas roof up or down.

On the inside you get modern piano-black trim to the centre console and door inserts, together with full-leather seats and LE500 chrome kickplates plus a couple of small badges in the snug-fit cabin.

But the switchgear and stalks for the indicators and wipers are straight from the past, still functioning but looking dated.

The manual canvas hood is easy to operate but not as quick as a power one when it suddenly pours down – as I found out.

Shanghai engineers have also refined the old 1.8litre K Series engine to 134bhp and say they’ve improved its reliability. Certainly, it remains a quick and willing motor still capable of making you smile.

It’s also reasonably economical for a sports car with an overall 35.8mpg, while CO2 emissions are 185g/km.

The TF remains a genuine MG when it comes to the driving package – the steering is sharp, precise and responsive and the handling is firm but involving on twisty roads.

It’s still very much a traditional sports car, which sticks to the road like a second skin.

The gearbox on the car I drove – which had done less than 100 miles – felt a little stiff, but it was slick and perfectly geared to allow you to get maximum revs out of the engine.

Although snug, the cabin is a comfortable place to travel, and makes the two-seat sports car perfectly usable as day-to-day transport.

Future
So does the MG TF LE500 have a future? Plenty will say it’s a car stuck in a time warp, but I think Shanghai will have little difficulty selling the 500 to MG enthusiasts, even if the Ł16,399 price is Ł650 higher than the far more modern Mazda MX-5.

And when they bring out an entry-level version for around Ł15,000 at the end of the year, they should also succeed in selling the 3,000 a year they plan for the UK and Europe.

But Shanghai know MG can have a long-term future only with dynamic all-new models wearing the famous octagon badge – and that the TF is merely a reminder MG is alive.

Time will tell if they have the new models.

Review in telegraph.co.uk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2008/09/13/mfmg113.xml

MG UK launched 85th anniversary special edition of MGTF roadster:
http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=297782

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http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp232/moonmanmike/New%20TF%20and%2085th%20Anny%20TF/Purple85th5.jpg

MG UK launched 85th anniversary special edition of MGTF roadster:
http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=297782

http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp232/moonmanmike/New%20TF%20and%2085th%20Anny%20TF/Purple85th1.jpg
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http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp232/moonmanmike/New%20TF%20and%2085th%20Anny%20TF/Purple85th5.jpg

First time I have seen the Anniversary!

http://img2b.xgo-img.com.cn/product/28_800x600/520/ceHwUbylo8so.jpg
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http://img2e.xgo-img.com.cn/product/28_800x600/586/cemQtjZkPFe7U.jpg

source:
http://product.xgo.com.cn/pic/iframe.php?brand_id=67&firm_id=32424&line_id=3703&ref0=http://product.xgo.com.cn/pic/

Interesting review of MG TF 85th Anniversary at Autocar:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/MG-Motor-TF-1.8-85th-Anniversary/244185/

What is it?
This is the second limited-edition version of the reborn MG TF from SAIC-owned Nanjing’s MG Motor; the first was the TFLE500 that marked the rebirth of this ageing sports car and the resumption of car production at Longbridge.

The 85th anniversary being celebrated is of the MG marque itself, which continues to survive despite the traumas experienced by its multiple former owners and periods of dormancy.

A quick glance at this new TF, complete with fashionable stripes, assorted decals and new alloys is likely to have you concluding that this is yet another cynical limited-edition dress-up, but in fact, there’s a little more to this 50-model run.

What you get besides the stripes is a chassis that’s been revised to a surprising extent, this the key surviving element of a now-abandoned TF makeover that would have seen it receiving all-new skin panels, a new interior and very probably a relaunch as a new car.

Sadly this programme was killed by the recession (the only MG Motor project that Chinese owner SAIC has canned as a result of the downturn - but there are others under way) and the view that it would not have been possible to price this revised car high enough to recover the development costs. That’s a pity, because the TF still has strengths.

But what we are seeing are quite extensive chassis changes, which start with a switch to rear wheels that are an inch wider than the front pair, the first time the TF has run in this configuration.

The 215/40 16 rear rubber compares with 195/45 16 tyres up front, and combines with roll stiffness that has been increased by 40 per cent with the aim of improving the TF’s (already good) on-the-limit progression. Reducing roll better controls a quirk of the MG’s suspension geometry, its roll-centre migrating more than is desirable when body-roll builds up. So when it gets to the limit, says senior engineer Ian Pogson, ‘It strokes your cheek rather than slapping it."

Thicker Eibach anti-roll bars and upgraded Bilstein dampers generate the extra roll resistance. There are no changes to the TF’s electric power steering, but the chassis alterations are claimed to improve feel, while SAIC’s Longbridge engineers reckon that the TF’s supple ride has largely been preserved.

What’s it like?
Better and worse, in truth. The MG’s primary ride over big bumps is tighter and more fluently controlled and its responses are a little sharper, but its previously above-average ability to soak up sharp shocks has been compromised.

So over the typical British B-road, where it has always excelled, there’s now some patter and crash over small bumps, and a bit of kickback through the steering wheel that wasn’t there before. These disturbances aren’t uncomfortable, but they do damage its refinement.

On the positive side, this TF is a sharper weapon in fast-charged bends, and on a track it's likely to be more responsive, more progressive, better controlled and more fun. The steering responds more consistently too, although turn-in could still be sharper.

In other respects this is the TF that we know so well, with its odd and (for the tall) cramped driving position, low-rent furnishings, and lack of sophistication. That said, the feeling that you are conducting a machine, rather than a highly insulated transportation device, is part of its appeal, and a key reason why it provides surprising entertainment, especially given its grippy, capable handling, and willing engine.

Should I buy one?
Sadly, it’s too easy to dismiss this 14-year-old car for its age and faults, especially at a price some £2000 more than you’d pay for the just-as-fast TF 135 and only £700 less than the cheapest MX-5.

Apart from the sharper chassis you do get the special paint, stripes, stickers and alloys (which modernise it quite effectively) air conditioning, a passenger airbag, leather trim and the rarity of having one of 50 cars, but those extras take the TF too close to the chill winds of modern competition.

For MG fans it will appeal, but at this price it’s very hard to make a robust case for it. Still, MG will be offering the revised chassis in a new model next March, when TF production resumes. Hopefully, that will be more keenly priced.


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Wow..Beautiful Cars.

It seems that the TF isn't produced in China anymore.

The MG plant in Birmingham can't keep on producing the TF: it's outdated. Their problem is that MG China doesn't want a replacement for it.