News from MG MOTOR UK Ltd

1st May 2015

MG3 fills Pennie’s driving school dream
A near tragic accident gave Pennie Alexander a burning passion to teach youngsters to drive safely.
But she had almost given up on her ambition until a new MG3 turned Pennie’s dream into reality and has changed her life around.
Just two weeks after Pennie’s daughter Bobbie-Jo passed her driving test, Bobbie-Jo was involved in a horrific accident with a truck on a busy dual-carriageway.
Although Bobbie-Jo wasn’t seriously injured, the mangled wreck of her car was a complete write-off. At just 18-years-old, Bobbie-Jo was traumatized by the accident and it took weeks of patience, encouragement and coaching for Pennie to get her daughter back behind the wheel.
The accident happened six years ago and since then Pennie has dreamed of becoming a driving instructor. She explained: “I was a gymnastics coach for 15 years and always tried my hardest to get the best out of the gymnasts. I loved seeing them achieve new skills and missed the feeling of fulfilment knowing that I’d helped them accomplish their goals.
“Becoming a driving instructor was the obvious way for me to get that sense of gratification and to use my skills to help youngsters learn to drive.
“Bobbie-Jo’s accident was typical of so many involving youngsters, although not all young people are lucky enough to escape injuries. My belief is that you need to teach young drivers from an entirely different perspective than older people.”
But Pennie’s dream of opening a special driving school dedicated to younger drivers had to be put on hold. She explained: “There were always two major hurdles in my way – I just couldn’t find a car that I thought suitable for youngsters, and the cost of cars put the whole plan out the window.
Pennie looked at a raft of small cars, but none came close to fitting the bill, until by chance she found out about the MG3. She had owned an MGF sports car for a few years, so she knew the brand.
Then Pennie discovered that W.H. Brand in Spalding, not far from her home in Wisbech St Mary, was an MG dealer. She said: “I went for a test drive and just couldn’t believe it – the car was exactly what I wanted in every detail. 
“I wanted a car that was simple to use and the MG3 ticked that box. I wanted a straightforward un-cluttered layout, and the MG3 was exactly that. I wanted a car that had plenty of vision and was good on clutch and accelerator controls and guess what, the MG3 scored there too.  
“I think I would have done the deal there and then anyway because no other car I’d tried came anywhere close. But when they told me the price – that was it, I was dumbfounded.” 
So Pennie’s dream driving school, DARE2DRIVE, was formed. Now she is teaching both young learner drivers and is hoping to make contact with schools across the Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk borders to set up off-road teaching for 14-17-year-olds.
She said: “Driving can be a formidable experience for youngsters, but my method of teaching means that even youngsters who have never sat in a driving seat before can start to learn the techniques about car control. That allows them to very quickly build confidence and then they are open-minded about all the key safety messages my method is founded on. 
“To be honest, I don’t think I could make this progress so quickly in any other car. It’s because the MG3 is easy to drive, doesn’t distract their concentration, has a brilliant stereo, and fantastic door mirrors giving excellent visibility. For me, and my students, the MG3 is just perfect.”   
Adam Brand, of W. H. Brand, said: “We are delighted that Pennie is so obviously pleased with the car. All of our customers are, Pennie is now almost as passionate about the MG3 as she is about her ambitions to teach youngsters how to drive properly and safely.”

6th May 2015

MG3s blast in on value package
Rebecca Allen only popped out for a bag of sugar – and came back with three shiny new MG3s!
But Rebecca, the Finance Director of a specialist engineering company in Sheffield, says she got better value with her fleet of cars than even special supermarket offers.
She explained: “It was one of those amazing coincidences – we were looking for cars for our sales team but nothing we looked at matched our list of requirements.
“At lunchtime I’d just nipped out to our local supermarket when I saw a line-up of MGs at the MG dealer just across the road and decided to pop in. My dad had owned MGs in the past so I knew the brand, but hadn’t got up close to the latest models.”
An hour or so later and Rebecca had solved her company’s fleet issue and ordered three new MG3s.
She said: “The more we looked at the MG3 the more they made sense. The price was extremely competitive alone, but then when we looked at all the extra equipment we got on the MGs as standard, it made even stronger financial sense.
“Our sales team all love them and they get a great reception when we go to see clients. Buying the MG3s was a really good move by us and the dealer has provided an excellent service. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
Rebecca works for Straaltechniek UK Ltd; an independent specialist shot blasting and engineering company with links to a large Belgium-based group. The UK company was founded 16 years ago by Rebecca’s father and now employs 26 people. They supply, install and service shot blasting and shot peening equipment throughout the world and also provide a wide range of specialist engineering services ranging from advanced CNC machining to laser and plasma cutting, welding, fabrication and paint shop work.
The company is very proud of the engineering heritage of Sheffield and is a member of the ‘Made in Sheffield’ group. Rebecca said: “MG’s an iconic British brand and it’s good to know that the cars we have were largely designed and engineered in Britain.”
Chris Grace, Sales Executive at Eric Stead (Garages) Ltd, who supplied the MG3s said: “We are delighted that Rebecca and her team are so pleased with the cars.
“Straaltechniek is a very well known local company and it’s great that they have put their confidence in the MG3. It’s a great car and was way ahead on value of any of the cars that Rebecca had been looking at.”

