MG F
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The MG F was a mid-engined roadster launched in 1995. MG had stopped producing sports cars in 1980 when British Leyland closed their Abingdon plant near Oxford, although the famous badge had been used on badge-engineered hatchbacks and saloons between 1982 and 1991. In 1992, the company had 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 this new model. It was renamed using the historic TF name in 2003, but future production plans are in limbo following the collapse of the MG Rover Group in 2005.
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[edit] Mark I
The MGF 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). The design was originated in the studios of Pininfarina. The design plans were first sold to Honda for their Kei car model Honda Beat. Later Pininfarina sold the design plans again to MG Rover. The MGF quickly shot to the top of the affordable sports car charts in Britain and remained there for a long time.
[edit] Mark II
Autumn of 1999 saw the MGF 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 MGF 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 MGF still proved very popular although it was no longer up to class-leading standard.
[edit] TF
A facelift in 2002 saw the MGF 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 MGF engines, and the increased by 20% tortional stiffness of the body. Various cosmetic tweaks including 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.
The MG TF was proving reasonably popular in comparison with the best affordable sports cars. However, production was suspended in 2005 when MG Rover collapsed. Nanjing Automobile Group, which bought MG Rover's remaining assets during bankruptcy proceedings, plans to restart production of a redesigned MG TF in Longbridge and in Ardmore, Oklahoma, in early 2007. For the first time the MG TF will become available to U.S. car buyers.
When it became apparent that MG Rover no longer held the rights to its 25 and 75 models, the company's administrators, PricewaterhouseCoopers, believed the MG TF to be the company's most valuable remaining asset.
[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. Rover has since designed a 'competition head gasket' which may be retro-fitted to prevent this problem occuring.
