A debut for the limited edition MG car was held this week at the Retail Trust’s ‘Hollywood Ball’ at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane. The charity auction conducted by fashion celebrity Jeff Banks saw the bid reach a total of £275,000.

Three 80^th Anniversary TF LEs are available with colour co-ordinated hood and trim combinations, and features that include unique identity detailing, with a choice of 135, 120 Stepspeed (CVT transmission) or 160 power units.

Rod Ramsay, Sales Operations Director, MG Rover Group, says: "It’s appropriate that we celebrate 80 years of MG production with a special TF 80^th Anniversary LE - the product most closely representing the icon that is the archetypal MG sports car. If a charity auction can raise £275,000 for one of the LEs, then the remaining 499 represent great value!"

Three versions of the 80^th Anniversary LE are available – in new Pearl Black, Starlight Silver or the new Goodwood Green. Each 80^th Anniversary LE can be specified with the 135, 120 Stepspeed (CVT transmission) or 160 power units.

The Silver and Black anniversary TFs have a contemporary appearance featuring a new Burgundy Red coloured hood. The interior is trimmed combining an Ash grey interior with Grenadine Alcantara® and black leather seats. Embroidered with ‘1924 MG 2004’ logos on the seats, the interior also features a bright-finish console, door casings, gear knob and handbrake grip.

The new Goodwood Green, a pearlescent aquamarine paint finish, Anniversary TF is more traditional in style, combining a new tan hood with a matching tan interior. Black Alcantara® and tan leather seats are also embroidered with ‘1924 MG 2004’ logos. Wood effect inserts are fitted to the console, on the doors and complement the wooden gearknob and leather steering wheel.

All 80^th Anniversary LE models feature as standard a folding windstop and CD tuner. Externally 16" 11-spoke alloy wheels featuring a new ‘shadow chrome finish’ combine with front fog lamps and bright door handles to create a special appearance. Anniversary ‘1924 MG 2004’ bootlid badging distinguishes the 80^th Anniversary LE at the rear.

Optional extras:

Since 1924, MG cars have appealed to the sports enthusiast and today club membership is in excess of 100,000 members worldwide. The MG brand is a pure and iconic sports motoring brand that over the years has inspired the enthusiasm for driving pleasure. Today’s MG range offers enthusiasts the widest choice and the largest product range in MG’s 80-year history. Sales of the TF in 2003 were up 22%, retaining its position as the UK’s best-selling sports car – the highest sector sales in seven years.

• Key 80^th Anniversary dates in 2004 include:
• 13 March – 1^st MG car (Jack Gardiner’s Special 4 seater Sports 14/28)
• 1 May – Octagon 1^st registered as an MG trademark
• 1 September – 1^st production MG Super Sports (14/28) went on sale

Version 1 features:
Starlight Silver with Burgandy hood
Pearl Black with Burgandy Hood
Ash Interior with Black Leather and Grenadine Alcantara
Bright Door Inserts
Bright Centre Console
Bright/Leather Steering Wheel
Bright Gearknob
Bright Handbrake Grip

Version 2 features:
Goodwood Green with Tan Hood
Tan Interior with Tan Leather and Black Alcantara
Wood Door Inserts
Wood Centre Console
Wood/Leather Steering Wheel
Wood Gearknob
Wood Handbrake Grip

Both models priced the same:
135 - £18,895
120 - £19,645
160 - £21,195

The TF Sunstorm SE is offered in three body colour options – Raven Black, Nightfire Red and Starlight Silver. The lined body-coloured hardtop is complemented by a Smokestone coloured interior and Gunsmoke Alcantara^®/ black leather seats, leather steering wheel, ‘Momo’ leather and alloy gear knob and a single slot CD tuner. The specification includes a black hood, bright pack, 16" 11-spoke alloy wheels and MG/AP Racing disc brakes, front fog lamps and body coloured electric door mirrors. The Sunstorm SE is available with a choice of engines with three power outputs 115, 135 or 160Ps.

Richard Hudson, MG Rover Group’s sports car product specialist, commented: "The TF Sunstorm SE combines a high-specification with attractive coupé looks, which together produce a desirable SE worthy of any enthusiast’s pride."

Available in the UK, only 500 Sunstorm SEs are being produced. Orders can be placed with immediate effect. Performance and economy are similar to the donor models.

 Option availability

Tracy Shaw, star of the daring play 'The Blue Room' which features the 'famous' nude scenes, is trying out MG's latest model, the TF 'Cool Blue' Special Edition.  The former Coronation Street star says: "The latest MG TF Cool Blue Special Edition lets me take open top motoring to a new level!"

The new TF Cool Blue SE has a high level specification with a distinctive blue hood and unique Alcantara(r) blue seats.  All models feature a Momo(r) leather/alloy gear knob, leather steering wheel, wind stop and ash grey facia.  The 'Cool Blue' SE exterior is set off by its blue hood, attractive six-spoke 16" alloy wheels, chrome grille pack and front fog lamps.

Tracy is trying the first of the 600 special editions now available in showrooms throughout the UK.  The Cool Blue SE is available in a choice of cool exterior colours: Trophy Blue pearlescent, Starlight Silver or Anthracite metallic.

The on-the-road price is £16,995 for the MG TF 115 Cool Blue SE and £18,495 for the more powerful MG TF 135 Cool Blue SE.

Tracy Shaw and her 'Cool Blue' TF are touring in David Hare's The Blue Room across the UK in Eastbourne, Londonderry, Cork, Brighton, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Wolverhampton, Stoke, Darlington and Salford.

With an on-the-road price of £18,495, the MG TF 135 Sprint represents £2,375 worth of options for the additional £1,250 of pricing, over the standard TF 135. The more powerful MG TF 160 Sprint at £20,495 represents £1,275 worth of options for £500 of additional pricing over the TF 160. Only 600 MG TF Sprint models will be produced in five colour combinations.