7th May 2015

MG smashes sales figures with top April registrations
MG continues its sales success with latest figures revealing April 2015 as the best for April registrations since MG Motor UK was formed.
Following the release of the new car registrations from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), MG is pleased to see a 39 per cent increase on April 2014’s figures. The British marque is also celebrating a 52 per cent increase from last year (year-to-date).
MG’s registrations, from January until April, have pushed the manufacturer past the 1,000 mark which means in the first four months of 2015 MG has more than doubled the 2013 figure.
Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Marketing, said: “With the release of the latest figures, it shows the continual growth and success of MG’s sales. These figures are increasing month by month, and this is all before the new MG6 has officially landed.
“As our dealer network grows and dealers sell more, we will continue to expand as a company and we are still pushing for at least 70 dealers by year end.
“With dealer demonstrators going out to our dealer network this week, we have high hopes that based on feedback, demands for test drives and deposits already paid; the new MG6 will bring the brand even more success.”

8th May 2015

Jordan and Goff looking to improve MG’s Thruxton record
MG Triple Eight Racing’s Andrew Jordan and Jack Goff are confident of posting best-ever results for the factory-supported MGs at the third round of the MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Thruxton next weekend (9-10 May).
 
Yet again, Donington Park proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Triple Eight-run MGs, with 2013 BTCC Champion Andrew Jordan taking two fourth place finishes and narrowly being denied a first win of 2015 by Matt Neal’s Honda in the final race. Starting with a massive 66kg of success ballast, Jack Goff made the best of his penalty, finishing eighth and ninth, before some cynical driving from a rival ended his race three in the gravel at the Old Chicane.
 
Without doubt the fastest racetrack in the UK, Thruxton provides teams and drivers with one of the toughest setup tests. In previous years Thruxton has offered little joy for the MGs, but with a new pair of drivers and fresh faces in the engineering team, the aim this year is to settle the score and finish on the podium, especially with a number of the team’s championship rivals carrying success ballast over from Donington.

Triple Eight's Team Principal, Ian Harrison adds, “At Thruxton you can be guaranteed it will be challenging. It’s a challenging track with challenging weather, and most of all, challenging facilities. People get very nostalgic about motor sport and Thruxton allows you to indulge in times past. Thruxton is one of the few circuits on the calendar that drivers respect and you can be guaranteed there will be good, close racing. There’s only a handful of corners, but most of them are very quick indeed. You need to be confident and respect the bumps and dips, and understand how to work a slipstream.”
 
In search of his fourth consecutive pole-position at the Hampshire track is Red Bull athlete Andrew Jordan. The 25-year-old has a mighty record on the 2.36 mile circuit, mastering the 11 turns to set a new lap record last season, breaking the previous record that was set by former Triple Eight star, Yvan Muller, back in 2002.
 
Meanwhile, Jack Goff is keen to up his podium to race ratio, and the 24-year-old will celebrate his 65^th race start in the BTCC when he lines up for race two on Sunday afternoon. A good performance at Thruxton will keep Goff firmly in the championship hunt as the series nears the halfway point of the season.
 
The weekend's racing action gets underway at Thruxton on May 9-10. Live coverage of Sunday's events will be shown on ITV4, itv.com and also in HD from 11am, with itv.com featuring live streaming online of Saturday’s qualifying session from 4pm.

11th May 2015

Podium finish for MG Triple Eight Racing’s Andrew Jordan
After what turned out to be a challenging weekend for the MG Triple Eight Racing team, the hopes of being up on the podium at Thruxton came true with a second place finish during the final race of the day.
The fastest track in the UK has in previous years offered little joy for the MGs, but the team fought hard to make this year an exception.
Andrew Jordan’s efforts during the final race paid off as he stepped up on the podium to celebrate second alongside winner Adam Morgan and third place Sam Tordoff. Jordan maintained his position of second throughout the race, but took the opportunity to get closer to the winner Morgan when the safety car came out.
Jack Goff may have had a tougher drive in the final race, but he came close to a podium finish in race two. Goff started tenth on the grid but quickly worked his way through the pack and moved higher following a collision between Matt Neal and Aron Smith. In lap five, Goff was only 1.2 seconds behind Neal for the fastest lap. He made further progress in lap ten when he set the fastest time on the track, but couldn’t quite get past Gordon Shedden to secure the podium finish.
The race winners were Gordon Shedden (race one), Jason Plato (race two) and Adam Morgan (race three). Plato’s win in the second race saw him celebrate his 90th Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race.
As we head towards Oulton Park in four weeks time (6/7 June), we hope to see a podium finish for both Andrew Jordan and Jack Goff. Morgan has been described as showing the sort of consistency that could prove vital over the course of a season and that which took him to glory in 2013.

