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[Fantomas]

Dans la presse et sur les forums britanniques

FOLLOWING several press reports recently, it seems interest at Longbridge in the Austin-Healey project is on the up again. Several sources have confirmed the project, which more than any other seems to enjoy being taken off the shelf, dusted off, and reviewed, only to be put back again, may well be under review right now.

The structure of the deal is unknown right now, but informed speculation points to a Phoenix (as opposed to MGR) run venture, which would not be linked to the MGR/SAIC joint-venture company.

Project Warwick dates back to the BMW era, and was the first serious attempt at a new Big Healey since the Eighties, but was eventually quashed following a misunderstanding over rights ownership to the Austin-Healey name. More recently, Phoenix/MGR looked into the plan, possibly taking over another UK-based specialist sports car manufacturer, such as Jensen or Lea-Francis, with the idea of revamping the project and re-launching under a new 'old' name.

Of course, if one source is to be believed - you can buy a brand new Austin-Healey today. It's called the BMW Z4. Ever wondered why that car was six-cylinder only? Because, perhaps, it was intended to be called something else.

Now there's food for thought...

http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/news0105f.htm

Les discussions ont en cours avec la famille Healey et ... BMW qui a gardé le nom en sa possession (comme Rover). On parle du rachat d'un ptit constructeur britannique spécialiste comme Jensen (ah l'Interceptor FF    ) ou Lea Francis ....

Le proto AH créé sous la direction BMW



http://www.british-steel.org/ Le site des fanatiques de Jensen

http://www.forum-auto.com/sqlforum/section5/sujet250247.htm Historique Jensen sur FA

La dernière Jensen en production, la S V8 (2003, moteur V8 Ford 4.6 330 ch)



Du côté de Lea Francis la production semble elle aussi discontinuée

La Lea Francis 30/230  de 1999 (V6 3.0 Opel)

[Fantomas]

 Du nouveau

Un accord entre GBSC (Great Britain Sports Cars Company, un des candidats à la reprise en juillet) et NAC a été trouvé.

MEANWHILE, reports in today's AUTOCAR magazine claim that Great British Sports Cars (GBSC) and Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) are planning to re-start sports car production at Longbridge. The car - a re-born Austin Healey - based on the defunct MG XPower SV will be treated to a retro-style makeover and strong Austin-Healey 3000 styling cues.

Reported to be powered by 5-litre version of the Ford Mustang V8, and using the existing - and rather advanced - SV running gear, the 'Austin Healey 5000', will see the marque finally return to the car market after a 36 year absence. Autocar magazine reports that the car could be unveiled as early as next year's British Motor show, to be held next July, at the ExCel in London's Docklands...

The deal to build the new sports car would appear to hinge on NAC and GBSC purchasing the profit-making MG Sports and Racing - the offshoot company which was set-up to produce the XPower SV when it became clear that the X80 project was never going to be the volume model MG Rover originally envisaged.

It is also a UK business model for MG, which has been talked about by various parties since the collapse of MG Rover back in April - and would appear to be the most logical way of recouping some of the £30m development costs eaten up by the XPower SV...

According to the same report, the MG TF will be re-introduced as soon as poessible following a light re-vamp, and the introduction of new Audi-sourced engines. The TF platform still has plenty of life left in it (and the potential to be produced in hybrid form, thus stealing a march on its rivals), and at the time of its death earlier this year, it was still the strongest selling car in its sector in the UK.

Modèle envisagé: Austin-Healey 5000 , base MG X Power SV (donc Qvale ex De Tomaso Mangusta, vous suivez toujours : ), moteur Ford V8 5.0 32v (des Mustang),boîte 6 Tremec.

Une proposition de style (du Profesor Bhaskar, je n'invente rien    )

[Fantomas]

D'après le mensuel russe Autoreview , l'ex SMART ROADSTER pourrait servir de base à une future petite Austin-Healey (outre une MG donc ...)

[Fantomas]

Le relancement semble se préciser

On parle d'une présentation au British Motor Show, en juillet donc , avec livraisons en 2007.

On parle d'un V6 3.0 pour motoriser la bête.

Par contre ce n'est pas GBSC qui assure ce relancement mais HFI (groupe d'investisseur ayant ignés un accord avec la famille Healey)

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/64069/healey_marque_roars_back.html

[eLeFaNtOmAsTeR]

C'est bon ça

[perkins]

Retour de HEALEY annoncé. Voir cet articile  http://www.leblogauto.com/2006/03/healey_brits_ar.html]

[Fantomas]

Information transférée sur le blog avec 2 compléments

[perkins]

Il est bien fait ce blog  , je ne l'avais paz encore vu...(Sur la page d'accueil du Forum, il faut aller cliquer tout en haut à gauche pour ceux qui ne l'auraient pas déjà repérer).