Archive for December, 2009
Press Report : X POWER dream turns sour for Will Riley
Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Post, 31st December, 2009 Will Riley boasted less than two years ago how he had a raft of orders for powerful MG X POWER coupés after acquiring the rights to the marque after the collapse of Longbridge. He promised that he would soon be employing 200 workers after ploughing more than £3m [...]
December 31, 2009
· 
Keith Adams · 
No Comments
First drive : MG6
It’s the first new MG hot-hatch since the Zed cars burst onto the scene in 2001 in an attempt to sex-up the frumpy Rover range. We drive the MG6 and come away with the distinct impression that the Anglo-Chinese hot-hatch is a step in the right direction. Words: Nigel Garton Pictures: car.autohome.com.cn Date: 24 Dec [...]
December 30, 2009
· Keith Adams · 3 Comments
Happy New Year!
Keith Adams Amazingly, it’s that time again – hasn’t this decade gone quickly? It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was ringing in the new millennium, keeping a watching eye on my Commodore Amiga to see tha the clock would actually click around to 2000 without any problems at all. Mind you, if I could see [...]
December 28, 2009
· Keith Adams · 9 Comments
Testing times
Keith Adams Well, finally, I’ve had a chance to give my SD1 its first run since getting it back from Poland, and it’s a mixture of good and bad news, but mainly good. For one, I don’t think the SD1′s actually been refuelled since 2006 and, well, it must be about due now. Anyway, with the car [...]
December 28, 2009
· Keith Adams · 2 Comments
And so, the bonding process begins
Keith Adams Well, Christmas and Boxing Day are out of the way and the snow’s cleared to such an extent that I can finally get the garage open and spend a little time getting my SD1 back on the road. It’s a process that should have kicked off rather sooner following its trailering back [...]
December 27, 2009
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Keith Adams It’s been a challenging 2009, that’s for sure… and, from what I’m hearing, 2010 is going to be more of the same, even as the rest of the world clambers out of an unprecedented global recession. However, for a couple of weeks in December, we’re able to put all of that aside, and [...]
December 20, 2009
· Keith Adams · 5 Comments
Press Report : Legendary MINI Moke is reborn
Jack Rix, Auto Express, 16th December, 2009 In a surprise move MINI has unveiled a brand-new concept car designed as a successor to the famous Sixties Moke. The car is badged the MINI Beachcomber Concept and it’s set to take January’s Detroit Motor Show by storm. Auto Express was granted an exclusive audience with both [...]
December 17, 2009
· Keith Adams · No Comments
SAIC Motor and MG : Setting a precedent for FGA’s ailing Alfa Romeo brand?
Clive Goldthorp Alfa Romeo and MG – two of the Automotive Industry’s most historic and iconic, but often troubled, sporting marques – have much in common at the moment. The two brands have probably the most active and dedicated global Owners’ Clubs networks of any OEMs and, while MG enthusiasts have just been celebrating the [...]
December 12, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · 12 Comments
Obituary : Sir Richard O’Brien
Sir Richard O’Brien Sir Richard O’Brien, who died on December 11 2009 aged 89, chaired the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) from 1976 to 1982 and later served as chairman of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s controversial Commission on Urban Priority Areas; during the Second World War he fought with great bravery and was awarded an MC, [...]
December 12, 2009
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Jaguar Land Rover : Ranking high in American J.D.Power SSI Study
Jaguar Land Rover North America has just announced that the Jaguar and Land Rover brands have achieved the first and fifth highest scores respectively in the industry for customer sales satisfaction in J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM. Jaguar is the highest scoring brand in the study for the second consecutive year, and [...]
December 11, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
On reflection…
Keith Adams £100 and it’s yours… See my forum post: Project for sale. £100 takes it away. The car was full welded to MoT standard, which it then passed, then went into storage back in 2006. So no tax/MoT and on SORN. Has been dry stored since. Needs a coil, the brakes freeing off, clutch [...]
December 10, 2009
· Keith Adams · One Comment
Classics : My next project? Or yours?
Keith Adams Now my Rover SD1 is well on its way back to recovery, there’s the thorny issue of my Alfasud. It’s been languishing in storage now for about three years and I really must do something about it. Although it’s not too evident from this shot, the whole thing was welded up to within [...]
December 5, 2009
· Keith Adams · 16 Comments
Jaguar : UK sales up 50 per cent in November
Jaguar’s UK sales in November have risen by 50 per cent compared to the same month last year with a total of 1463 models sold. This success has been led by both the XK and XF models – with sales increasing by 78.4 per cent and 149 per cent respectively for the month. Geoff Cousins, [...]
December 4, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
China Watch : GM and SAIC Motor increase links in China and India
Automotive News Europe, 4th December, 2009 SHANGHAI (Reuters) – General Motors will sell a 1 percent stake in its existing China venture with partner SAIC Motor for about $85 million, giving China’s top carmaker control and allowing it to consolidate the venture’s accounts onto its balance sheet. GM and SAIC Motor also announced that they [...]
December 4, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
China Watch : SAIC Motor suspends trading on Shanghai Stock Exchange
Automotive News Europe, 3rd December, 2009 SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co. partner SAIC Motor, China’s biggest automaker, said on Thursday it suspended its trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange as it plans a major asset restructuring. SAIC Motor said it would hold a board meeting before Dec. 9 to discuss the [...]
December 4, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
The best used car in the real world?
Roger Blaxall Friday, 30th November. It’s a very special date for me – two years ago I took the plunge and invested all of £150 in a Rover 416 SLi saloon. A foolish move? Well, so far, so good – it’s been one of the best cars I’ve ever bought* It all started so predictably [...]
December 3, 2009
· Keith Adams · 9 Comments
Where did Jaguar go wrong?
Ian Nicholls In 2009 Jaguar cars unveiled the latest XJ saloon against a background of world recession and uncertainty about the financial strength of its new owners, the Indian conglomerate Tata. The whole story of the company since the October 1973 energy crisis has seen more downs than ups and the dreams that founder Sir [...]
December 2, 2009
· Keith Adams · 28 Comments
Car of the month : December 2009
Rover SD1s. Ah the V8, the Vanden Plas, the Vitesse… but what about the more regular models in the range? We celebrate Gareth Hopkins’ award-winning 2300 Series 2 model by giving it Car of the Month status. However, as you’ll see it’s not only in good condition, but Gareth’s not afraid to use the car [...]
December 1, 2009
· Keith Adams · No Comments
XPart : ‘Ultimate fix’ for MG Rover K-Series HGF now available
MG Rover parts specialist XPart now offers the best known aftermarket solution for head gasket repairs on K-series engines Technicians tasked with replacing head gaskets on MG Rover K-series engines now have access to the new Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) Gasket Kit from XPart, designed to be the most efficient and durable solution to date for [...]
December 1, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
Press Comment : JLR shifts up a gear without UK Government’s support
David Bailey, Birmingham Post, 29th November, 2009 After being clobbered by the double whammy of recession and credit crunch, it’s wonderful to see JLR back in the black (in operating terms at least) with some excellent results. Indeed, so much so that it will be fun to watch some of the teenage scribblers in the [...]
December 1, 2009
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
