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News that GM would continue to extend its GMT-900 truck platform for a few additional years to save money seemed to send shock waves through the auto industry — despite the fact that the design just went into production in 2007. When did platforms get such a short shelf-life? We were able to come up with ten basic car platforms still in production that were originally developed more than a decade ago, including three more than half-a-century old, just to prove that new doesn't necessarily mean better — but it usually does. Behold: Ten car platforms that just won't die. More »
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Shanghai Automotive plans to introduce four new MG models to the UK market starting next year. The company just relaunched production of the MG TF with a limited edition run of 500 vehicles, but its plans to bring MG to the USA have fallen through. All four models will be built at Longbridge, which is currently having its production capacity expanded with new staff and equipment to handle the task. Shanghai (which merged with Nanjing last year) claims this assures the future of the historically troubled facility. But what new models is MG bringing to market? Will the just be based on sub-par Chinese vehicles? Can MG really find sales success? More »
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Plans to bring that most iconic of British sports car names back to the US market have fallen through once again, reports Automotive News. Nanjing, now Shanghai Automotive, has scrapped plans to both import MG-TFs from England and to build them in Oklahoma from knock-down kits shipped from China. British website Austin Rover Online quotes Gary Hagen, marketing director for MG, as saying, "The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us. Regarding the Oklahoma plant, Hagen simply said, "The deal fell through." Yep, head to K-Mart for a quart of Bondo, 'cause that B is gonna have to get you through another decade. More »
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The historic Longbridge production facility in Birmingham, England is rolling again. First opened in 1905 by Austin, it was once the largest factory in the world. Since that time it's manufactured cars, airplanes and armaments for both world wars, and its name became synonymous with strikes, poor quality and mismanagement during the 1970s. Now, Nanjing Automotive has begun assembling its version of the MG TF there, despite using mostly Chinese-built components. More »
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These renders of an all new MG TF come courtesy of AutoExpress, so of course that means they should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, based on the success of roadsters over the past decade it's not too far a stretch to think MG's new Chinese owners would want to build upon the MG tradition — leaky seals, fussy side draft carbs and pre-rusted rocker panels, we kid, we kid. But really, according to the Express, the new car will be built off of the Roewe 550 platform and be available both as a convertible and a coupe — interesting. More »
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The Beijing Motor Show traditionally warrants nothing more than a collective "meh" from the mainstream automotive media, but it certainly caught our attention this year. Bigger and better than ever, automakers from China and abroad have done everything to bring attention to their cars but put a gigantic stuffed elephant in one. Oh, no, wait. They've done that, too. But why shouldn't they show off — as the Chinese market continues to mature into it's teenage years, we've watched it shed some of the awkwardness of puberty, but still manage to showcase that youthful wide-eyed optimism with some truly innovative, unique and beautiful concepts. Still, like pimples, a cracking voice and a random desire for adorning oneself with chrome bits n' pieces, this teen still shows off it's rebellious side with vehicles that are completely bizarre, ridiculous knock-offs of popular designs or in most instances, both. Follow us below the jump through as we watch the coming of age tale that is the 2008 Beijing Motor Show. More »
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We have to give Nanjing Auto/Shanghai Auto/Ason Unique credit for taking care of their MG brand. MG/Rover has a long history of making awesome police cars back in Britain and the Chinese version of the company has been making vehicles for both the Chinese police and the army. And while we're not big on Chinese authorities, what with the human rights abuses, we have to admit this MG TF convertible police car is quite rad. We especially like the shark fin stalk holding up the cherry. More »
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