Nanjing MG 7 news - Chinese chestnut - 2007

If you wept a tear as the remnants of British Leyland creaked their last, well, be sad no more, because you can relive the great days of British car manufacture by... moving to China!

Not only will you get all the benefits of a state-controlled media (no news stories gently taking the mickey out of the Department for Transport over there, thank you very much) and being able to pronounce the trickiest items off the takeaway menu when you holiday in the UK, but you'll also able to buy a brand new MG ZT.

Only it's not called the MG ZT any more - it's now the Nanjing MG 7. But Nanjing assures us that the 7 'retains the character of the former British-built MG ZT in terms of both design and quality'. Lucky really, because if there was one thing you never had to worry about with MGs, it was the quality. And the design.

Choose between a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-pot, which develops 160bhp and accelerates the MG 7 from 0 to 60mph, or, if you're feeling flash, the flagship MG7L.

With its 2.7-litre V6 putting out a Vauxhall Corsa VXR-rivalling 177bhp, the MG7L will put pay to those pesky rickshaws at the lights. Better still, it's up to 20cm longer than the standard 7! That £22,260 (prices subject to currency fluctuations) looks like a veritable bargain.

But don't take our word for it. Here, according to Nanjing, is what the Chinese media says about the MG 7:

'Driving the car is like enjoying life in a relaxed manner.'
Auto World

'The MG 7 might not be the strongest in terms of handling compared with equivalent models.'
Car Market Guide

'One will only slowly understand the real charisma of the car with ownership.'
Orient Auto

'Maybe it will not become as popular as the Toyota Camry.'
Orient Auto (again)

All of those quotes are absolutely genuine.