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MG Midget and Sprite General - MG Starts Production Again

The first new MGs have come off the Longbridge line today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-13054842

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

I'm going to see one at a showroom this weekend, I wonder if it'll tempt me from my VW?
Steve H K-ser

I'm gonna drive one this weekend - and know it won't tempt me off my ones .... but, I do think that they are missing out by not doing a two-seater sportscar - that's what MG was best at ....
rachmacb

Your right Rach

MG has been making Midgets since 1930 We got basically a new MGB in 1995 (MGF) but as yet we did not get a new Midget.

It is well past the time to continue this great tradition and I think a new Midget would do far better than an MG6!
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

let's hope the fit and finish is better than that from the 6 that was on silverstone last year.....

Always easyer to love a "dead" brand
Onno Könemann

Whilst I'm sure we would all like to see a new sportscar released, I think you have to be realistic and accept that to get the brand back on its feet you have to appeal to the mass market and that means the fleet buyers which is what the 6 is aimed at. The sportscar market is minimal by comparison. That was certainly the view of the marketing team when I was at Longbridge 12 months ago just after the pre-production cars arrived there, but they did not rule out a new sportscar in the future.

Trev

T Mason

Hmmm Trev it is a little tricky this one.

the MG Car Company had been building Sportscars since 1930 (If someone claims 1929 then fair enough)
Sometimes the factory at Abingdon and the company built hot road cars for another specialist market. Also during the war the company made tanks and all sorts of military hardware to help the war effort and finally we are all aware that they were taken over by BMC and British Leyland. During that period the factory also built sportscars for the Austin Healey Marque one of which was the Sprite as well as the big healeys

The point is the MG Car Company were a specialist manufacturer of Sportscas and were for 50 years extremely successful.

However the name after 1980 was taken over by the Rover group and the factory at Abingdon closed down. From that time MG has been part of a MASS market car producer. They have been taken over by another MASS market producer and that company as you say will need to make cars that will fulfill that role. However they want to use the name of MG to help sell their wares and that means hey need to allow that name to be cared for. To do that they MUST make sportscars otherwise there would soon be no point in using the name as it will mean nothing.

Sadly MGR tried to do the same thing and really sold an awful lot of sportscars however apart from many other issues they were hammered by warrenty claims for headgasket failures on their leading engine (K Series)that was fitted to a vast majority of their products. Perhaps had the engine been better they may have survived, who knows? but they were right to make a sportscar other wise they would have been dead in the water long before the warrenty claims took them down
IMO
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

But look at it from SAIC's point of view. MG is a very minor brand in their portfolio, and the UK is a very, very tiny part of their expected market. According to Roger Parker in the MGOC magazine, in 2010 SAIC sold 3,580,000 vehicles, of which only 29,216 were MG brand. That's only 0.8% of their output.

Apparently in China there is no or little desire for sports cars, so what incentive do they have? A few enthusiasts in a country far away with a culture entirely alien to theirs aren't going to make much difference to their plans in my opinion.
Mike Howlett

I totally take the point that saloons are easier to sell - however, I do wonder about one thing as they appear to be aiming for the Golf/mondeo market, which, always seems a little over-produced for!

Whilst I am far from a marketing guru, you look at the amount of cars all similiar on the car forecourts, and think about the number of "Essex hairdressers" who need a replacement for their MGFs .......!!!

Of course, the car is coming from a producer in China, and, good on them for even pushing the MG marque on anything - let alone actually making the effort to employ people - so, that's always a great start :)

As for the cultural differences, I'm more than certain that they have some very clever marketing guy in all the countries they are going to be producing for ;)
rachmacb

If that is the case Mike, why did they bother buying the brand? MG is synonymous with sports cars!

Can't believe you think the MGF is an essex hairdressers car Rach? and your driving an MGB? What does that make you? LOL

True a lot of Women drive them but I don't think many of them are from essex nor hairdressers. Can't speak for the men however.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

LOL - well, as I've before now said that MGBs are for old men - then I guess that makes me an old man :)!
rachmacb

On that basis I guess I need to change my MGF for an MGB!
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Yup :) I thought you had got one awhile back anyway?

