MG X-POWER SV

formerly known as the MG X80

October 22nd 2002

Well here it is - finally unveiled at the Birmingham International Motor show - the car we've all been waiting for. The sneak previews already seen did not really prepare us for the sheer brute of a machine that was finally revealed on the MG stand. Gone are the sleek sports saloon style lines of the earlier previews and we are left with something looking like it's come straight off the film set for Mad Max. The SV is a "real" sports car with only two seats and not the 2+2 as expected. Without further ado let's see the press pictures.

There are initially two versions planned  - the "ordinary" MG X-POWER SV which weighs in with 326bhp from a quad cam V8 engine creating a 0-60mph speed of 5 seconds and a top speed of 170mph. This will be the basic version of the car starting at around £65,000. 

However the more exciting version is the MG X-POWER SV CLUB SPORT. This beast weighs in at 410bhp from a 5 litre V8 engine and with a 0-60mph of  4.4seconds and with it's top speed limited to a mere 195mph. However there are more variations planned - the car on show at Birmingham was  powered by a Sean Hyland tuned 5 litre quad cam  V8 producing some 465bhp with a 0-60mph of 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph. Even more extreme factory options will be made available including engines with nitrous oxide injection rumoured to be approaching the 1000bhp mark !!. Not the sort of vehicle to collect granny and do the shopping in.

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Previous News Stories on the X80

OCTOBER 2002 update - MG Rover are going to reveal the new X80 at the Birmingham International car show on OCt 22nd. Expect it to look pretty much like the blue one below.

SEPTEMBER 2002 Update - The "New" version of the X80 has been leaked in AutoCar  magazine  talking of a £60,000 car  capable of 500bhp. It is still thought the car will mostly be used for racing and track days and will be produced by David Price Racing. There is talk of about 150 cars a year being made so could we expect to see these out soon on our local race tracks or even maybe in a US showroom ?. 

June 2002 - HAS THE X80 PASSED ON ? - EVO reports that the X80 will not be making it on to the streets as production car. Instead MGR will be using the X80 based on the Qvale Mangusta as the basis for a one make race car being built in the Midlands by David Price Racing. The car will use the Ford 4.6litre V8 producing about 400bhp and there will be models ready by October this year. MGR have decided to develop the ZR and ZS instead of plunging money in to a high spec expensive sports car which will make the ZT the flagship of the MG range although the 260bhp V8 version has been further delayed until September. The ultimate ZT will appear after that with a power output of 385 - 400bhp and a price of about £35,000.

THE FIRST SIGHTINGS OF THE X80

YThe X80 - the high powered supercar from MG has been revealed a few short months after the take over over the Qvale factory. The car has been completely redesigned by MG's chief designer, Peter Stevens and is certainly looking pretty inpressive. It has been no secret from the start that this car is destined for the US market and should provide MG with a strong foothold in the US supercar market. The initial performance figures are certainly impressive as well as the comfort and trim levels proposed - this car should be up against Ferrari and Porsche in all categories .....except for price - a Ferrari with this type of performance would cost you twice as much.

There are no working version at present - the car revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September was a clay mock up - hence the darkened windows The car in the publicity shots above is that same clay full size model superimposed on a fast road background.

The Qvale family wished to sell their manufacturing arm - a factory in Italy along with the rights to their sports coupe - the Qvale Mangusta. MG Rover quickly stepped in and snapped the factory up in July 2001 seeing an ideal opportunity, in a revamped Mangusta, to enter the American market. The F will never appear commercially in the states due to their strict regulations and limited appeal abroad so this will be the first MG Rover product seen in the US since the ill fated Rover Sterling exercise.   Expect to see the 2+2 coupe appear in the showrooms in June 2002 in Left Hand Drive version only. A RHD version wil follow in the autmumn 2002. This will be followed by a roadster in February 2003 - a two seater vehicle to accomodate the electric roof. Expect to pay in the region of £50,000. Not quite the affordable sports car motoring  of traditional MG's.	Early design drawing for the development of the Mangusta
TECHNICAL DETAILS 4.6 litre V8 engine aluminium body advanced Braking independent wishbone suspension front engine - rear wheel drive manual and auto gearboxes	FEATURES limited Slip Differential ABS electronic traction control air conditioning 6 speaker CD autochanger system power windows electric mirrors electric seat adjustment full leather interior 18" alloys
PERFORMANCE Manual two versions -  320bhp and 385bhp 320 - acceleration 0-60 ........5.2 secs 385 - acceleration 0-60 ......4.4secs Top speed for the MGX80 385 will be in the region of 190mph	Automatic two versions - 260 bhp and 360bhp 260 - acceleration 0-60 .......6.3secs 360 - acceleration 0-60 .....4.7secs

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