The Austin J40 pedal car is a miniature motoring marvel. Originally built by Welsh miners who had developed lung disease as a result of a lifetime working in the coal mines, the impact made by these diminutive Austins is way beyond anything imagined when the hand-built prototype of Austin Chairman Leonard Lord’s ‘little idea’ first appeared in 1946. The fact that over 70 years after the first … [Read more...]
Mid-week motoring: MINI at 60
Last week MINI celebrated production of the 10-millionth Mini and MINI built under British and BMW ownership periods, writes David Miles. The landmark car was a MINI 60 Years Anniversary Edition just like the one I have been test driving. To celebrate the 60th anniversary MINI brought together at Plant Oxford one car from each year of production - 60 cars from 60 years. To celebrate 60 years of … [Read more...]
First drive: New MG3 is safe and sound
Having been through many periods of ownership, including BMC and British Leyland, today MG is in the hands of SAIC, China’s largest car manufacturer, writes David Miles. They sold 6.9-million new cars last year globally, 3.52-million in the first six months of this year, and MG is now the global brand for SAIC outside China and for the domestic market their brand of different models is … [Read more...]
MG India plant to open in two years
The Chinese owners of MG who closed the Longbridge finishing facility last year have confirmed they plan to import new cars to Europe in 2019. SAIC Motor, China's largest automaker by sales volume, will set up its first car manufacturing plant in India as Chinese carmakers push into overseas markets. The automaker will bring its MG brand to India and begin assembly operations in 2019, it … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: MG GS Exclusive Auto
Few new cars I have driven turned heads and raised questions in the way of the latest MG GS just tested. “What is it?” was the common query and when told it was an MG there seemed to follow something along the lines of “I didn’t know they still made cars.” Therein lies the opportunity and the obstacle. The ‘opportunity’ for MG to raise its game and really go out to market the marque and also … [Read more...]
MG UK car production ends
MG has pulled the plug on its Longbridge assembly operation. Production of the MG3 and GS suv will end and 25 line workers will be made redundant as the only other jobs in the West Midlands centre are 400 technical, reasearch and development, which will continue. Longbridge opened over 100 years ago and in its heyday covered 400 acres straddling two counties but it saw manufacturing … [Read more...]