MG TF born again in the UK

We previously covered the rebirthing of MG by Nanjing Automobile Corporation in China. Well Nanjing’s plans continue to march along with production of the MG TF roadster getting underway yesterday for the second time in history. Nanjing have re-opened the old Longbridge manufacturing facility and expect it to be an economic boost for the surrounding Midlands industrial area.

The CEO of Nanjing has confirmed that the reopening of the Longbridge site marks an exciting time for MG and expects Longbridge to play a leading role in MG’s European operation.

At this stage the new Longbridge operation is an assembly plant where knock down kits are assembled but Nanjing have plans to expand this to actual manufacture of TF bodies and eventually a whole new car. It is expected that new MG TF’s will be in showrooms in early 2008.

Our only question is who is going to buy them? The MG TF is already an outdated car and certainly outclassed by most if not all of its rivals. Nanjing are obviously relying on some old fashioned British nostalgia kicking in or the new TF is going to be so cheap that punters just won't be able to resist. We suspect the later…