BIRMINGHAM, England Shanghai Auto, the new Chinese parent of Nanjing MG, has dispelled widespread and apparently premature rumors in England concerning the possible demise of the TF. The company's British arm announced Thursday that it will release a new edition, the TF LE500, in early August, with the first cars arriving at U.K. dealers in September.
Earlier stories in the British press had speculated on the future of the TF after local body supplier Stadco pulled out of the MG project, leaving the Longbridge plant temporarily idled.
Gary Hagen, MG's director of sales and marketing, said: "The open-top sports car is an iconic image of British motoring and forms the basis of the MG marque's long pedigree. The launch of the TF LE500 signals our determination to keep this class of car at the heart of the brand as we take it forward."
The company said it is working on additional MG models at the Shanghai Motor Technical Centre in nearby Leamington Spa, "to extend the range into additional sectors."
The LE500, as the name implies, is a limited edition of 500 individually numbered copies of the TF, in right-hand-drive only for U.K. customers. Special equipment on each includes revised exterior styling with body-color hardtop, leather seats, air-conditioning, antilock brakes, front disc brakes with red calipers, 16-inch alloy wheels in black or shadow chrome finish, piano-black interior trim and revised instrumentation.
The LE500 is powered by a 133-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 122 pound-feet of torque.
Reports in the British press say the next-generation MGs, due in 2010, will include both coupe and convertible models, sharing underbody components with the recently launched Roewe 550 hatchback.
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