MG, Rover back in sales race

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

MG and Rover are set to return to the New Zealand market with a model line-up that includes a high-performance V8.

A new company, trading as MG and Rover New Zealand and headed by the former general manager of Peugeot New Zealand, Andrew Bayliss, has been appointed as the distributor for the British cars.

Bayliss expects to wrap up the transfer of the distributorship from the current importer, BMW New Zealand Group, later this month.

"We are in the process of finalising things like the warranty and parts transfer now," he said.

He wouldn't say who the directors and shareholders of the new company were. "There are a few things to sort out yet."

The new line-up of models is expected to be launched here early in October.

"The relaunch in New Zealand comes at a time when the brands, now that they are back in British ownership, are firmly re-establishing themselves overseas and in a phase of launching new product," said Bayliss.

"We are currently in the process of appointing MG Rover dealers in New Zealand and the strategy will be to offer vehicles of the highest specification in each model.

"MG will represent the performance aspect, while Rover will offer style, quality and image."

The line-up will include models that have not previously been available in New Zealand, like the luxury estate, the Rover 75 Connoisseur Tourer.

MG's range will include a 120kW four-cylinder hatchback, and standard and high-performance models of a mid-sized V6.

The 4.6-litre supercharged V8 is a rear-drive sedan called the MGZT and is expected here next year.

"There are some exciting new cars due," said Bayliss. MG Rover Group Limited has just entered into a long-term strategic alliance with China Brilliance Industrial Holdings, giving MG Rover access to the world's biggest potential market.

This agreement - signed earlier this year with the Chinese automotive group - will include development of the new small-medium 45 in early 2004 and the 25 by mid-2005.

The British company, in its third year of independence following its sell-off for 10 pounds sterling (NZ$33) by the BMW Group, believes the 45 and 25 will match next-generation models from mainstream makers Volkswagen and Ford.

The 45 will take on the new Golf MkV, Ford Focus, Holden Astra and Mazda 3, while the smaller 25 will will face up to the VW Polo, Honda Jazz, Peugeot 206, Fiat Stilo and Mazda 2.

MG Rover sold 170,200 cars last year on its way to a loss of 187 million pounds sterling ($623 million).

The company is on record as saying it does not expect to post significant profits until the arrival of the 45 and 25.