MG Sports and Racing Europe
A short-lived British automotive company established to revive production of the MG XPower SV under the XPower WR name.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
MG Sports and Racing Europe Limited was a British automotive company formed in 2007 by William Riley after the collapse of MG Rover Group. Riley acquired assets associated with MG Rover's MG Sport and Racing subsidiary and sought to restart production of the high-performance MG XPower SV sports car. The proposed successor was to be called the XPower WR, with the initials reflecting Riley's involvement in the project. The company was based at Eardiston near Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire. Its business model centered on acquiring and redeveloping an existing performance-car project rather than creating a broad new vehicle range. In April 2008, it announced a revised version of the MG XPower SV, renamed the XPower WR. Later that year, it also announced a convertible derivative, the MG XPower SV-S WRC, described as having a Kevlar bodyshell. Neither vehicle entered production, and the company did not establish a functioning commercial manufacturing operation. The enterprise also became involved in disputes over its use of the MG trademark. Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation, which had acquired significant MG Rover assets after MG Rover's demise, challenged Riley's use of the mark. Nanjing prevailed in February 2010. Following the ruling, the company's name was changed in March 2010 to Sports and Racing Europe Ltd., ending its use of MG in the corporate name. By December 2009, press reports stated that no new cars had been manufactured since the company's establishment. The same reporting described employment tribunal proceedings brought by two employees over alleged non-payment of wages. Riley was also arrested in 2009 on suspicion of theft concerning an XPower WR car previously sold to a Canadian businessman who had been working with the company. These events, together with the failure to put either announced model into production and the trademark judgment, marked the collapse of the company's attempt to revive the MG XPower program. The available reference material does not document a subsequent production restart or a continuing operating business under the original name.
History
MG Sports and Racing Europe Limited was registered on 29 January 2007 in the United Kingdom. It was established by William Riley after the demise of MG Rover Group, with Riley acquiring assets connected to MG Rover's MG Sport and Racing subsidiary. The central objective was to revive the MG XPower SV, a low-volume performance car associated with MG Rover's XPower performance program. Rather than introducing a wholly new platform, the company proposed a revised version of the existing sports car. In April 2008, it announced that the vehicle would be relaunched as the XPower WR. A convertible version, referred to as the MG XPower SV-S WRC, was announced later in 2008 and was described as having a Kevlar bodyshell. These announcements suggested an intention to serve a niche market for exclusive, high-performance vehicles, but neither model progressed to series production. The company's plans were undermined by operational and legal problems. In December 2009, press coverage reported that no new cars had been manufactured since the business was founded. The same reports referred to employment tribunal proceedings initiated by two employees over alleged non-payment of wages. Riley was also arrested during 2009 on suspicion of theft relating to an XPower WR car that had previously been sold to a Canadian businessman working with the company. The available reference material does not state the outcome of the criminal investigation. A separate dispute concerned the MG trademark. Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation had acquired assets of the former MG Rover Group and challenged MG Sports and Racing Europe's use of the MG name. Nanjing won the case in February 2010. In March 2010, the company changed its name to Sports and Racing Europe Ltd., removing MG from its registered identity. This decision effectively ended the company's attempt to operate as an independent MG-branded revival of the XPower program. No subsequent production activity or successful commercial relaunch is documented in the cited material.
- 2010
MG trademark dispute resolved against the company
[1]Nanjing Automobile won the trademark dispute, after which the business changed its name to Sports and Racing Europe Ltd.
- 2009
Production and employment difficulties reported
[1]Reports stated that the company had produced no new cars and described employment tribunal proceedings over alleged unpaid wages.
- 2008
XPower WR announced
[1]The company announced a revised MG XPower SV, renamed the XPower WR, as its proposed production sports car.
- 2008
Convertible derivative announced
[1]A convertible derivative called the MG XPower SV-S WRC was announced, but it did not reach production.
- 2007
Company registered
[1]MG Sports and Racing Europe Limited was registered on 29 January 2007, with William Riley acquiring assets associated with MG Rover's MG Sport and Racing operation.
Products and positioning
A niche performance-automotive venture focused on reviving the MG XPower SV project and using the proposed sports cars to continue MG's high-performance image.
High-performance sports car · 2008
XPower WR
The XPower WR was announced in 2008 as a revised version of the MG XPower SV. It represented the company's main attempt to restart production of the performance car after acquiring assets from MG Rover's MG Sport and Racing subsidiary. Despite the announcement, the XPower WR never entered production.
Convertible sports car · 2008
MG XPower SV-S WRC
The MG XPower SV-S WRC was announced later in 2008 as a convertible derivative related to the XPower sports-car project. It was described as having a Kevlar bodyshell and was intended to extend the proposed range beyond the closed sports car. The model did not reach production.
Controversies
2010
MG trademark dispute
Nanjing Automobile challenged the company's use of the MG trademark and won the dispute in February 2010. The company changed its name the following month.
2009
Alleged unpaid wages and arrest investigation
Reports in 2009 described employment tribunal proceedings by two employees concerning alleged non-payment of wages. The same reporting said William Riley had been arrested on suspicion of theft involving an XPower WR vehicle. The available material does not provide final legal outcomes.
Brand decisions
2010
Remove MG from the company nameStrategyBackground
Nanjing Automobile won a legal dispute over the company's use of the MG trademark.
Action taken
The company changed its name to Sports and Racing Europe Ltd. in March 2010.
Aftermath
The change ended the company's use of MG as its corporate identity and coincided with the failure of its proposed vehicle program.
2008
Announce the XPower WRProduct launchBackground
The company sought to revive the MG XPower SV project using assets acquired from the former MG Sport and Racing operation.
Action taken
It announced a revised sports car under the XPower WR name.
Aftermath
The model never reached production.
Sources1 sources
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