11th May 2015

DREAM MG JOB AT NEW DEALERSHIP
 
Fancy being an MG Sales Manager? It’s one of the new jobs created at the latest MG dealer appointment.
Blights MG in Bideford, Devon, has become the fifth new MG dealer to be appointed in 2015 and, even before the official launch date, it has plans to expand.
Tim Blight, a partner in the third-generation family business, said: “During our 82 years of existence we have represented lots of brands from Triumph, Standard, Vauxhall and Ford, but I can honestly say that none have created the excitement and interest that followed news of us winning an MG franchise.
“We’re creating a big, new showroom area and have decided that we need a dedicated MG Sales Manager to do justice to the brand, so if there are people out there with the right background, we could have their dream job for them here.”
Blights was founded in 1933 by Tim’s grandfather, Jack Blight, who started a business shoeing horses, then went on to building trailers before establishing one of the oldest car businesses in Devon.  
The business, in Clovelly Road in the heart of Bideford, currently employs 28 people but Tim expects further jobs to be created in the future as the firm grows the MG brand. Plans are already under way for a programme of summer events in north Devon where MG will be one of the star attractions.
Tim’s brother, Jeff, who runs the five-bay serving department, has strong interests in motorsport and is a keen amateur rally and specials track driver. His nephew, Nicholas, who also works in the business, is a keen sprint racer.
Jeff is also an expert at restoring historic vehicles and has a collection of classics, which includes a 1928 Austin lorry and an Austin 7. 
Blights MG will serve a wide area of north Devon including Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Torrington and Bude. Tim said: “We are really excited about MG and both the MG3 and the new MG6 are getting lots of positive press.
“People are now realising just what a great value-for-money package the new MG range has to offer. I know our customers will be surprised by just how much they get with the modern MGs, which are packed with high levels of equipment that you normally pay extra for with other brands.”

19th May 2015

MG IS ROCKED BY HEAVY METAL LEGEND
AC/DC frontman and car fanatic, Brian Johnson, has returned to TV screens for a second series of Cars that Rock and this time round he has chosen to explore MG; the much loved British marque. 
As part of his second series, Brian Johnson is focusing on some of the world’s most iconic cars. On Thursday 21 May, viewers will get an insight into MG and get to take a look behind the scenes at the iconic Longbridge site.
For almost 90 years, MG has produced sports cars and created an automotive heritage that has captivated people worldwide. In the episode that airs on Thursday, Brian visits the MG factory and takes a look at the brand’s roots with a ride in MG’s very first race car. He also catches a glimpse of how the marque has been revised.
As well as getting an insight into the history and future of the beloved marque, he gets the chance to give the MG3 the ultimate test drive, meets two MG enthusiasts who celebrated the brand in their own way, and races in one of the fastest MG’s ever made; resulting in a close shave with a concrete wall!
Watch a preview below and tune into the full episode on Quest TV (Freeview channel 37, Sky channel 167 and Virgin Media channel 172) on Thursday 21 May at 9pm.
https://youtu.be/bR-O_6XDvYQ

20th May 2015

MG announces new dealer in Scotland
MG has a new dealer in Scotland as the brand continues its rapid dealer network expansion.
Frasers in Falkirk is one of the best known family names in the automotive retail business in central Scotland and the firm is already making big plans to market MG in a campaign throughout the summer.
The new dealership sits on a 6.5-acre site at Camelon, Falkirk which puts the dealership just over 30 minutes drive time from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. Frasers has operated on the site for nearly 30 years as part of The Archers Group.
The business was started by the fathers of the present directors, David Wishart and Andrew Dickson. Over the years the family-run business has built up a strong reputation for great service and value-for-money.
While the new MG6 and the fast-selling MG3 are class-leading in high-specification value-for-money, Frasers has also benefited from the low start up and running costs of an MG franchise.
David Wishart said: “The new MG’s are fantastic value for customers and we were very keen to be up and running as a new dealership very quickly. Some marques have very complicated and demanding start-ups with big investments demanded and very stringent requirements for the new dealer to meet.
“We were delighted with the straightforward MG philosophy which basically means as soon as our demonstrators arrive we can start trading. Our costs can be kept low and it’s the customers who benefit – so everyone is happy.”
Frasers is already planning a major marketing campaign using local radio, newspapers and the social media. An official opening is being planned, probably for early June.
Wishart added: “MG will be very well received by our customers. You just have to look at the low cost price plus the staggeringly high levels of specification to know that you are on to a winner, and that’s before you even look at the great handling and comfort levels in both cars.”
MG has opened close to 30 new dealerships in the past 16 months and recently announced a quest to find and appoint a further 30 across every region of the UK.  

