Car maker unveils major investment in Midlands testing facilities

BIRMINGHAM-based MG Motor UK has investment £1.2m improving its Longbridge production facilities.

The company’s Chinese owner has used the money to install a fifth engine test facility and to further enhance the on-site vehicle rolling road.

MG said the new facility offered significant improvements on the existing test resource and was a major step change for its test and development capability.

Typically, vehicle emission testing on a rolling road has been out-sourced, but now engineers will be able to carry out the required tests in the correct temperature-controlled environment with full emission measurement capability.

Engineers will also benefit from having the technical centre on-site for continuous product development.

Being able to carry out vehicle emissions and engine development on-site means engineers will also be able to ensure the engines going into MG vehicles are optimised for emissions, performance and fuel economy.

The engineers can run test engines through a complete transient drive cycle with the ability to control temperature and humidity of the intake air and also the temperature of the coolant, oil and fuel.

James Scott, Powertrain Test Senior Manager, said: “The money that’s been invested into this new testing facility shows a real commitment to the future of MG. This additional test cell and enhanced rolling road allows us to continue to get the very best performance and economy for MG products.

“This facility increases the global test and development capability which allows even more collaborative powertrain testing and development with our colleagues in China.”

The new engine test facilities are just one of many new developments for the UK-based design and engineering centre.

MG also recently announced an expansion to the design team at Longbridge, following the successful UK launch of the company’s new SUV, the MG GS.

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, added: “It’s great to see the company taking even more strides forward – both in sales and engineering developments for the future.”