That’s what The Sleuth is hearing from the usual reliable sources. The iconic brand that was the portal to sports car ownership from the late-1940s to the late 1970s has been owned by SAIC of China since 2007. Since then it has been manufacturing MG-branded models-sedans, mostly for the home market as well as a small number of vehicles from MG’s old plant in England. It’s well known that SAIC would love to bring the MG brand back to North America, where it has been absent since1980, but many of loose ends must be resolved before that can happen. Not only is supply and distribution an issue but exactly what form the MG would take would have to be decided. A roadster would tie in with the brand’s heritage, but SAIC is apparently reluctant to compete with Mazda’s popular MX-5 Miata. The Sleuth believes that an MGB GT-style hardtop is a more likely candidate.
A new MG for the North American market could look like this, provided the company can find a dealer network here.