4th Jun 2015

MG’s strikes gold by the seaside
New jobs and rapid sales – that’s the success story from MG’s latest new dealership.
DRM Motors in bracing Skegness opened just a few days ago, but has already chalked up orders for four new MG3s and the dealer’s test drive diary is filling up fast.
The family-owned business, in the heart of one of Britain’s best-loved traditional seaside holiday towns, predicted that the MG brand would be an instant success. So they hired new staff to help cope with demand.
Dennis Maltby, who started the business with his wife, Anne, exactly 50 years ago, said: “It’s a good job we did because as soon as people heard we were being appointed as an MG dealer, we started to get lots and lots of interest.
“MG’s given us a great Golden Anniversary present and it seems that the people of Skegness are keen to join in the celebrations too.”
DRM Motors has taken on a new sales executive, a new stores operator and next week an apprentice technician joins the ranks of the 12-strong dealership in Beresford Avenue. The youngster will start just in time for the arrival of  DRM’s new 2015 MG6 demonstrator.
The firm has upgraded its entire operation for the MG franchise, including having the showroom completely refurbished and new floor tiles laid. But Dennis would desperately like to get his hands on one of the town’s old “Jolly Fishermen” illuminations to hang in the showroom. The “Jolly Fisherman” was created by the old Great Northern Railways to promote Skegness as a holiday destination in the early 1900s and has become an advertising icon.
Dennis, 74, started in the motor trade as a 15-year-old apprentice and after a lifetime in the industry now plans to gradually head towards retirement. “I’ve got it down to a 48-hour week now “, Dennis joked. “So I’m heading in the right direction. But with MG on board it’s given me a new lease of life, so who knows when I might retire completely.”
Anne and daughter, Nicola, do most of the administration work at the dealership and son, Dean, heads the sales and service side of the business.
Dennis said: “For our customer base, the value-for-money offered by both the MG3 and the MG6 are proving to be a big attraction. But when you add in the comfort and the driving dynamics of both cars, you have to say that MG has got the mix just about spot on.”    
DRM Motors, opposite The Hildreds shopping centre and just around the corner from the Skegness Tower Esplanade and Promenade, will cover a territory from Theddlethorpe in the north of Lincolnshire to Boston in the south.
It becomes the eighth new MG dealership to be appointed in 2015 following 24 new dealership openings last year. Currently the MG dealer network covers 63 full sales dealership plus a further 10 after sales outlets.
News of further new MG dealerships in various areas of the country will be announced shortly.
MG’s Head of Marketing, Matthew Cheyne, said: “We welcome DRM Motors to our ever-growing network of dealerships. We have more than doubled the size of the network in the last 18 months as we have seen a large increase in our sales.
“The exciting and hugely impressive new MG6 is already broadening our appeal. Buyers who are looking for a package of outstanding value-for money, great driving dynamics, fantastic design and comfort levels will find we beat the competition in both the MG3 and MG6 sectors of the market.”     
MG Motor UK had its best ever May registration month with 269 new MG6 and MG3 models sold. Official Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures released today show MG registrations from January to May of 1,436 - a 42.46 per cent increase over the same period last year. This is far ahead of the industry average growth of 5.68 per cent.

