It is correct to assume that the Z's, and the M car variants are indeed MG's to the core, and, as pointed out above, the difference in charachter of the base car and the MG variant is astonishing. Yes, I yield to no-one in my admiration and support for MG-R, but I was not going to be a happy bunny if these new Z's were not infused with real sporting zeal and, possibly above all, character, and this time last year I will admit to being slightly apprehensive. Thankfully they kicked my doubting butt good and proper. Is it not incredible, the devotion and sheer astutenes of those engineers, banned from any development of the saloons by BMW, and yet knew of the potential for them, and carried on a structured programme of enhancements in their own time?
This coming year will be the great awakening of the Z's and the MG badge as a whole. The BTCC has a high profile on ITV, meaning we can cheer those ZS's on from our armchairs as well, We have the new MG TF (Which CAR magazine are already working themselves into a lather as they can't wait to drive it), and the 260 and 385, and of course, the X80 (and a suprise?) which will increase showroom traffic, continue to raise the profile of the brands, and slowly build it all back up for the revamped 25 and 75's, then the whole new model in 2004! Now things are starting to become slightly clearer.
Let us not forget the previous stewardship pre BMW of Towers and Howe. Niche models abounded, the whole group were in profit, with replacements for all models in the pipeline. Towers was in the process of assembling the colatteral for a sensational buy-out from Bae, when Bae decided not to wait, and sold to B**.
But now they have the company, Lock, stock, and superchargers, and the sky is the limit!!!