MG Longbridge Factory Tour (PICTURE HEAVY)

[Twinterx]

Hey guys! i went to Longbridge yesterday with my girlfriend for the Factory tour that they offer every thursday, took some pictures, so i thought i'd share them with you!



























Only Mini Limo ever built!

























then we got taken around the back where they keep all the test cars, and found all of these

[mattykan]

Nice pictures.. thanks for sharing them with us...

Cheers..

[MetroMartin]

Nice pictures, good to know they offer a tour!

[HotTubRepairer]

Thanks for sharing.

Interesting to see the two different MG3 front ends.

[LeRich]

Originally Posted by HotTubRepairer

Interesting to see the two different MG3 front ends.

The front on the camo'd car is from the MG3 XCross (the Streetwise'd version)

Good pics of the test cars. I love the MG3 and can't wait for it to hit the road. There was a small news item in this week's Auto Express mentioning the car will have SAIC/GM engines with around 115-160 bhp and featuring direct injection and stop/start tech. Wonder what's under the bonnets of those red MG3s?

[LlyrOwenJones]

I did a quick car check on the black MG6 "VU11FAO", and it has a diesel engine in it.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by HotTubRepairer

Thanks for sharing.

Interesting to see the two different MG3 front ends.

But none of those front ends will be the same as the MG3 that goes on sale next March

[Ian]

Originally Posted by LlyrOwenJones

I did a quick car check on the black MG6 "VU11FAO", and it has a diesel engine in it.

Yes it is. It has the new D19 engine in it, and a six-speed manual gearbox.

[BLMC]

Damn, we never got taken round the back.

[ROVER-25X]

I'll take you.


Great pics mate, that Grey mini is cheeky, looks and impressive lump under the bonnet, the MG3 is appealing to me more and more, lots of tuning potential, especialy if they take the standard 4 stud wheels of the older MG-ROVER's.

[Peterover]

Originally Posted by Ian

Yes it is. It has the new D19 engine in it, and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Ian your such a tease

[JoCoLo]

What was the engine in that grey Mini? A 16V A-Series?

[gshaw]

Originally Posted by Ian

But none of those front ends will be the same as the MG3 that goes on sale next March

I hope you're right!

[Peterover]

Originally Posted by JoCoLo

What was the engine in that grey Mini? A 16V A-Series?

It was a BMW era Rover show car to celebrate the Minis 40th,
Two cars were shown that 16v rocket, and the mini limo both pictured.

[Twinterx]

Originally Posted by Ian

But none of those front ends will be the same as the MG3 that goes on sale next March

They will, i spoke to the site manager at longbridge and he said that is exactly how they're being retaled in england. they're not going to be sportified like many rumours say

also got shown information on a 6speed gearbox that has been designed, this will be fit into the 2.0L petrol engine which has also been designed, and the 1.9Diesel engine which we all know about.

We also got shown an Eco engine which is currently on trial in china.

i wasnt able to take pictures of any of this, as it is all "Confidential"

the MG5 will be released with the 2.0L petty, and the 1.9 Diesel.

Was also interesting to find out that SIAC own 50% of VW, and 51% of GM

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Twinterx

They will, i spoke to the site manager at longbridge and he said that is exactly how they're being retaled in england. they're not going to be sportified like many rumours say

Shall we have a friendly bet about this - say £10? I was in the design studio with the design director only last Wednesday and saw the new front end for the UK market MG3.

also got shown information on a 6speed gearbox that has been designed, this will be fit into the 2.0L petrol engine which has also been designed, and the 1.9Diesel engine which we all know about.

I presume you mean this - the SCM 360 gearbox

We also got shown an Eco engine which is currently on trial in china.

i wasnt able to take pictures of any of this, as it is all "Confidential"

the MG5 will be released with the 2.0L petty, and the 1.9 Diesel.

The 2.0 GDI engine won't be going into the MG5

Was also interesting to find out that SIAC own 50% of VW, and 51% of GM

No they don't. SAIC own 50% of a joint venture with VW, and 51% of a joint venture with GM. An altogether different picture to that you are painting

[RolandRat]

Ah well hopeully MG UK have recruited many of the over worked bumper redesign team from MG Rover days (other than the ones that did the 75 mk2 facelft - yuck)

[Ian]

Originally Posted by RichardK

Ah well hopeully MG UK have recruited many of the over worked bumper redesign team from MG Rover days (other than the ones that did the 75 mk2 facelft - yuck)

The 75 V8 bumper was beautiful.

[Windy]

Originally Posted by Ian

No they don't. SAIC own 50% of a joint venture with VW, and 51% of a joint venture with GM. An altogether different picture to that you are painting

Actually, SAIC do own part of GM itself in addition to 50% of Shanghai GM, plus a very temporary extra 1% of Shanghai GM, plus 50% of GM's India operations...

How heavy is that plastic gearbox?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Windy

Actually, SAIC do own part of GM itself in addition to 50% of Shanghai GM, plus a very temporary extra 1% of Shanghai GM, plus 50% of GM's India operations...

But they don't own 50% of VW and 51% of GM though, do they Windy?