2004 MG XPower SV-R (Chassis #154)

In 2001, the MG ‘XPower’ brand was created by MG Rover for their motorsport subsidiary, MG Sport & Racing Ltd. Soon after, the road-going MG SV supercar was planned as an indulgent 'halo' model, intended to give a further resurgence to the MG brand post-BMW, under the subsidiary and marketed using the fledging XPower brand. They were to be made available through a network of specialist XPower dealerships, or directly from the MG Sport & Racing factory. To get the project moving, MG bought out Italian manufacturer, Qvale, and planned to use its Mangusta - complete with trick chassis and Ford-sourced V8 - as the basis for a proper sports car.

The XPower SV’s aggressive design was penned by Peter Stevens - the man responsible for the McLaren F1 - and there’s no denying it looks quite unlike anything that’s come before or since, seemingly combining tuner, exotic and muscle car elements into one package. It was built on a lightweight steel chassis (which had integral roll over bar protection, built to FIA standards) and was clothed in a carbon fibre body, made up from over 3,000 separate pieces. This was formed and cut to size in the UK before being shipped to Italy, where each part was laid in moulds before being 'cooked' to form the rigid sections that were then attached together to form the complete body.

The extremely rigid steel box frame chassis, made in Italy, was fully built up before the body was attached, then the mechanically complete cars were finished in the UK. The engine utilised was a Ford 4.6-litre V8 (with twin cams per bank and four valves per cylinder) delivering 320bhp in base SV format, whilst the more potent SV-R model gained a Roush-tuned 'cammer' 5-litre V8 upping the output to an official 385bhp - though it allegedly produced closer to 410bhp. The SV-R could be specified with an automatic or manual 5-speed Tremec gearbox, helping to propel the latter from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds, and with a top speed of 175mph.

The consensus is that a total of just 82 cars were completed, of which 42 were the more powerful SV-R. Customers including Rowan Atkinson were keen to experience this MG supercar before the company entered administration on 12th April 2005.

The car presented here is a 2004 MG XPower SV-R, Chassis #154 (first registered November 2004), with the more desirable manual gearbox and with only 10,669 miles covered from new. Its condition is wholly commensurate with that low-mileage and belies its 19 years. Ordered in Starlight Silver with contrasting black side vents, a black leather interior (including seats and steering wheel), electric seat height adjustment, electric windows, dual-action 4-belt, 3-point safety harness, SV-R 18" OZ split-rim alloy wheels and upgraded brakes, a specification it still retains today.

#154 was initially utilised as a demonstrator for MG Sport & Racing's specially appointed XPower dealership, Phoenix Preston, to whom it was registered. As we understand it through the MG SV database, the car’s ownership remained with MG Sport & Racing Ltd., and it was returned from Preston when the wider business entered administration in April 2005. Indeed, the car still wears its MG Sport & Racing Ltd. number plates with pride! The car’s additional two keepers were associated with MG Rover, as it was serviced twice by them early on in its life.

Since then, it has been fully serviced by Luffields, the official SV service agents, and more recently readied for sale by marque specialists, Retro Sports Cars Ltd. of Huddersfield. On offer from a small private Collection, this car has been diligently kept and used infrequently by our vendor since 2014. A never-to-be-repeated type of car from a bygone British carmaker - rare, exotic and a best-of-breed example - all the components for securing future status.