The new age arrives: MGF/TF
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After an agonising wait, the MGF was launched to an expectant public in February 1995. The specifications promised much – and demonstrated vividly that Rover could still design an entirely British car if the put their minds to it....

MGF

The concept of the MGF was certainly not unique – even to the company: a mid-engined MG had been tried before in the shape of the ADO21 – and the hydragas set-up merely aped the set-up of its distant relative. In the budget convertible market, however, the MGF did represent a breath of fresh air and offered an alternative to the all-conquering Mazda Miata.

Gerry McGovern was asked to give the PR3 a restyle pending its going into production. His drawing demonstrates that his ideas were carried through to production. Notable points are the charismatic oval shaped lights (rather than pop-ups) and the twin-slot MG grille, which paid homage, not to the chrome fronted sportsters, but the rubber-bumper MGBs. Needless to say, the MGF version was somewhat more successful.

Cutaway diagram shows quite clearly the mid-engined layout and fluid suspension.

So why was it called the MGF as opposed to the MGD as many people thought it would be called? The ADO21 was badged as the MGD during development – and by the 1990s was considered to be a rather old-fashioned moniker anyway. MGE would not have made sense either, as that was pretty much covered by the MG EX-E concept car from 1985. That left MGF...

Soon after the BMW sell-off, the new management got to work on revitalising the MGF. This version, the MGF Trophy 160 is an example of maximising a concept: loud paint, Peter Stevens designed bumpers and a highly tuned version of the K-Series VVC engine added up to a very, very appealing package. No-one suspected at the time of its launch in 2001, that it would be a run-out model.

Another 2001 debutante was the MGF Xtreme – this version was merely a mocked up drawing, but it did signal the new company's intentions quite clearly. It also previewed the styling of the 2002 MG TF...

MG TF

Peter Stevens toughened up the styling of the MGF – in order to give the car a new lease of life. The new style certainly works – and it is supposed to preview the styling of the upcoming replacement for the MG ZS...

One disappointment was that in engineering improvements to the car, the company dropped Hydragas suspension – thereby meaning that the Moulton designed suspension was no longer a current production item.

Who's a pretty boy then? After a six year production run, the MGF made way for the MG TF – and for a change, here was a "facelift" car that improved on the original. It needs to look good, for it will probably enjoy a long production run.

Copyright © 2002 Keith Adams