[Dave Harrison]

A big week next week for all MG-R enthusiasts. From next tues/wed we'll see the initial reports of the new MG TF, by all accounts very favourable. Then, on the 30th, we have the opening of the visitor centre by HRH The Princess Royal. I wonder, with all the attendant publicity, there might not be another announcement? You never know!

 

[Ex-Member]

>another anouncement<
maybe something to do with what mg addict mentioned???
what you reckon dave?

 

[Dave Harrison]

It's an open secret more or less, that there are on or two goodies in the bag now, and I an thinking that next week might be the right time to give us a taster..... However, they are very skilled at "spacing" news, so you never know. My money is still on a blown ZS, a 200bhp TF, and another power hike for the XT and my brotherly mole is furiously prodding his old pals at the fun factory, who are all wearing large grins when surprises are mentioned. We live in interesting times.

 

[Guest]

My money is still on a blown ZS, a 200bhp TF, and another power hike for the XT and my brotherly mole is furiously prodding his old pals at the fun factory, who are all wearing large grins when surprises are mentioned. We live in interesting times.

Sounds good too me. Although the initial rumour was 230 for the TF!

 

[Kevin Davis]

About 18 months ago i attended a seminar hosted by Richard Woolley,designer of the Rover75.He gave us a slide show of cars that have been developed by Rover but have remained firmly under wraps.Among the slides was a Rover 800 convertible in Red which looked absolutely fantastic,and a Riley version of the Rover 75!,with 2 tone paint,a Riley badge and grille with a slightly different nose and rear end treatment,it looked really nice.Also we were shown a slide of the car which is to replace the 25,it was virtually production ready and was awaiting sign off.By now the wheels must be very much in motion to build that car,so,i wonder if that is the announcement.If so,then they have done a marvellous job of keeping everybody off the scent.Then again i could be totally and utterly wrong!!.

 

[Guest]

........,and a Riley version of the Rover 75!,with 2 tone paint,a Riley badge and grille with a slightly different nose and rear end treatment,it looked really nice.

Kevin

I have this photo:

of the Coupe on my 75 Site

That could be it - looks a wonderful car, I hope you are right and something like the concept does enter production!

 

[Ex-Member]

kevin
was that the show arranged by dave morris at beaulieu?
i was their,what about the MK3 200 coupe!

 

[JLD]

I wonder how many more development projects were 'put on ice' by B** never to see the light of day again, and of those how many could MGR legally revive if the market for them was still there.

 

[Kevin Davis]

Kevin,
Yes,that was Dave,s Beaulieu meet,yes,the coupe with the mk 3 front was nice,odd why they never produced it.

 

[cerbman]

Has *** kept the Riley name?

 

[Kevin Davis]

AFAIK,*** has the title to Wolseley Riley and i think, Triumph?.

 

[Dave Harrison]

Indeed they do have Triumph, and all the sub brands (TR series, Dolomite, Lynx (!) and Stag).

 

[cerbman]

MGR has Wolseley I think and Austin. Any others?

 

[Chris C.]

B*W has triumph and Riley, MGR has Rover, Morris garages (ie MG), Austin, Morris, Wolseley.

Jag still uses 'Vanden Plas', although did the rover 200 series 1 not inculde a VDP version, and that was after jag was sold off separately, so MGR may have the right to use VDP as well.

It may interet people to know that B*W toyed with the idea of using Princess marque (as in the BL wedge series) from the Rover group, to built sort of '900 series' luxury car called the *** Princess. The idea was dropped as they felt the name was too closely associated with the wedge Princess. It did reach the sketch stage though. I assume Rover has the rights to the Princess marque like the others.

 

[Dave Harrison]

Hmmmmm.. Twin lamps? Thats gonna be the 1.8 version, then !

 

[JLD]

Nice looking car.

Pity that the design is let down by the ugly grill at the front!

 

[cerbman]

I have a nasty feeling that "The announcement" could be a take over bid from a company that in this country, can do no wrong, BLEEDIN' Ford. I hope I'm wrong, because you can forget the idea of Ford not poking their nose in, they would take complete control just like they did with Jag and Aston. Jaguar are no longer the best and Astons are not hand made anymore. MGR can do it on their own, just look at the new talent they have.

 

[James]

No announcements then Dave?

 

[Ex-Member]

have you seen this dave?


MG ROVER is in talks with Hong Kong-based auto maker Brilliance to negotiate a strategic alliance which could see the first Chinese-built car to be sold in Britain appear in showrooms as early next winter. A Rover spokesman said the deal will cover manufacturing, vehicle development, components, engine supply, and research and development. Rover is offering to sell the Zhonghua Brilliance, a saloon priced around oe20,000, in return for joint platform development ventures, cheap part supplies, and an engine currently under development at Brilliance. It is not known how much the deal would be worth to either side. Brilliance is China's leading producer of minibuses, the world's fastest growing automotive market.

 

[Dave Harrison]

....Not unless you look at AutoExpress and the piece that has slipped out, indicating that MG-R dealers may be marketing a model from Brilliance toward the end of the year. A 600-sized model, styled by Ital.