Would you take a chance on this £16k MG XPower SV-R?

Remember the XPower SV? Unveiled in 2002, it was to be the new halo car for post-BMW MG. The Brits had 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’s aggressive design was penned by Peter Stevens – the man responsible for the McLaren F1, no less – and its body panels were full carbon fibre. The panels were made in the UK, then shipped to Italy to be fitted to the chassis, before the whole thing was sent back to Longbridge for final fit and finish…

As you can imagine, the SV was rather expensive when it arrived in 2003. Sales were slow, so MG decided that what the public needed was a more expensive, faster version. That was the 385bhp SV-R, which claimed 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 175mph. 

This particular example – one of only 42 SV-Rs built – is currently up for auction in Bonham’s Spring Motoring Online sale, with a rather tempting estimate of between €20,000 and €25,000. The only issue? It was one of the last examples ever to leave the factory, and having completed around 2,500 miles from new, it was parked up in 2011 and hasn’t moved since. Ah.

Still, could be worth a punt at that projected price, no?

Images: Bonhams