5th Jun 2015

MG’s hopes to mark 100th race with a win
With a racing history going back as far as the 1930s, MG has enjoyed a rich motorsport heritage. In 2012, MG joined the British Touring Car Championship and this weekend the team will celebrate its 100^th race.
The race will take place on Sunday 7 June at Oulton Park, Cheshire. With the track offering kindness to the team in the past, MG Triple Eight Racing is hoping to celebrate this milestone with one of the team’s drivers on the top step.
Three years ago, MG took the opportunity to promote its new MG6 by launching it into the UK’s premier racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The MG6s were taken under the wing of Triple Eight Race Engineering, the most successful team within BTCC, to be built and race prepared. The first driver to join the MG Triple Eight Racing team was the most successful driver in the history of the series; Jason Plato. He, along with team mate Andy Neate, ensured the first season went with a bang by securing a number of wins and a fifth place finish in the team standings.
In 2013, rookie Sam Tordoff replaced Andy Neate and immediately showed his potential with a podium finish in the first weekend of the season. The team boosted themselves to a second place finish at the end of the season.
Whilst the 2014 season didn’t see a top spot for either drivers in the driver standings, the overall consistency of Plato and Tordoff was rewarded when MG Triple Eight Racing were named the champions in the Manufacturer/Constructor Championship; ending the reign of the Honda Yuasa team.
In 2015 it was decided that, in a bid to bring new energy and momentum to the next season, a fresh line up would give the team what it needed. Team Principal and Triple Eight Managing Director, Ian Harrison, worked hard to get 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan on board. The determination to get this experienced driver paid off and, as expected, Andrew has been a great addition to the team.
MG Triple Eight Racing wanted another young driver to join the revised 2015 team so they could grow with the brand and retain the 2014 title. With a background in the MG Car Club’s MG Trophy racing series, Jack Goff has already earned his place within BTCC by sitting 7^th in the overall standings.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the team will not only get to celebrate its first podium finish of the season, but this potential win will coincide with the 100^th race.

11th Jun 2015

New MG dealer fills key open point
MG’s latest new dealer appointment fills one of the top ‘open points’ in an on-going major extension of the brand’s franchise network.
Roadworthy Bristol is the 33^rd new MG dealer to be appointed within the past 18-months and almost completes the brand’s dealer map in the south west of England.
The new dealer, which is in one of MG’s top 15 open points, plans to go fully live within the next few weeks, but already has new MG6 and MG3 models in stock and available to view.
MG has the fastest growing dealer network in the UK and it is planned to increase the current number of 64 dealers to around 80 by the end of the year. The expansion of the network is reflected in a huge increase in sales of MG cars.
Last year MG saw the greatest growth in sales of any car company in Britain. Latest data issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the trade body that issues official registration figures, shows that MG sales so far this year are 42.46 per cent ahead of the same period last year.  
Roadworthy, a long-established family-run business, is now searching for a new specialist MG Sales Executive and more new jobs could be created in the future as the MG business grows.
Steve Hoare, the firm’s Managing Director, is a fully trained technician who started as an apprentice working on MGs, Rovers and Triumph before setting up Roadworthy 32 years ago. He still has fond memories of servicing MGBs and Midgets. Steve’s brother, Chris, later joined the business and is the After Sales Director. Steve’s wife, Alison, and sister-in-law, Debbie, also work in the firm.
The company now has a staff of 18 and is based in Fishponds Road, Fishponds in north east Bristol, close to the M32. Roadworthy’s territory will cover the whole of Bristol and the surrounding towns and villages, including Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead, Kingswood and Portbury.
Steve said: “We haven’t got our MG signage up yet but we are already getting enquiries and interest from people who have spotted our new MG6 and MG3 models and are keen to find out more.
“I can understand their enthusiasm because the latest generation of MGs are just fantastic. They offer the best value-for-money of any car on the market and MGs just stand out from the crowd. It’s great to be associated with a brand that has created so much interest and everybody is talking about.”
Chris added: “MG is such a well respected brand and there is an underlying feeling of goodwill towards it. I can see MG doing really well here in Bristol. It’s fired us with a passion to make MG great again.”  
MG continues to search for more dealers throughout the country to join the franchise. Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Marketing, said: “Roadworthy Bristol is a very welcome addition to our fast-growing network and Bristol was very high on our priority of key open points.
“But we are still seeking new dealers in cities and towns across the country including Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Swansea, Lisburn, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Southampton and Worcester.”
Potential dealers can contact Matthew Cheyne directly by e-mailing matthew.cheyne@mgmotor.co.uk. 

19th Jun 2015

MG customers get the star treatment
The newly recruited MG specialists at used car supermarket, CarShop, have proved to be a great addition after only a few months in post.
As part of MG’s dealership expansion, it was announced last year that the marque would join forces with CarShop. MG is currently the only manufacturer offering new cars at the used car retailer. So, in a bid to stand out amongst the used cars and provide customers with in-depth, professional advice, MG specialists were introduced.
There are currently four specialists, one in each of the following CarShop locations; Swindon, Northampton, Norwich and Doncaster. Standing out in their bright red jackets, the specialists have been on hand to advise customers about the MGs. Despite only being in post just under two months, a total of five sales have already been made.
Matthew Cheyne, Head of Marketing for MG, said: “After deciding to form a partnership with CarShop last year, because of the amount of footfall the used car supermarket sees, introducing specialists to help customers was something we were very keen to see happen. Having them in place gives customers an exceptional tailored experience, as well as being on-hand to help them through the buying journey. If customers are considering buying a used car, why not consider buying a brand new car that is potentially not going to cost any more money.”
CarShop are not only equipped to handles sales, but their service centre is also MG approved, so customers can bring their MGs in for approved manufacturer servicing and MOTs.
The new MG6 starts from £13,995 and the MG3 starts from £8,399.

