MG X80

2001 September: The MG X80 in the "flesh". The 2+2 coupe has an aluminium body on a steel box section chassis. 4.6 litre engines of 190 to 283 power will be offered. The plan is to launch the coupe in the UK in mid 2002, an open roadster following later.

2001 June: MG Rover announced that it will buy "the assets of the Italian subsidiary of Qvale Automotive Group" Modena, Italy, which builds the Mangusta sports car.

MG Rover will use the chassis and a 4.6-litre V8 engine (380Ps) as the basis of a sports car (right), code named the MG X80. The MG X80 will be launched in 2002 and, with the large V8, will be a leg, if not two, up on the 1.8-litre MG-F. There will be coupe (closed) and roadster (open) versions designed by MG's Peter Stevens who worked on the McLaren F1.

MG Rover could do with a high performance sports car in its range if it is to US market, and the Mangusta meets US requirements already - © Larry Stanley

Background: Kjell Qvale owned Jensen in the 1970s and was involved with Jensen Healey. Sons Bruce and Jeff formed Qvale c2000 and took over production of the `Mangusta' (with a 4.6 Ford V8) from de Tomaso [-Georgano 2000]. There was a rear engined de Tomaso called Mangusta in the 1970s but the 1990s one is front engined.

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