I dunno, 7 million quid for a working platform and tooling seems like a bargain to me. Rover had bigger problems than this. The down fall was going with carbon fibre which must’ve cost a bomb. I always liked the max power style of these.
I really enjoy your videos, thank you for your continued productions. I especially like the extensive research & business analysis put into the videos summarizing the product concept from start to finish. This to me adds a lot of interesting lore & background detailing the thought process and intentions of a particular company/product, including its eventual success/demise given the circumstances and environment the products were introduced in. Best wishes from Canada.
I have an MGB so I guess I am an 'MG guy' and I do remember this from back in the day but never knew the whole story so thanks! It always looked to me though to be like an 80s film version of a modern super car with it's odd styling. Always makes me thing of the 6000 SUX from Robocop!
Great video. An extra note about MG's preference in spending money on niche projects: MG was linked, briefly, as being an engine 'supplier' to the American Champ Car Series (CART) from 2003. At that time, CART was in the decline as the Indy Racing League (IRL) began to take the major teams, sponsors and manufacturers from them. One idea was to ditch the iconic but aging 2.65L turbo-V8s and copy the IRL with 3.0/3.5L NA V8s. The thinking behind getting MG onboard was to do promotional crossover work with X-Power brand, possibly to match BMW's formula-car racing exploits (BMW in F1 via Williams, MG hoping to tie-up with CART). As you can guess, this never happened.
Ooo, do the Marcos TSO next...I always wanted one if those, that was one of the best sounding cars on oldschool Top Gear right up there with the Alfa Romeo 8C.
Good stuff. Nice work. Why oh why did the British so often pick up scrap from the floor of others. It's like a run down junkie looking for dropped coins on the floor all day.
When I was a kid knew it was over when it was a mangusta facelift that was going to save Rover. Mid 2000s were rough, so heartbreaking that I am glad at least SAIC are making rovers because it was either that or complete brand extinction.
The MGs of the early 2000s was as much MG as the Chinese MGs of today, it just a marketing stunt that people sadly fall for. P S I look forward to your videos with excellent standards, and the subjects are always right up my street. Thank you keep up the good work
I love this car. I think its the best looking british modern stlyed car. I wouldve gone with the gm engine though. That God peter stevens restyled it cause the mangusta was a car only its mother could love.I do agree mg should've spent the money on their current model improvements but I am certainly glad this car was made.
I wonder what would have happened under Alchemy, rather than the phoenix 4. Would alchemy have spent time developing the MGF and then a successor? I can't help but think they'd have, at least, kept going a bit longer. But would the great recession have killed them off though. Who knows.
This takes me back to the days when I avidly read all the car magazines back in the day, reading about this car, and the other high powered MG’s (rebadged rovers). That’s before I saw the light about ICE cars… It’s a bit like the story of TVR, this… 🏴
MG Rover wasted time and money on this and re-engineering the 75 as a rear wheel drive V8, when their main problem was the lack of competitive mid-range models to replace the 25 and 45.
I don't think in 1993 Pagani were that famous as they were only founded in 1992 and don't forget although founded in Italy, Pagani himself was Argentinean born in 1955,
Mg rover should have reskinned 25/45 just enough have unrecognizable as Honda product, So they wouldn't have pay them a fee. And when they got healthy launch new Metro to go up against Bmw Mini. Mg rover management were always splashing money they didn't have on low volume luxury/sports cars instead of high volume small/medium cars. Example when they got taken over by Bmw famous for low volume executive cars, They launched 75 a low volume executive car.
MG Rover was always doomed. It could never afford to design a new car, so it was only a matter of time before it went under. That should've been obvious from the start.
Joining 2 failing companies doesn't get you one good company, it only gets you a larger failing company.
The McDonnell mergers
I dunno, 7 million quid for a working platform and tooling seems like a bargain to me. Rover had bigger problems than this. The down fall was going with carbon fibre which must’ve cost a bomb. I always liked the max power style of these.
Great video as always. Thankful for all your content. Hope you had a merry Christmas and wish for a great 2025.
the money would have been better spent on the main prodution cars like fixing the head gasket issues with the K series
That got fixed early on.
@@KarlHamilton sorry to say it did not the way it works is the main issue
@@KarlHamiltonI'm not entirely convinced it did.
@@johnnorman7044the company or the gasket?
I really enjoy your videos, thank you for your continued productions. I especially like the extensive research & business analysis put into the videos summarizing the product concept from start to finish. This to me adds a lot of interesting lore & background detailing the thought process and intentions of a particular company/product, including its eventual success/demise given the circumstances and environment the products were introduced in. Best wishes from Canada.
I have an MGB so I guess I am an 'MG guy' and I do remember this from back in the day but never knew the whole story so thanks! It always looked to me though to be like an 80s film version of a modern super car with it's odd styling. Always makes me thing of the 6000 SUX from Robocop!