MGLive! 2015


MG were once again in attendance at the world's biggest MG event, MGLive! 
The thousands of MG fanatics at Silverstone over the weekend were treated to a host of displays, races and performances, all organised by the MG Car Club.
As usual, MG Motor UK had a display of MG3s and new MG6s, which were as popular as ever, and were joined by BTCC driver Jack Goff and his official race car. The former MG Trophy racer conducted a range of signing sessions and Q&As. 
The precise driving skills of Russ Swift saw the MG3 put through its paces in the display area and whole range of MGs from throughout the years were on display from proud owners. 
Below are some photographs from the weekend. [see link]

27th Jun 2015

Top ten for both MGs in Croft qualifying
The MG6 of Jack Goff narrowly out-qualified teammate Andrew Jordan in Saturday's MSA Dunlop British Touring Car Championship qualifying at Croft.
Goff will start tomorrow's first race from eighth position while Jordan will start directly behind him teammate in tenth.
Less than a tenth of a second separated the two MG6s with Goff setting a time of 1:24.642 while Jordan's best lap was 1:24.696.
Sunday's action will begin with race one at 12.02, followed by race two at 14.39. The final of race of the day will commence at 17.06. ITV4 will have live coverage of all three races and we will have live updates over the course of the day on Facebook and Twitter.

28th Jun 2015

BTCC Croft Review
It was a mixed weekend of MSA Dunlop British Touring Car Championship racing for the two MG6s at Croft.
Saturday's qualifying gave the MG Triple Eight team hope of a promising weekend and that was built on after steady sixth and tenth placed finishes in race one.
Jordan started from tenth on the grid and quickly made moves to get further up the field. And with rain threatening midway through the race, but never properly materialising, Jordan then capitalised from those on the soft tyres, including teammate Goff, to take valuable places as the race drew to a close.
Andy Priaulx took the win in a dominant performance from the rear wheel drive cars, but Jordan crossed the line in a respectable sixth. Goff, who started from eighth, had to contend with tyre wear late on and battled well to bring his MG home inside the top ten.
The race two grid, based on fastest lap times from race one, saw Jordan start 11th and Goff three places lower in 14th. On soft tyres, Jordan's race faded out somewhat, resulting in him finishing in 14th while Goff battled his way up to tenth. it was another rear wheel drive car that took the victory in the form of Sam Tordoff. 
Race three proved to be a frustratimg one for Jordan, who was forced to retire after a collision resulted in suspension damage. But Goff did make ground following an unfavourable reverse grid - he started tenth and battled his way up to 8th. Rob Collard took the victory to round of a trio of wins for the rear wheel drive BMWs. 
The BTCC season now takes a six-week break before returning at Snetterton on 8/9 August.

3rd Jul 2015

Mark has the drive for latest MG dealership
Ullswater Road Garage in Penrith becomes the 65th MG sales dealership in the UK and owner Mark Windle is determined to make it the best. And looking at his track record, there would be few who would doubt him!
Mark Windle opened the family business when he was still in his teens. He started as a body repairer but soon spotted a gap in the market for a specialist 24-hour breakdown recovery operation as the M6 in Cumbria began to get busier and busier.
Now 35 years on, Mark is the company's Managing Director. He said: "With the recovery business going flat out we started to branch out and bought land to expand our operations. We now have a business site covering four acres just off the M6 in Penrith and we have another site 27 miles down the motorway in Kendal."
As well as car showrooms and work bays, the Penrith site houses the Cumbria Mini Centre, selling Minis and customised parts; retail units, a car hire business and the breakdown operation as well as a leased out restaurant, petrol forecourt and convenience store.
Ullswater Road Garage now employs 40 people and the MG business has created a new post – the firm is now searching for an MG sales specialist and Mark has plans to expand the MG business further.
They have already invested in a new dedicated showroom at their Ullswater Road site and have planned a summer programme of events, starting on Saturday by taking new MGs to the Skelton Horticultural Show.
Mark said:  "As soon as people knew we had won the MG franchise we started to get enquiries, and that was before we had cars or MG signage. So it just shows you the huge support and passion there is for MG.
"We know the latest MGs will be a success because both MG3 and the new MG6 offer such great value-for-money. Everyone in our business has been impressed, so we know our customers will be too."
We have a great team here and I know our new MG business will just make us stronger and better. Working with such a fantastically strong brand as MG is going to be great fun and good for business for us and our customers.
Matthew Cheyne, MG's Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “Mark's drive and ambition is matched by ours and we welcome Ullswater Road Garage to our rapidly expanding dealer network.
"Last year MG was the fastest growing brand in Britain and our sales, so far this year, are way ahead of last year. As more people take test drives, they realise what great products we have with the MG3 and the new MG6."

