6th April 2022
Kennet Valley Group - Club Night April - An insider’s story. Developing a low volume sports car.
At the Kennet Valley Club Night for April, we will hear about 'An insider’s story. Developing a low volume sports car.' The 'last' British production sport car and topical with some members of the KVG, not a Triumph, but the MG F and MG TF, these cars are mid-engined, rear wheel drive roadster cars that were sold under the MG marque by three manufacturers between 1995 and 2011.The MG F was the first new model designed as an MG since the MGB that was produced from 1962 to 1980, the marque spent the 1980s being used to denote performance models from then parent Austin Rover Group, and was briefly seen on the MG RV8, a limited edition relaunch of the MG MGB which was sold between 1993 and 1995.The MG F was initially designed by Rover Group during the period it was owned by British Aerospace and was brought to market after the business had been sold to the German car manufacturer BMW.
The BMW owned Rover Group manufactured the model from 1995 to 2000. BMW broke up Rover Group in 2000, divesting the Rover and MG passenger car businesses to a management buy-out who formed the independent MG Rover business. MG Rover manufactured the MG F from 2000 onwards, heavily updating it to become the MG TF in 2002.MG Rover entered administration in 2005, resulting in the production of the MG TF model ceasing. The remains of the MG Rover business were sold to Nanjing Automobile and the MG TF resumed production under the Nanjing owned MG Motor in 2007. The model, by then heavily outdated, was not a sales success and production ceased for a second and final time in 2011.
Allan Ashenden will be coming along to present and insider view of this car, Allan worked as a Senior Project Manager in the automotive industry for 20 years. During this time he worked in collaborative relationships with Honda, BMW, and Shanghai Automotive. Allan specialised in leading the delivery of low volume specialist vehicle projects; MGF, MG-SVR, Rover Streetwise, Rover 75 V8, and Rover 750. A unique insight explores the challenges, the people, and the difficulties faced by the project team.
Views of the early concept sketches, the engineering mules, and how they developed into a full production sports car. All is explained by Allan Ashenden an insider to the full story.So pop this in your diary and come along and hear about this affordable 'last' British production low volume sports car.