Great video. An extra note about MG's preference in spending money on niche projects: MG was linked, briefly, as being an engine 'supplier' to the American Champ Car Series (CART) from 2003. At that time, CART was in the decline as the Indy Racing League (IRL) began to take the major teams, sponsors and manufacturers from them. One idea was to ditch the iconic but aging 2.65L turbo-V8s and copy the IRL with 3.0/3.5L NA V8s. The thinking behind getting MG onboard was to do promotional crossover work with X-Power brand, possibly to match BMW's formula-car racing exploits (BMW in F1 via Williams, MG hoping to tie-up with CART). As you can guess, this never happened.
Great video as always. I think it's aged rather well..
Great video as always hope you had awesome Christmas happy new year x
Ooo, do the Marcos TSO next...I always wanted one if those, that was one of the best sounding cars on oldschool Top Gear right up there with the Alfa Romeo 8C.
It also gave Jeremy Clarkson a borderline concussion, so it had that going for it, as well.
European car of the year then surely?
Good stuff. Nice work. Why oh why did the British so often pick up scrap from the floor of others. It's like a run down junkie looking for dropped coins on the floor all day.
When I was a kid knew it was over when it was a mangusta facelift that was going to save Rover. Mid 2000s were rough, so heartbreaking that I am glad at least SAIC are making rovers because it was either that or complete brand extinction.
The MGs of the early 2000s was as much MG as the Chinese MGs of today, it just a marketing stunt that people sadly fall for. P S I look forward to your videos with excellent standards, and the subjects are always right up my street. Thank you keep up the good work
I have always loved the look of these. I’ve only ever seen one on the road.
I love this car. I think its the best looking british modern stlyed car. I wouldve gone with the gm engine though. That God peter stevens restyled it cause the mangusta was a car only its mother could love.I do agree mg should've spent the money on their current model improvements but I am certainly glad this car was made.
The CityRover is worth a episode too,MG Rover threw lots of money into projects that were just pointless.It was never going to survive..
Such a sick car 😎
I wonder what would have happened under Alchemy, rather than the phoenix 4. Would alchemy have spent time developing the MGF and then a successor? I can't help but think they'd have, at least, kept going a bit longer. But would the great recession have killed them off though. Who knows.
Phoenix always was a political rather than a business decision. The original Alchemy plan was a much tighter operation.
Always such a strange choice of a car for MG I thought.
Its ok to say to say the money was wasted but there was never enough money to replace the 45 never mind 25 and a new model
You missed the chance to include Mr Qvale's part in the failure of Jensen in the 1970s.
Oh do tell more please!
British management’s potential at it’s finest… We should learn and stop assuming that we’re best just because we say we are.
This takes me back to the days when I avidly read all the car magazines back in the day, reading about this car, and the other high powered MG’s (rebadged rovers).
That’s before I saw the light about ICE cars…
It’s a bit like the story of TVR, this… 🏴
Could you do a video on MG's revival?
i have always thought this car could have been awesome
The front end looks like an early 2000s Dodge concept car
MG Rover wasted time and money on this and re-engineering the 75 as a rear wheel drive V8, when their main problem was the lack of competitive mid-range models to replace the 25 and 45.
I've never been a particular admirer of Italian styling.
Another great video
Official Vehicle of the 4th Reich o/
Is this some braindead Top Gear reference?
A skunk works project that would have been amazing still is!! If not for selling everything
There is a single one for sale in all of europe. Now costs 130k euros
The last Hurra
Gud vid 💯💥
I don't think in 1993 Pagani were that famous as they were only founded in 1992 and don't forget although founded in Italy, Pagani himself was Argentinean born in 1955,
Who is looking on ebay right now? £56k.....
Glorious failure or wasted opportunity? Seems to me that the British motor industry seems to specialise in that particular bracket...
It used to be Morris Garage. Now it is Maos Garage. 😂
Still Morris Garages
@Lando-kx6so Who owns MG?
Viper money, Mustang performance. I see why it failed.
I saw one in real life when i was 21 i waved at the owner he waved back
Mg rover should have reskinned 25/45 just enough have unrecognizable as Honda product, So they wouldn't have pay them a fee. And when they got healthy launch new Metro to go up against Bmw Mini. Mg rover management were always splashing money they didn't have on low volume luxury/sports cars instead of high volume small/medium cars. Example when they got taken over by Bmw famous for low volume executive cars, They launched 75 a low volume executive car.
MG Rover was always doomed. It could never afford to design a new car, so it was only a matter of time before it went under. That should've been obvious from the start.
The rear shot of the Biqwa, Bigwa, Bigqa or whatever looks cheap and says nothing that says sports car.
Oh, you British. You almost get it right, then blow it.
All about keeping more jobs and the idea of mass assembly wasn't it.
So which car is this all about I can't work it out you are way to random at name dropping 😮
Those Punto headlights were a mistake, too recent and stood out like a sore thumb