7th Jul 2015

“Thanks for supporting MG”
In light of the latest new car registration figures being released, MG Motor UK is taking this opportunity to thank past, present and future customers for supporting the company and giving it its best June to date.
Figures, released yesterday (6 June) from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT), highlighted another successful half year for MG.
MG felt it was important to take the time to thank customers for their support and for putting faith in a brand that is continuing to grow because of them. In a series of videos, employees from across the company, from the designers to those who test the vehicles on the bumpy road route, will be taking the chance to thank customers for their backing.
MG Motor UK has registered 21 more cars in the last six months than in the whole of 2011, 2012 and 2013 combined. More than 100 of which are the newly launched MG6. Figures for June alone are up by 19 per cent from last year, and the year-to-date figures are 39 per cent more than in 2014.
Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “We’re so grateful for the support our customers give. Without them, we wouldn’t be making the progress we are. Each month we’re watching our sales figures improve and it is fantastic to see.
“Every time a customer drives off in their new MG, we obviously say thanks and wish them all the best; however, those who don’t get a chance to meet the customers, but play a fundamental part in producing their new car, also want to have the opportunity to give their thanks.”
The first video (below) as part of the campaign ‘#MGthanks’ comes from David, who works in the exterior design team.
We want to hear from you too, so if you want to say thanks, upload your message to Facebook or Twitter with #MGthanks.

https://youtu.be/xYTGH0y4_tw

12th Nov 2015

A great car made better
MG’s trendy MG3 has just got even better with the introduction of new technology; designed to give better economy and lower emissions.
The MG3 2016 MY (model year), which will be available to buy next week, offers customers better fuel consumption, lower tax and an updated personalisation range; which includes the launch of new combinations and roof colours. The supermini, which now benefits from a more economical 124g/km of CO₂ and a stop-start EU6 engine, also comes with a new chrome grille to complement the MG family face.
Customers who are looking to make their car even more unique, and really stand out from the crowd, will be pleased to hear that the MG3’s Red Rose and Hello Yellow paints are now available with selected roof colour combinations; white or black. 


Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, said: “The MG3 has continued its success from the day it launched in 2013 and, with all that it offers, it’s easy to see why so many people have fallen for our fun-packed and stylish supermini. Now we’re giving customers a little bit more, with the addition of some great features, but still keeping the price low; making it great value for money and setting us apart from our competitors.
“Those looking to give their car additional style and edge will love our new roof combinations, as they give customers the opportunity to mix up the personalisation options even more.”
The MG3 EU6 is the latest car to be launched from the Longbridge site and demonstrates the continued innovation emerging from the Birmingham based manufacturer.
Customers can choose from the four models available, all priced as nicely as the car itself: MG3 3Time (from £8,399); MG3 3Form (from £9,599); MG3 3Form Sport (from £9,899); MG3 3Style (from £10,499); and MG3 3Style Lux, which comes with the addition of leather seats (from £10,999). The MG3 2016 is available on 0% finance, so book a test drive at your local dealer now and find out what this much-loved supermini has to offer

21st Dec 2015

What a year it’s been
As another year draws to a close, MG Motor UK takes a moment to reflect on what 2015 has brought and what 2016 is yet to bring.
This year has seen another significant step in the growth of MG, with the launch of the new MG6, a rise in MG3 sales and new additions to the dealer network.
At the beginning of the year, the manufacturer celebrated a record first quarter when sales boomed and made it the best since the new MG company was formed. This saw the 2014 achievement of ‘fastest growing automotive brand in Britain’ carry over into 2015. Throughout the year, sales have continued to grow and MG reached 3,000 registrations this month.
One of the reasons behind the expansion is the growth of the dealer network. A number of locations, across the UK, were identified as open-points at the beginning of the year and these are becoming filled as more and more dealers join the network. MG was pleased to welcome the following new dealers this year: Central Garage Galashiels; Cumbria MG; Normandy Garage; Roadworthy Bristol; Teeside MG; Frasers MG; DRM Motors; Budgen MG; Blights MG; Nathaniel Cars; NT Shaw of Louth; Mellons MG; and the most recent Northgate MG.
Another key addition to the network was the opening of the flagship showroom in Piccadilly. This showroom, which officially opened in July, was a significant move for MG. Placing the flagship store in the heart of London shows a commitment that the brand is here to stay. The showroom has already welcomed thousands of people through the doors, all eager to find out what is going on with the brand.
Some news MG has been able to share with them is how it has been recognised in national surveys and awards. In April, the Auto Express Driver Power Survey saw the MG3 riding high after customers voted it the tenth best car to own; placing MG in the top 10, out of 200 cars, for the second year running.
In September, the MG6 S scooped the ‘Under £17,500’ class winner award at the Caravan Club Towcar of the Year event. The MG6 was praised for its ‘more-than-capable’ towing performance and impressive boot space.
Customers, who chose to buy an award winning MG this year, will no doubt have benefitted from the great deals that have been running throughout the year; such as the hugely popular 0% finance deal and the minimum £2,000 part-exchange offer.
More deals like these will be sure to continue on into the New Year, when new models will arrive. The 2016 MG3, which was launched in November, will carry over into the new year along with the highly-anticipated SUV; which is due to launch next spring. This new model is an exciting time for MG and will further demonstrate that the manufacturer is here to stay.
Two other announcements MG made in 2015 support this. In March 2016, MG Triple Eight Racing will once again join forces to race it out in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for another three seasons, and in June, MG will be displaying its model range at the London Motor Show in Battersea Park.
Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “MG has come a long way in the last 12 months and we are showing a number of commitments to the brand being here to stay.
“Looking ahead to 2016, we know that it will be another exciting year. We have many reasons to be excited, particularly the arrival of our new model. We want to thank our loyal customers for their support, and we look forward to welcoming new ones to MG next year.”

