pring 2001 saw the launch
of what MG Rover described
as the ‘Race-bred’ MGF
Trophy 160 SE; a step up
from the 1.8i VVC model. Prior to this
there had been three MGF variations
on offer, 1.8i (120PS), 1.8i Steptronic
and 1.8i Variable Valve Control (VVC,
145PS) but the launch saw a 1.6i
‘accessible’ F and, top of the range,
the 1.8i Trophy 160 SE (160PS). The
latter used a variation on the VVC
145PS version with bigger valves,
amongst other tweaks. A Steptronic
Trophy was not seen as viable, due to
the extra torque from the tuned VVC
Autocar allowed MG Rover to reprint
its glowing review of one of MG Rover's
press cars, which they used for PR
purposes, the vibrant yellow Trophy
160 taking centre stage. The Trophy
was also available in the more subtle
hues of Trophy Blue, Solar Red and
Anthracite Metallic Black, with the
latter two being standard F colours.
And it was the lurid yellow hue that
proved to be the most popular.
Early MGFs are known for their
‘interesting’ drag co-efficient statisticsso, to address this for the Trophy,
MG Rover brought in designer Peter
Stevens as their design chief, to revise
the situation. Autocar quoted Stevens
as saying that, even at three-figure
speeds, handing was much improved.
The Trophy marked an important
time for MG Rover, having been sold
off by BMW. At last they could
now compete with the Z3
as well as the Lotus
Elise. As Stevens put it
at the time: “We are
now taking off the
handcuffs and making
our own decisions.”
Up to this point the
MGF was the UK’s
best- selling roadster,
with over half of the
65,000 cars built purchased
by UK buyers. The Trophy was
well placed price-wise against its
BMW competitor too, at £20,995.
Autocar even went as far as
referring to the new Trophy as a
‘Lotus basher’. Quite a statement
considering the cars shared the same
VVC K-series. At the time AutocarS
hinted at a supercharged or
turbocharged version of the F.
Dedicated MGF/TF fan David Koskela
is well known in the MGF and TF
Register, races an MGF and also owns
car dealership Church Square Autos
in Shepperton, Middlesex where he
specialises in MGFs and TFs. It was
through his connections in the trade
that he came across what he thought2000 MGF Trophy
50 MGE AUGUST 2019 http://www.mgenthusiast.comABOVE: Rear speaker
pods, as later fitted to the
TF are an unusual
addition for an off-the-
shelf track car, but then
so is the air conditioning..
.
.