Archive for April, 2011
Buses : Leyland Tiger 20 years on!
Leyland’s last coach chassis, the Tiger – the company’s successor to the legendary Leopard – went out of production 20 years ago this year. The Tiger was also the last ‘heavyweight’ British coach to sell in big numbers and still has a loyal following to this day. Mike Humble pays homage… Buses and coaches played as an important part in my childhood [...]
April 29, 2011
· 
Mike Humble · 
43 Comments
Team Lotus : Formula One Team acquires Caterham Cars Limited
For anyone not up to speed with the Lotus vs Lotus saga in Formula 1, it’s been about the Group Lotus title sponsorship of the Renault F1 cars (to create the black-and-gold Lotus-Renault) and Team Lotus’ tussle for the same name (to create Team Lotus-Renault). The story has now taken another interesting twist as Team Lotus [...]
April 27, 2011
· Keith Adams · 18 Comments
What Team Lotus’ takeover of Caterham Cars could really mean
Chris Sawyer The cat is out of the bag. Team Lotus has acquired Caterham Cars. Conventional wisdom is convinced this is an attempt by Team Lotus’ Principal Tony Fernandes to manufacture an “out” should the court case over rights to the Team Lotus name go against him in the coming weeks. Couple this with the [...]
April 27, 2011
· Keith Adams · 10 Comments
Auto Express Driver Power 2011 : MG ZT and Rover 75 still in Top 15
Keith Adams Six years on from the end of MG Rover as we knew it, the cars’ owners and enthusiasts seem as energised about their products as they ever did – and an excellent showing in the Auto Express Driver Power 2011 survey proves that. The overall results might have been a whitewash for Skoda, with the Superb topping the [...]
April 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · 56 Comments
Jaguar : Facelifted MY12 XF range features new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine
Keith Adams The XF has received its first facelift, just three years after its introduction. The main visual difference incorporated into the 2012 XF is a new front end featuring new headlamps that resemble those which appeared on the 2007 C-XF Concept as well as the 2009 XJ. However, the big news is reserved for under the bonnet, [...]
April 21, 2011
· Keith Adams · 32 Comments
MG : The core three model range takes shape
Keith Adams SAIC Motor unveiled the MG Concept 5 at Auto Shanghai 2011 this week and, in so doing, revealed the central and probably most significant piece in the MG jigsaw to the world. You can be sure that the production version, the MG5, will be on sale in China within a year or so and [...]
April 21, 2011
· Keith Adams · 71 Comments
Bristol Cars : Frazer-Nash Group takes over
Kamkorp Autokraft Limited, part of the Frazer-Nash Group, has announced that it has acquired the assets and goodwill of Bristol Cars Limited, the luxury car manufacturer, from its Administrators. This acquisition will re-establish the connection between Bristol Cars and Frazer-Nash which dates back to Frazer-Nash’s close involvement in the foundation of Bristol Cars 65 years [...]
April 20, 2011
· Keith Adams · 12 Comments
Auto Shanghai 2011 : Range Rover Evoque makes Chinese debut
The Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition was unveiled in Shanghai. Only 500 units will be commissioned globally, with each car crafted to customer order only. Already, more than 150 orders for the Ultimate have been taken in China and more than 50 in the United States. The Ultimate Edition features two stand-alone powered rear seats, [...]
April 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · 6 Comments
Auto Shanghai 2011 : MG woos UK Dealers with Five-Year Plan
Words and Photographs: Headline Auto Among the visitors to Auto Shanghai was a group of UK -based MG Dealers who were in the city as guests of SAIC Motor and they were given the low-down on the marque’s product plans for the next five years. Central to that was the launch at the show of the MG [...]
April 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · 8 Comments
Auto Shanghai 2011 : The girls
Words: Keith Adams Photographs: Headline Auto No motor show is complete without a glamorous line-up of girls on Press Day. Hope you enjoy – but do keep checking in for updates…
April 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · 3 Comments
Auto Shanghai 2011 : MINI by Goodwood
Words: Keith Adams Photographs: Headline Auto We’ve already shown AROnline readers the clumsily-named MINI inspired by Goodwood, but the premium-packaged baby made its motor show debut in Shanghai with something of a splash. Prices have yet to be confirmed by MINI but, with a luxury equipment tally and the Rolls-Royce connection, speculation across the press seems [...]
