It looks like Chinese-owned MG has been inspired by the Subaru Outback Sport (and Suzuki SX4 as well) with their new 3SW. The car comes with two engine choices: a 1.4-liter four and a 1.8-liter four. The 1.4-liter puts out 102 horsepower and 91 pound-feet of torque. The larger 1.8-liter engine offers 118 horsepower with torque coming in at 118 pound-feet. The price will range from 80,000 – 120,000 RMB ($11,428 - 17,142 USD give or take). No word as to whether AWD will be offered.

Full story here.

And speaking of MG, Inside Line has a story up on the TF: The MG TF Lives

From the sound of things, it appears that MG, the Chinese and (Ardmore) Oklahoma could be a good fit. The location is excellent for distribution in that there is rail access, and airport that can handle large planes, and the port of Houston isn't far away.

Snippet:  "Ardmore and the airpark truly is a logistical, distribution dream," Hale said.

Oklahoma City will be the site of the company's global headquarters for sales, marketing and distribution outside Asia.

A new research and development facility will be housed at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

"We can take those junior-level, senior-level, graduate-level engineering students that have interest in automotive and give them practical experience," Hale said. "We are going to give something back to the community, not just take."

At full capacity, the assembly plant at the Ardmore Airpark will employ about 325 people; the global headquarters in Oklahoma City will employ another 150; and an estimated 35 will work at the research and development entity in Norman, for an estimated annual payroll exceeding $30 million.

The other thing is, historically other car companies from foreign lands have always "tested the waters" before committing to building factories here. Not this time, as Nanjing Automobile Corp. is betting the ranch (pun intended) that they and Oklahoma will succeed.

Whoa! Where did this come from? ...The resurrection of MG!

...To be built in the USA!!

...By the Chinese!!!

Quick, let me check my calendar... No, it's not April 1...

Yes, the Nanjing Automobile Group hopes to pull off this tricontinental effort. Should be interesting to watch. ...Have to go run and tell my next door neighbor who has a '55 TF...

Snippet: “We want to be a global company,’’ said Duke T. Hale, a former executive at Mazda, Isuzu and Lotus who will be chief executive of MG Motors. “We don’t want to be a company that simply exports out of China. We don’t want to be seen as just another Chinese car company.’’

Snippet: But construction of the first Chinese auto plant in the United States, which will create more than 500 jobs, carries a great deal of symbolism about the industry’s future.

I bet this wins the most significant auto news of the year (if the Renault-Nissan-GM story doesn't get it), even if MG is an insignificant company. Not only was I caught with my pants down, so was the whole auto industry. The long-term ramifications here are enormous.

More info here and here.