Following its collapse...

Following its collapse in 2005 and subsequent sale to Chinese firm Nanjing Automotive, MG showed the first signs of recovery with news that a mid-sized car was being lined up for UK production.

We reported in Issue 1,009 that after a complex game of corporate musical chairs, Nanjing had been bought by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) тЂ“ a company that already owned car maker Roewe.

Our story confirmed earlier speculation that SAIC was planning to use an all-new model тЂ“ badged Roewe 550 тЂ“ as the basis for a new MG saloon. Although our pictures showed the newcomer wearing Roewe badges, the modern lines and chunky good looks gave MG fans across the world hope that the firmтЂ™s comeback car would be a real contender.

Styled by a team of British designers, we learned that the 550 would be similar in size to a Ford Focus and that the design team had used the BMW 3-Series as a benchmark when creating the interior, although a drive in November suggested it still had some way to go.

We also reported that NAC was continuing to plough money into the Longbridge plant in the Midlands, with a total of ТЈ39million invested.

Ford plans coupé revival (Issue 1,010)

News that Ford was working on a successor to the much loved Capri broke in April, and we published exclusive images of how the newcomer could look when it hits showrooms in 2010. We reported that Ford bosses were encouraged by the positive reception given to the Volkswagen Scirocco and news that Toyota and Hyundai were both known to be working on large four-door coupé projects. Our story revealed that the production car would take design cues from FordтЂ™s 2003 Visos concept.

Driver Power report (Issue 1,008)

IT proved to be a tough year for dealers тЂ“ thanks in part to Auto Express! Our annual Driver Power Dealer Report named and shamed the UKтЂ™s best and worst retail and servicing outlets by marque, and once again, we revealed some

shock results. Compiled using data and feedback from more than 32,000 motorists, the survey placed Renault at the bottom of the pile while Japanese company Lexus claimed the top spot, followed by Skoda and Subaru.

Compact off-roader gets in shape (Issue 1,007)

Although sales of 4x4s would hit the buffers in spectacular fashion in 2008, that didnтЂ™t stop BMW forging ahead with the MINI Crossman тЂ“ a chunky off-road machine built on a stretched Clubman platform. Well ahead of the official Crossman concept тЂ“ which appeared at the Paris Motor Show in September тЂ“ our exclusive images showed that it would have a raised ride height and longer body with a pair of rear doors. Expect to see the final production

version later next year.

Debut for firmтЂ™s compact SUV (Issue 1,007)

THE blue oval has a patchy record in the 4x4 sector, but all that changed in April when the Kuga finally hit UK dealers. The Focus-based car had been a long time coming тЂ“ we saw a concept version two years earlier тЂ“ yet the end result was well worth the wait. We reported that the mid-size Ford was a great all-round package, with crisp driving dynamics and sporty handling that no compact SUV rival could match.

And it really showed its mettle in a unique test as Auto Express launched a brand new look in June (see Page 80).

New scooter patrols arrive (Issue 1,007)

BREAKING down in London got a little more bearable in April, when the AA introduced its new motorcycle patrols. Auto Express went under cover with Pepe Mongiovi тЂ“ one of 14 scooter-riding AA patrolmen now on-call in the capital.

Our reporter shadowed the two-wheeled mechanical whizz as he darted from breakdown to breakdown in double-quick time, fixing up broken motors with an impressive array of tools hidden away in the fairing of his Honda Silverwing scooter. Impressive stuff.

Mega Renault blasts off (Issue 1,006)

NOT for the first time in 2008, Auto Express climbed aboard a stunning concept car. On this occasion, we persuaded Renault to hand over the keys to its amazing Mégane Coupé тЂ“ and we werenтЂ™t disappointed. Our tester came away impressed by the RenaultтЂ™s attention to detail and original thinking inside and out. And while a vast majority of features didnтЂ™t make it to the production version, which appeared officially in November, it proved that RenaultтЂ™s Va-Va-Voom was well and truly back.

Strike panics forecourts (Issue 1,009)

RUMOURS of a planned strike at the Grangemouth refinery near Falkirk caused many small fuel retailers to hike prices to previously unseen levels. Our reporters found one filling station тЂ“ a Rix garage in Kirkcaldy, Fife тЂ“ was charging ТЈ1.45 a litre for diesel, which was way above the national average. Although the strike went ahead, fuel supplies to Scotland were unaffected.

Custom Bentley (Issue 1,006)

AN early candidate for the weirdest car of 2008 emerged with the Bentley S3. Designed by automotive engineer Arturo Alonso and hand-made by American coachbuilder Bentley Boys USA, the bizarre machine features long, flowing wings and enormous 20-inch wheels. Only three were to be built at a cost of ТЈ75,000 each.

Tata swoops (Issue 1,006)

THE motoring industryтЂ™s worst kept secret was officially announced тЂ“ Ford had sold Land Rover and Jaguar to Indian firm Tata. And the deal meant a big shake-up in product planning. Our sources confirmed that Tata would shelve plans to build a replacement for the slow-selling Jaguar X-Type and that it would concentrate on launching a new XJ saloon and spiritual successor to the E-Type. Land Rover, meanwhile, would work on an all-new model based on the LRX concept.