April 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Auto Shanghai 2011 : First images of MG’s Concept 5
Words: Keith Adams Photographs: Harry Metcalfe The stars are out at Auto Shanghai today, with a raft of important new car announcements and unveilings taking place at what is likely to become the industry’s most important event in the coming years. The ‘British’ manufacturers are treating Shanghai extremely seriously, with new products and concepts rolling [...]
April 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · 8 Comments
XPart : MG Rover parc still totals over 920,000 cars
Recent statistics from the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) show that there are still nearly one million MG and Rover cars on the road. These figures demonstrate the longevity of MG Rover cars and the continued success of parts specialist XPart in keeping these highly regarded vehicles on the road. Some models recorded a decline [...]
April 18, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · 2 Comments
Press Report : JLR will nearly double Dealer Network in China
Joaquim Oliveira, Automotive News Europe, 17 April 2011 Jaguar Land Rover plans to nearly double the size of its Dealer Network in China within two years as part of its growth plans for the world’s biggest auto market, Carl-Peter Forster, CEO of the British automaker’s owner Tata Motors Limited, told Automotive News Europe. Foster said [...]
April 18, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
Polish SD1 : Mission accomplished
The Polish Rover SD1 attracted many admiring looks and comments at last weekend’s Pride of Longbridge 2011 event. At last, reliability and driver satisfaction are thankfully possible after a few long distance high speed runs. Words: Mike Humble Photographs: Keith Adams and Mike Humble Well, that’s it for another year, Pride of Longbridge 2011 was a total success [...]
April 17, 2011
· Mike Humble · 2 Comments
Pride of Longbridge 2011 : 1100 cars converge on Cofton Park
Keith Adams The Pride of Longbridge Rally is rapidly becoming the focal point for enthusiasts of Mini, MG, Rover, BMC and BL cars and, for its fifth iteration, it was clear that visitor numbers were up, no doubt encouraged to make the annual pilgrimage to Cofton Park by the launch of the new MG6. However, [...]
April 17, 2011
· Keith Adams · 24 Comments
Press Report : JLR sales rise gives Tata Motors a boost in March
Douglas A. Bolduc, Automotive News Europe, 15 April 2011 Jaguar and Land Rover sales rose 2 percent to 24,101 units last month, driven by an 8 percent rise in Land Rover sales. The increase helped JLR parent Tata Motors Limited boost its global vehicle sales 1 per cent in March to 110,785 units, the Indian [...]
April 15, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
MG TF GT: Did SAIC Motor miss an opportunity in the USA?
Words: Keith Adams Photographs: Adam Sloman I always remember feeling a slight sense of hope and optimism when NAC MG announced that it was going to start building cars in Oklahoma, USA. The announcement came in 2007 and, although little concrete news followed, I hoped, prayed and wished for a return to the colonies for [...]
April 15, 2011
· Keith Adams · 6 Comments
MG Car Club : White and Seaward to fly the flag at Auto Shanghai
Representatives from Abingdon’s world-famous MG Car Club will fly to Shanghai on Saturday (16 April) for a seven day period as VIP guests of SAIC Motor, the Chinese owner of the resurgent MG marque. General Manger, Julian White, and PR and Communications Manager, Chris Seaward, will represent the MG Car Club on MG’s expansive stand at Auto Shanghai [...]
April 14, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
Press Comment : SAIC Motor steps up ambitions with MG6 production
David Bailey, Birmingham Post The first MG6 rolled off the production line at Longbridge yesterday, six years to the week since MG Rover collapsed into administration. It was a highly symbolic moment as so far just a few hundred MGTFs have been assembled at Longbridge and the start of MG6 production marks a significant step up in [...]
April 14, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
