The New MG X Power SV

[TVRKing]

MG has today revealed its new high performance sports car named the MG XPower SV. Following development of the original X80 concept, the MG has been radically evolved, is lighter and has increased levels of power with up to 965bhp. So extreme is the performance that all models will be marketed under the MG Sport & Racing XPower brand.

The exterior styling of the two-seater MG sports car owes much to the demands of airflow management required for competition cars. These elements give the car an aggressive and overtly sporting stance implying its potential for high performance. Targeted at the premier driving enthusiast, the new MG XPower SV will become the icon of the MG brand with opportunity for both road and track exploitation.

Peter Stevens, MG Rover Group’s world renowned product design director, previously with McLaren, Lamborghini and Lotus, has been appointed managing director of a new company specially formed to produce the MG XPower SV.

As part of the project’s weight reduction objectives, all body panels are made from lightweight carbon fibre. The flat underfloor and inbuilt front and rear diffusers manage the aerodynamic airflow for high-speed stability. Suspension geometry has been designed in collaboration with Steve Randle, responsible for the dynamic set-up of the McLaren F1 road car.

Rollover protection is provided by a tubular structure designed to comply with current FIA competition specifications. A rigorous development programme including high-speed stability tests at the Nardo circuit in Southern Italy saw the MG XPower SV regularly exceed 200mph (320km/h).

The MG XPower SV is a part of a unique range of products, which will ultimately be available with some of the most extreme levels of road performance ever offered.

MG XPower SV

The MG XPower SV range starts with a car powered by a 326bhp 4.6-litre quad-cam V8 engine. Weight is forecast at 1450kgs, which will provide approximate performance figures of 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in 5.0 seconds and a top speed of around 170mph (273km/h). More specification details will be released during the spring of 2003.

MG XPower SV Club Sport spec

Nearly 70 years ago, MG produced the K3 Magnette – an ultra high-performance supercharged road and track racer. K3 was commissioned and produced for the enthusiastic owner who wanted to drive to a race, compete, win and drive home again.

In keeping with this tradition, the XPower SV Club Sport proposition will allow customers to either buy a complete XPower model ready for road and track or to enhance the specification of their car with competition derived parts.

The XPower SV Club Sport features a more powerful 5.0-litre V8 with 410bhp, a 0-62mph (100km/h) of c4.4 seconds and a top speed limited to 195mph (314km/h).

The car on show at the British International Motor Show is the MG XPower SV Club Sport spec, in this case powered by a special 465bhp Sean Hyland tuned 5.0-litre quad-cam V8 engine. A top speed in excess of 200mph (320km/h) and a 0-60mph (0-100km/h) time of c4.2 seconds is possible. Engines with much higher stages of tune, even with factory approved nitrous oxide injection kits, will be available to produce extreme power outputs.

Typical of the way in which a prospective customer might specify their XPower SV, this car is fitted with Sparco carbon shell racing seats, a cabin-installed spare wheel, custom helmet storage cubbies, four point electrically-locked harnesses and Motec racing instrumentation. Some of the specification of this car will be carried over to the production specification of MG XPower SVs.

MG XPower SV UK prices will start at £65,000.

Commenting on the project, Peter Stevens said: "I’ve been working with a small team of experts and enthusiasts to ensure we produce an MG car that will deliver the ultimate in driving exhilaration. The MG XPower SV is a car with appeal to passionate sports car drivers who will relish its extraordinary racetrack performance characteristics.

"MG is all about having fun, extending the boundaries of excitement and generating visual entertainment for a wider audience. The MG XPower SV delivers this objective in a forceful manner, demonstrating the immense potential for MG."

I think it's sweet.

 

[Race Idiot]

Hmmmmm it looks a tad odd, but I think it will grow on me.

Actually as long as its built over here and it goes like stink and handles like a.........really good handling thing I will like it. Although the front of the car still looks like an mg saloon.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

It's kinda cool. Funny that all companies looking to do wheelarch extensions are copying the TT though.

 

[Duke]

Hrm. Put an Audi TT, a BMW Z3, and a second-gen Viper coupe in the genetic manipulator, and press 'Merge'.

Not my dish of tea, visually. The specs sound impressive, though I admit.

 

[Hooligan]

MG's have historically been all about tits but no balls. This thing is borderline ridiculous. I don't know much about the new owners of MG, but they sure do love cars. Their regular lines (ZR, ZS, & ZT) look nice, go well, and are reasonably affordable. While that's all well and good, there's a difference between a halo car and something that doesn't even look like it comes from the same company. I guess they think the 325HP one is the "in between" the ZT-190 and the 965HP XPower. Even VAG pushed the Veyron onto Bugatti, a known supercar maker. Until now, no one brand sells such perversely diverse cars without at least some gradation inbetween.

I think the only TT style theft is the wheel arches and the continued runner between them. Other than that, this is very X80 and pretty much Skyline GT-R V-Spec II aggressive decoration. I mean, I'm sure the massive black side vents do wonders for the brakes & engine, but they look hideous. Color coding is a must for production versions. The interior isn't bad, but could use a little more TVR influence. They seem to have started down that path, with the driver's console and shifter knob, but it stopped with the tacky "race-only" switchgear. Granted, if this is the 965HP version, "race-only" is about where it would probably spend most of it's time, but if this is how they'll all look.... Also, the pedals look way too econobox for something more than UK65,000.

But that front...that front face...is evil. But in a good way 😈

 

[f1king]

Wow what a car looks very mean, and tough.

 

[Ryan2]

Wow......

 

[ajs887]

Wow. It looks pretty cool. Any word on price. And is it going to be sold in the U.S.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I see some mustang and some Audi TT in it. But thats just me

 

[TVRKing]

Originally posted by ajs887
Wow. It looks pretty cool. Any word on price. And is it going to be sold in the U.S.

£65,000, but I'm not sure if it will be avaliable in the USA yet.

 

[Robin2]

i reckon thats a bloody mosnter!!! id have one.

 

[Race Idiot]

I think the MG SV would be good competition for that holden concept car you had as your avatar.

 

[Robin2]

i dunno...specs are one thing, seeing it first hand is another.

 

[Race Idiot]

Ive seen it first hand!
on tv

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by TVRKing


£65,000, but I'm not sure if it will be avaliable in the USA yet.

That's the proposed price for the 400bhp version.