I am contemplating on a possible exemption for rather nice V8s, but, then again .......!

You've not heard what I think of MGA owners yet ;)
rachmacb

MG car company since 1929!
Has only produced sportscars with sporting saloons on the side.
Only in recent BL times has there been a periode when there was no sportscar ( the metro/montego period)
So a sports car has to be priority one!
Why would you buy the brand otherwise?
Go head to head with the mx5 that will show there is a market
Onno Könemann

I agree Bob that MG still need to produce sportscars at some stage, but I think its also true that the market has changed. In years gone by people bought sportscars as their one and only car, but when you talk to the marketing people now they will tell you that most people buy a daily hack first, then a sportscar as a second and/or partners car. The main exception of course being "hairdressers"!

Trev
T Mason

Ah making the rules to suit you needs, now thats a idea! LOL.

I did buy an MGBGT but that was as a bit if an earner only.

Are you saying you don't care too much for us MGA owners?
I am shocked I was lead to believe we all here loved them, someone is telling porkies. LOL.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

MG6 will be on display at Cofton Park this Saturday, at the Pride of Longbridge Rally.

http://www.austinmemories.com/page58/page58.html
Dave O'Neill 2

Maybe it is because I have 'merican tastes, but that car is utterly hideous. Here in the states, when they promote a car they show it with all the options... expensive wheels, tires, deluxe interior, best paint trim options. What am I seeing in the MG6 promos? Is that the best the car can look? There are KIA's that look better in standard trim.

...sorry, I was just hoping for better.
Trevor Jessie

Closer for us mate I think we have one at Grantham, if it turns up! We're having a get together anyway.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

"If that is the case Mike, why did they bother buying the brand? "

They wanted a foothold in the European marketplace and a name that was recognisable to European buyers. MG-Rover was available at a bargain price. They also wanted the UK design team, highly thought of in the business, to make their products acceptable to European tastes. But it could have been any other company had one been available. It was only after buying the company that they realised the heritage they had bought into, and like any good marketing people they will use that heritage if it helps promote the brand.

I hope they will build a sports car, but I think it will be a number of years away yet, and it will be dependent on the MG branded cars building a market-share. It won't work if they only sell a few hundred a year as happened with the Chinese TF. SAIC are in this to make money, not for the love of it as was often the case in Abingdon.

Mike (not pessimistic, just realistic)
Mike Howlett

My understanding is that the very first MG cars were modified saloons weren't they?

I thought that they basically took a standard Morris saloon and paid some attention to detailing, engine assembly and tuning, to make it into a better bespoke version. Having had this attention they were faster and more reliable and quickly became popular with discerning car enthusiasts who began using them in competition. MG were quick to respond with the new sporty body styles and MG sports cars were the result. MG continued their "niche marketing" by putting their efforts into competition and particularly record breaking, either directly or indirectly via private entrants. And so the history was born. Some of the pre-war record breaking was absolutely astounding by today's standards, particularly in the 750 class in direct competition with the Austin 750s of the time.

I note that the performance figures for that MG6 thing, even with its turbo, are slower than the much maligned MG Maestro in 2l EFi form from 25 years ago! And if you ever drove one of the 2l Maestro turbo versions you would definitely class the insane thing as a true sports saloon!

Guy

<<Sadly MGR tried to do the same thing and really sold an awful lot of sportscars>>

were they really that awful, Bob? ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

wow, opened up a real kettle of worms! ha ha.

I can't remember what/where the article I read was but the launch of the new MG is part of a 20-30 year plan for the Shanghi Auto Co. to take over the world. They first establish themselves in a foreign market with a know brand before shipping over their own wares.

Guy, this may be another (incorrect) useless bit of trivia from my Dad, but does MG not stand for Morris Garages? Named after a collective of Morris men (not the ones with bells on) that clubbed together to modify standard Morris's and then set up on their own as MG?

Malcolm "fountain of useless and incorrect trivia"
M Le Chevalier

Malcom
Short answer no

Long one read every thing about Kimber and you will find out
Onno Könemann

ah, just been on Wikipedia (so it probably is wrong!) but it does stand for Morris Garages, just the rest of my 'fact' was rubbish!

