Ital to make shock return!

Following in the footsteps of the highly sucessful Tata Indica based CityRover, MG-Rover are set to make another tie up with an asian manufacturer in order to replace the aging Rover 45. The company in question is , China based, Huandu whose CAC6430 modle is based on the much missed Ital. Therefore the modle will be coming back to the UK from next spring. 

Unfortunatly it may not be able to use the highly respected ital name because BMW were keen to cling onto the rights to the badge during the sell out to the Pheonix group (see news archive Oct '03). New names being considered are 46, 55, Montego and ShittyRover. The latter is thought to be the strong favorite.

An MG version will follow later in the year, and there is even a possibility of a Mustang V8 powered X-power version.

As can be seen in the photos below the Ital has been revised during its time in China. The front bumper is new and the suspension has been raised to deal with Chinese roads.

MG-Rover are currently looking into the possibilty of returning the cars to the original, well loved, appearance before the launch early next year.

Also seen in the pictures is the diversity of body styles available. It is not clear which ones will make it back to these shores, but rest assured the Ital Shrine will be the first to let you know 

Shock - Some Bastard Votes Brown in Colour Poll

As regular visitors will be aware the Ital Shrine has been running a serious poll over several months to find out which is the best colour for our favourite car. Votes have been pouring in and as expected beige is streeking ahead.

However, recently some person or persons have maliciously, and with intent, been voting for brown. This has occurred with such frequency that brown has now over taken orange into 2nd place.

Investigations are on going as to who did this, and why, but unfortunatly due to a legal loop hole (it is not actually illegal to like brown cars!) the culprits are likely to escape custody.

BMW Block use of Ital Name

It has emerged that during the sell out of Rover to the Pheonix group BMW craftilly held on to the rights to several of the great badges which had been used by the Rover group.

Among these names is Ital.

BMW's plans for the name for is unknown, though insiders suggest it could be used for an up-market saloon derivative of the new MINI. What is certain is that it scuppers MG-Rovers plans to reintroduce one of its best loved badges.