Classic: MG XPower SV

Posted on 09-04-2016 to 18:00 by larssb – 49 Comments”

In the leanest years of the once so renowned manufacturer was MG only Moderately Successful. There remained not much more of the brand than a few random shots at British burgertrutmodellen pasted logos. But in 2002, Morris Garages, the XPower SV and did everyone finally agree the lazarus.

The one of his appearance, the other of the sound and the xenophobic Brit of his roots. Because its origin was the XPower in the Qvale Mangusta. That sounds like an exot and regarding his appearance, that was certainly the case. This Mangusta was quite a special design with a complicated roof structure, making it both as a convertible, targa and coupe went through living. That came down to three times a compromise and that did no wonders for his appearance. Three times nothing is exaggerated, but a classic beauty it was not. That was not Bruce Qvale’s fault, his brainchild was originally by the Italian De Tomaso launched Biguà project, which was hopelessly aground, and by this American importer of exclusive cars under his own name again rectified and continued. And also Marcello Gandini had apparently experienced a lesser day.

So far all a decent run-up to the XPower, but still a long way to go. In 2001, MG X80 concept car based on the Qvale Mangusta. Because Qvale had, meanwhile, came into the hands of the MG Rover Group. MG had their beacons switched to a supersporter and did a first attempt with the X80. Beautifully lined, but the boring were to actually be in production as supercar. And dated, nota bene, according to the utterly conservative British themselves. A bit like Goor something much too vulgar. It had to have messed around with it and so went designer Peter Stevens to the work. He let no grass grow and went in the back with huge wings, brute uitbouwkits, fat exhausts, a few square meters of plates. Boring was-ie not more.

Even with the many stock parts from fellow manufacturers who, in Stevens’ XPower were processed, because the goal was to create a supersporter to build for many people’s reach. That was, provided one of between £ 65,000 and £ 85,000 in could pay, depending on the version. Still no car for Joe Bloggs, but the objective of a maximum of a ton in Pounds was more than met. There helped the Fiat Punto headlights and Coupé Fiat rear lights are good. Easy to get also, because a large part of the partially from carbon fiber constructed body of the XPower was in Italy, assembled and united with the chassis. Then, the raw Powers shipped to the UK, and there further reduced. All in all just as British as their curry.

And at least as strong, because the weakest motorized version has already made 320 HORSEPOWER from a 4.6 liter V8. Even if not from their own house, but a Modular engine from Ford. The ‘Muricaanse branch, recognizable by the modest output in relation to the content. Not too much effort, there is no need for. There was also a SV-R with a 5.0 litre achtcilinder that 385 HP the outlets in bellowed, same power as the rare SV-RS has developed, with its supercharged 4.6-liter block. And there were terrible wild plans for circuitvarianten with up to 1000 HP. Downright dangerous, but so far it didn’t. Because according to that time-honored British tradition always goes first the manufacturer about the head before the car does.

So it came to pass in 2005, the Rover Group went bankrupt. Another day at the office in English autobouwerskringen, but the planned 840 pieces of this lifetime were so not. There was hardly an exclusive dealer network rolled out or the cloth fell again, for the XPower. Only 82 owners discovered that the super MG indeed good handling characteristics had, where a lot of skeptics of the miraculous device in advance thoroughly afkraakten because samenraperij. A filthy crime, according to supercar-accusers. But they went to easy to overlook the fact that all the bits ‘n pieces together to provide a unique, seriously fast, and ferocious, roaring row-iron formed that actually but little competition knew. For where you wanted this XPower with it compare? Of course, for which € 150,000 to € 180,000 were that the MG at the time it took, there was indeed more quickly(ler) stuff, but that was a long time not such schorriemorrie as this headstrong mafketel from Longbridge.

In 2007 tried William Riley again. He bought the XPowerboedel of the trustees and announced a year later, the XPower WR. Equipped with a V8 with a supercharger would be the ability this time, a hefty 550 HP amounts. Promising, but no one knew that for sure. Because after just a handful of copies sold, there was again shit hit the fan: Riley got to stick with the Chinese. Always a small risk, because there are a lot of. The Nanjing Automobile Corporation had the rights of MG in the possession and put a proper stick in the spokes of Riley’s thick wheels by the use of the name MG to ban. He fought this, but found maybe a judge who is often a number hoenda-atta-vietah with bami ordered, because he was to be in the wrong and turned with his already solid company for all costs. End XPower, also sometimes referred to as “the machine that broke three car companies.

Huge exclusive so, XPower, and yet found and described to colleagues and a natural talent-scribent @MauritsH not so long ago, a white one. For those who even dare to try that eternal babi pangang and chicken curry of the supersportmenu. Exactly, numbers 360 and 911. But verslik you don’t.

Gallery: MG XPower SV

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