The reborn MG sports car - named MG TF LE500 - will be in showrooms by this September, according to the brand’s Chinese owner NAC MG UK. Assembly of the new car will begin at the Longbridge plant in August, with parts shipped in from China.Originally planned for launch in spring 2007, the rebirth of the MG brand has suffered numerous setbacks until SAIC merged with NAC earlier this year. Since then it’s claimed that both quality and parts supply issues have been resolved.Newly appointed chairman He Xiao Qing said “I am delighted to be in a position to talk about a launch date for the TF LE500 following a process of planning, re-organisation, active quality improvements and parts optimisation that we recognise resulted in frustration for our stakeholders.”The new TF will use the 135bhp 1.8-litre K-series engine, and will be the first model to emerge from Birmingham’s Longbridge plant since MG Rover’s collapse in 2005. NAC MG maintains that the dealership network of 57 showrooms across the UK will mostly consist of owner-managed former MG Rover dealers.
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