BMW bought the Rover Group (or whatever it was called at the time) several years ago, but were just never able to turn it around and make it efficient and profitable. Last I heard was about a year ago, BMW sold the Land Rover line to Ford, kept the Mini for themselves, and were working a deal to sell Rover proper to a group of British investors (the Alchemy Group, I think they were called). There was talk that those investors were going to revive the MG brand (Hooray!), and they did field a team at Le Mans, but that’s about all I’ve heard.
Robot Arm has it right. The new MGs are sportier versions of the Rovers and are due out next month. I think there is also an updated MGF due soon. MG will be entering cars in the BTCC (touring car) and WRC (rally) racing series later this year too.
If ‘The Italian Job’ isn’t the best caper movie of all-time, I’ll eat my underpants. Any fan of the Mini Cooper really has to know the film inside out.
And if it’s not red, white or blue – union jack roof optional – then it ain’t a proper mini. No other way of thinking. Save the British Racing Green for the more upmarket wheels.