From its launch in 1995, it didn't take long for the MGF to establish itself as the UK’s best-selling sports car – A title it held onto right up until it was replaced by the TF in 2002. It was also a really strong seller across Europe, in Japan and in Australia.
Aside from its unusual Hydragas suspension, the MGF was a traditional two-seater sports car, mid-engined and rear-wheel-drive, with excellent chassis balance and handling. It was a successful formula that resulted in strong sales throughout BMW’s tenure of Rover Group, although the ‘PR3’ sports car project had begun long before the German brand had taken over the firm.
Very little production car development was sanctioned in the BMW-era, apart from the introduction of the Stepspeed (CVT/six-speed) derivative of the MGF in 1999, as part of the 2000 Model Year update. However, when MG Rover Group gained its independence in 2000, the pent-up enthusiasm of MG engineers could at last be directed into