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Going to disagree with Onno but it does stand for Morris Garages but the rest of your story is make believe. It was a man named Kimber who did the deed and not a bunch of enthusiasts

The reason why some people don't think it does stand for Morris Garages is due to a comment by Kimber to a newsman. He was asked
What does MG stand for
Staggered by such a stupid question Kimber had a bit of fun suggesting that it certainly did not!

LOL still amusing today because if it does not what could it stand for. Midget Gems perhaps
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Another example Of really great Ivey league eduction at the helm ... is my guess.

You dont see business leaders with common scence education from universities like missouri, ok, kansas, texas, nebraska... ect ect making bone head decisions like the MG6... only your typical run of the mill piss poor educted iveys do stupid stuff like this... aka remember wall street, and the fedral reserve

MG6 is nothing more then an advanced A to B toaster on 4 wheels only good for pizza delivery. Nothing more!

I mean come on... 0-60 mph in 9.8 secounds... really!!! sounds like a exit ramp sucide machine on our freeway system...

Safe to say we can kiss off MG for another 20 years.

As to the argument " They need a saloon to establish a brand, that will appeal to the masses"... does that mean that ferrari is coming out with a station wagon, or that porshe is getting most of its profits from its large 4x4 pick up truck sales. 1st impressions are everything... The standard has been set... all hail the MG6, please excuse me while I take a puke.

MG... The new "Modern Gentlemans" car

Prop
Prop

Bob In several pieces writen by Kimber you can find information that he regards the pre MG car company (pre 1929) cars as morris garages cars and after that MG stands for just that.
Yes it was inspired and/or in honour of his employer who made the start posible but it was not short for.

Wiki is wrong
It also state that there have been factory 6 cylinder p-type's
Onno Könemann

Onno use a bit of common sense if it did not stand for Morris Garages then what does it stand for? If Kimber were to simply pick 2 initials then the last 2 he would have chosen were MG! possibly he would have chosen CK had he simply been thinking of 2 initials. It was a joke by Kimber to the newsman that unfortunately has been on going ever since!
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

As said they where chosen to honour the Wiliam Morris to thank him for making it posible.
But since 1929 it has just meant MG and was not short for anny thing!

Onno Könemann

Bob - I didn't say I didn't like them - I just said you didn't know what I think of them ...:)

As for the car and the future - in some ways, it's a cheap enough thing to compete in a cheap enough market, I just wonder as there are gazillions of fords vws etc sat on the forecourts of garages for sale, that, it's just going to fall into nothingness.

Going back to the A thing - in some ways, a nice fast sportscar based on the lines of the A, which has never looked "old" could be done for a good price, and be more than marketable at a decent price - and not fall into the hands of Essex hairdressers .......... or Bob!!!
rachmacb

Testing....
Prop

Read this with interest and I think it’s time to kill off this story about MG and it not initially standing for Morris Garages. My grandfather George Morris started working for Morris Garages (unfortunatly no relation) in 1918 - 1919, initially in the bike and motor bike shop, moving on to the car garage after about a year.

He retired from MGs after 50 years in 1969 (they shut down the factory early to do the retirement presentations in front of the whole workforce) without him changing his job – my Aunt has the presentation clock at home that says so!

MG may have stopped being Morris Garages (as its now “modern gentlemen”) – but that was not where it started and indeed was referred to as the ‘G’s.
I was lucky enough to grow up in the MG culture at home – stories of Brooklands, doing the ton, testing cars, avoiding the police on car tests etc etc, and indeed was born and spent my formative teenage years in Abingdon, when yes I had a Midget (GBW646N where are you now) – but take care when calling them a sports car builder, MGs also made some pretty hot saloons as well.

As for me now – it’s still an MG a C, tuned and played with and great fun.

Cheers

Kevin
K Whitehead

Fantastic Kevin. Maintain your history and enjoy it.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Bob,

Are you going to see the '6' tomorrow then? I'm aiming for 10:30 ish.

Steve
Steve H K-ser

Same here see you there.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed between 13/04/2011 and 15/04/2011

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