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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - X70/X71 and Lotus

What do we think of the article in yesterdays Autocar on the subject?

Placed a version of it on site for those who don't know what I'm on about! xpower-mg.com
Jerry Flint

Not seen Autocar, and which Z car saloon is the X70/X71 anyway?

Kelvin
Kelvin

Kelvin

Kelvin, you are perfectly sorrect - the item would have been better under another heading! However, it is here now and I suggest you buy Autocar or take a look at http://www.xpower-mg.com/Whats%20NEW.htm

JF
Jerry

It will VERY HAPPEN!
JJ

I wonder how John Moulton feels, if MG-R nicks his ideas for sports car production?

This situation is intriguing, indeed.

1) A developed 'F as the four cylinder range

2) An aluminum chassis front engine rwd six cylinder range

3) The X80 eight cylinder range topper

For us in the States - the X80 was purchased by MG-R as US compliant. I imagine that the X70/71 would be as well. Although aluminum bodied cars tend to be extremely low volume due to the costs involved in aluminum production (aluminum structures are an investment save due to their relative ease of assembly, but for production cars the cars tend to be expensive and heavy compared to steel). Could enough be built to support US market demand? (This was the problem in bringing over the 'F.)

I do have a challenge for MG-R and the 'F. If you can make money on the existing 'F for the rest of the world (capacity constrained to 15,000) - how about setting up a duplicate set of tools for the 15,000 cars you'd be able to sell in the States? Wouldn't that be profitable as well?
John Z.

I just wondering if LOTUS will build sports cars for everyone? Vauxhall, Ford,MGR etc?
JJ

JJ,

They already have! Ford's Lotus Cortina, Vauxhall Carlton Lotus and they did much of the development on the MG Metro Turbo IIRC. That being the case, why was it not called the MG Lotus Metro .... has a nice thoroughbred ring to it and they dont come more thoroughbred than the name LOTUS! .... :)

John
John McFeely

Rather than Lotus building cars for MG Rover, imagine the reverse situation, using up some of the vast space at Longbridge ....
David Knowles

Read about LOTUS in Autocar this week? its for sale, whats new?
JJ

>>I do have a challenge for MG-R and the 'F. If you can make money on the existing 'F for the rest of the world (capacity constrained to 15,000) - how about setting up a duplicate set of tools for the 15,000 cars you'd be able to sell in the States? Wouldn't that be profitable as well? <<

IIRC John, the original productionisation by Mayflower was based on a business plan designed to recoup the investment over 6 years. Whilst a second production line may not be as expensive (although meeting US regulatory requirements is), how long do see the current MGF lasting? Personally I agree with you- but it all rather depends on whether the business case is strong enough for MG to contemplate.
Rob Bell

Rob - It never ceases to amaze me that sports cars tend to have the longest life cycles on the planet, while sports coupes go in and out of style within 6 months to a year.

The 'F, suitably updated from time to time, might go on for quite some time, MGB or 911 style. These days, meeting US regulations is not as daunting as it used to be. ("Expensive" is a relative term.) In terms of emissions, it's what calibration to use vis a vis Euro specs, not building a technology from scratch, which was the case in the seventies. Likewise for the crash performance. Yes, the US standard is based on (ludicrously) unbelted occupants, but the kinematics of the crash event is much better understood, and compliance is a matter of choreographing the various mechanisms and forces involved, rather than a matter of invention.

Yes, I'd rather have an all new, affordable, front engine, rwd sports car, all steel, built-in-volume sports car with four and six cylinder engine choices. But if MG-R is forced into an aluminum, more expensive 6 cylinder car, and soldiering on with an updated 'F, I can't necessarily see why it can't be made to be sold in the States, when the marque returns.

I wonder if MG will return right about the release of the third movie of the Lord of the Rings trilogy? It's called "The Return of the King". I can see the ad theme now - "The Sword that was Broken is Forged Anew".

PS - IIRC???
John Z

MG activity will bubble up again in January ...
Ann MG Writer who will remain anonymous

Saw a number of "Z"eds today. I think we are starting to get somewhere!
JJ

"IIRC" = If I Recall Correctly John.

Good points well made- but it all rather depends on MGR determination to return the the US market- and exactly when.
Rob Bell

JJ, Manchester: WROTE:

Saw a number of "Z"eds today. I think we are starting to get somewhere!

You may well be right as they are definitely on the increase locally. When I trawled the local tyre fit places yesterday afternoon I saw a yellow ZR ( base £9995 model ) and a blue ZR120 with the small spoiler. Until a couple of weeks ago, my sightings of ZTs and ZSs locally outnumbered ZRs by a long way. ZRs appear more frequent now. There's now a yellow ZR and a blue ZT owned locally by neighbours.

John McFeely
John McFeely

To Rob - TY
John Z

Dear Miss Ann M.G. Writer:

You are a complete tease. I don't know why all the boys like you so much.

Please.... tease us some more!

Robert
Robert Rushing

John, LOL!

We'll all be talking TLAs if we're not careful! ;o)
Rob Bell

You'll just have to wait until the second Tuesday in January - then I might be able to bring my teasing to a conclusion ...
Ann MG Writer who will remain anonymous

Miss Ann MG Writer (greatest tease in England):

It's just a couple of more days until the 2nd Tuesday. Can you give us any hints yet?

Robert


If you're reading this Mr. McFeely: Can you e-mail me sometime concerning request of St Louis Cardinals stuff?
Robert Rushing

Well, tomorrow is the big day? Any hints yet?

Robert
Robert Rushing

Someone posted it on another thread: http://members.tripod.co.uk/XPower/MG%20TF%20Gallery.htm
eXtremely Fast

Well, I was hoping for news that something was heading our way, but even so the mgtf is not bad news.

I like the looks of it a lot. The update is more aggressive than the F, without spoiling it's beautiful lines.

Now, for the more important question, Miss Ann MG Writer, when are we going to hear about the X70/71 and, more importantly, when are we going to hear about the arrival date in the US?

Robert "I want my, I want my, I want my new MG" Rushing
Robert Rushing

Hmm ... the X70/71 is not for disclosure for some yet ... but with all the behind the scenes work on the Brilliance deal, which will make cars cheaper to build, then ....
Ann MG Writer who will remain anonymous

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2001 and 09/01/2002

MG ZR ZS ZT Technical index

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