MG F
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The MG F, later the MG TF, is a mid-engined roadster originally launched in 1995. MG stopped producing sports cars in 1980 when British Leyland closed their Abingdon plant near Oxford, although badge was used on badge-engineered hatchbacks and saloons between 1982 and 1991. In 1992, the company restarted production of the classic MG B as the limited-edition RV8, and positive reaction (and the success of new-parent BMW's Z3) led the company to develop the MG F. It was renamed using the historic TF name in 2003, but future production plans were in doubt following the collapse of the MG Rover Group in 2005. The recent completion of Nanjing Automobile Group's MG factory in Nanjing saw the restarting of production in March of 2007.
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[edit] Mark I
The MG F was launched in the autumn of 1995 by the Rover Group, making it the third all-new car to be launched in its first full year since the BMW takeover. It was powered by a 1.8 L K-Series 16-valve engine, the basic having 118 hp (87 kW) while the more powerful VVC (variable valve control) had 145 hp (101 kW). Rover Special Projects oversaw the development of the F's design and before finalising the styling bought-in outside contractors to determine the most appropriate mechanical configuration for the new car. MGA Developments produced the initial design concept before Rover's in house design team refined and productionised their concept under the leadership of Gerry McGovern. An interesting feature of the F was its Hydragas suspension, a system employing interconnected fluid and gas displacers which provided a surprisingly compliant ride but which could be tuned to provide excellent handling characteristics. The MG F quickly shot to the top of the affordable sports car charts in Britain and remained there until the introduction of the MG TF in 2002.
[edit] Mark II
Autumn of 1999 saw the MG F gain a facelift. There was also a more powerful 160 hp (119 kW) variant called the Trophy 160 which had a 0-60 time of 6.9sec and was produced for a limited time. An automatic version with a CVT called the Steptronic was introduced. The MG F continued to sell well in spite of the sale of the Rover Group, which was announced in March 2000. Land Rover was sold to Ford, while the MG and Rover marques were sold to the Phoenix consortium for £10. In spite of competition from the likes of the Mazda MX-5, BMW Z3 and Audi TT, the MG F still proved very popular although it was no longer up to class-leading standard.
[edit] TF
A facelift in 2002 saw the MG F rebadged MG TF. The most significant mechanical changes were the abandonment of Hydragas suspension in favour of conventional coil springs, the new design of the air-induction system that along with new camshafts produces more power than in MG F engines, and the torsional stiffness of the body increased by 20%. Various cosmetic tweaks include a revised grille, redesigned front headlights, bumpers, side air-intake grills, rear boot, etc. The MG TF was the first car of its class to be awarded a leading 4-star safety performance from EURONCAP.
Like the MG F before it, the MG TF outsold the rest of the competition put together in the UK every year throughout its production life. However, production was suspended in 2005 when MG Rover collapsed.
[edit] Nanjing Automobile Group production
Nanjing Automobile Group, which bought MG Rover's remaining assets during bankruptcy proceedings, restarted production in March of 2007. It aims to build 200,000 TF's a year at its Nanjing factory.[1] Experts from the Longbridge factory were involved in building the new TF's in Nanjing.[2] The company has also indicated its plan to manufacture the MG TF in Ardmore, Oklahoma starting in early 2008.[citation needed] Should that plan come to fruition, the MG TF would become available to U.S. car buyers for the first time.
[edit] Known problems
The F is well-known for its poorly designed original head gasket and head gasket failure is a common cause of breakdown[citation needed]. Although the early (pre 2000) MG Fs had Nylon dowels for locating the head to the block, these were updated in 2000 to metal. This stopped one cause of head gasket failure when the head would move very slightly against the gasket.
In the 2005 model year updates, MG Rover added a low coolant sensor to the MG TF, which should virtually eradicate the problem from the car when coolant loss is at fault as the driver will be warned prior to any serious damage occurring. Destined to be introduced with the EUIV emissions compliant engine in late 2005 was a revised triple layer gasket and strengthened oil rail. The aim of the latter is to improve engine rigidity. But this was never introduced on the MG TF made by MG Rover Group as the company failed before it was introduced.
In the MG TF which will be launched by Nanjing Automotive in 2007, the 'N' series engine (basically the aforementioned EUIV compliant K Series) will have these modifications as standard.
[edit] In Popular Culture
The MG F has appeared in Gran Turismo 2 and Gran Turismo 4 while the TF has appeared also in Gran Turismo 4. A 1995 MG F appeared in Series 9 of Top Gear as part of a challenge to build limousine's. Richard Hammond chose the F as he wanted to create "a mid engined sports car limousine" which hadn't been done before. The MG F and TF have both featured in various soaps mainly Emmerdale and Coronation Street, as MG Rover had a contract with ITV.
Former notable owners include:
- Victoria Beckham - 1996 MG F in Amaranth, registration N145 EUR.
- Anthea Turner - 1995 MG F in British Racing Green.
- Tracy Shaw - Had a MG F and a 2003 TF in Cool Blue.
- Ritchie Neville - silver MG F which he crashed.
- Mick Hucknall - had a succession of MG F's around the world.
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor - blue TF.
- Tamzin Outhwaite - a TF.
- Anna Friel - a MG F.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Chinese plant rolls out first MG - BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ In pictures: Chinese MG cars - BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