The MG GS - family, affordable, fun
The wait is over. Today, MG Motor UK’s all-new SUV, the MG GS, was officially launched and the lid has been lifted on what a fantastic package this new vehicle is offering.
MG is proud to announce that, like the other models in the range, the MG GS is no exception to being affordable; with the line-up starting from only £14,995 and finishing at £19,495 for the manual transmission and £20,995 for the DCT (dual-clutch transmission).
The good news keeps coming, with the MG GS benefiting from a full five year factory warranty as standard; which shows the confidence the manufacturer has in the quality of this new model.
The MG GS holds its own against others in its sector in a number of areas, including CO₂ output, torque, mass efficiency and towing weight. The MG GS has:

•  more torque than its two wheel drive gasoline competitors with 250Nm 
  
•  more power than competitor two wheel drive gasoline variants, with 122kw available
  
•  a competitive CO₂ value of 139g/km for the manual and 141g/km for the DCT
  
•  a competitive towing mass of 1750kg, making it suitable for towing a large family caravan
  
•  a competitive 0 – 60mph time of 9.6 seconds
  

The MG GS, which has been designed and engineered in Longbridge, Birmingham, has been developed to make it drive and handle like an MG should. The chassis has been tuned to deliver agility and great handling, making the driver feel confident when they take on the most challenging of roads.
The MG GS is available in three trim levels, with an option of manual or DCT on the top specification. Introducing the:
MG GS Explore:
This entry level model certainly isn’t short on specification. The price tag of £14,995 doesn’t mean the customer will lose out on life’s little luxuries, such as cruise control, automatic headlamps and air conditioning. This car is extremely affordable, whilst still being equipped to tackle everyday adventures.
MG GS Excite:
The ‘Excite’ should do just that, particularly when customers get even more toys for their money. As well as what the ‘Explore’ offers, this trim level has DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and rear parking sensors. All of that for £17,495? We said it would excite!
MG GS Exclusive:
Step up to the top of the range and the best of the specification. The ‘Exclusive’ is available with a choice of transmissions; 6-speed manual or MG’s first 7-speed DCT gearbox. Leather sports seats, that are electrically adjustable, and an iGO navigation system are great additions that allow the driver to relax and enjoy stress-free-driving. The manual is available at £19,495 and the DCT at £20,995.
Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, said: “This is a great day for us, as we can finally share the information so many people have wanted to know. The MG GS is competitive in many ways and we are confident it will do well in the SUV market.
“This car offers so much for comparatively little, making it the SUV to choose. The specification on these cars is phenomenal and when you add in the five year warranty it’s a no-brainer. There are some really great features as well, such as the adjustable rear seats that not only recline but fold completely flat making it adaptable for whatever the customer’s lifestyle.
“Customers choosing the MG GS will save money over more expensive SUVs. They will have all the specification they could want and still have money left to enjoy holidays or family days out.”
The MG GS will be on sale in MG dealerships across the country from Thursday 16 June. For more information, click here. 

Dorset Rocket wrote:Looks great but where have the black A pillars gone - not to be seen on any of the press demo's?

A few weeks ago they were asking GS followers to submit ideas for the model names and I see my suggestion of 'Explore' has been used. Still waiting for an acknowledgement from MG!

Anyway proud that I could be of help. Presuming of course that nobody else made the same suggestion..