Britain’s top-selling MG dealer just can’t stop celebrating – or selling cars!

Britain’s top-selling MG dealer just can’t stop celebrating – or selling cars!

W.H.Brand, based near Spalding, Lincolnshire, won the accolade of ‘Top Performing MG dealer of 2014’ and also clinched the trophy for the country’s ‘Top Selling MG3’ dealer. Now the family-run firm has celebrated 90 years in business and threw a party for more than 250 guests at the showroom in the small Fenland village of Whaplode Drove.

The celebrations also coincided with the 90^th birthday of Fred Brand, the son of the firm’s founder, William Horace Brand. Fred showed off a classic 1949 speedway bike – he took up the sport to earn money to build a new garage for the business.

While customers tucked into a fish and chips supper on a London double-decker bus parked outside the showrooms, Sales Manager Adam Brand – great grandson of the firm’s founder – just couldn’t stop himself from selling MGs.

Adam said: “It was purely a party to mark our 90^th anniversary and Fred’s 90^th birthday, but I was chatting away to a customer I’ve known for years and before you knew it, I had an order for an MG6 Magnette.

“Ten minutes later the same thing happened and someone ordered an MG3 and then yesterday someone else rang up and ordered another MG3. I didn’t really sell the cars – they sold themselves! Taking on the MG franchise was the best business decision we have ever made.

“We seem to have been celebrating for weeks on end, but we’re not complaining. We’ve got our eyes set on retaining the winner’s awards this year and it seems our customers are keen to help us.”

During the 90^th celebrations, W.H. Brand’s customers and suppliers raised nearly £500 for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance charity.

W.H. Brand joined the growing MG dealer network in December 2013 and covers Spalding, Peterborough and a large rural area covering parts of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

In the last 12 months the number of MG dealers has almost doubled. There are currently 56 MG dealerships and 10 after sales outlets across the country. More dealers will be appointed in the coming months.

MG gets official championship award at FIA gala Dinner, hosted by Jean Todt and John Surtees.

• MG crowned 2014 MSA British Touring Car Championship Manufacturer at MSA Night of Champions
• Trophy presented by FIA President Jean Todt
• Plans confirmed to defend title in 2015 with Triple Eight, Andrew Jordan and Pirtek
• MG also fastest growing automotive brand in 2014
• Major expansion of MG dealer network

MG joined the elite of British motor sport at the MSA Night of Champions, to celebrate winning the 2014 MSA British Touring Car manufacturer trophy.

The event, held at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club on London’s Pall Mall, was hosted by broadcasters Steve Ryder and Louise Goodman. Alan Gow, Chairman of the Motor Sports Association (MSA) welcomed the winners whilst FIA president Jean Todt and Formula 1 and motorcycling legend John Surtees crowned the champions of UK motor sport’s most prestigious titles. 

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Jean Todt presented MG with the 2014 MSA British Touring Car Championship manufacturer trophy following a thrilling year of racing that saw the Triple Eight Racing works MG6GTs defeat four times champions Honda.

Victory in the BTCC completed a fantastic 90th anniversary year for MG that saw the iconic brand become the fastest growing automotive brand in the UK, with sales increasing 361% over 2013. A major expansion of the national dealer network played a key part in the sales growth, with an additional 24 new dealers in locations across the UK including Glasgow, Newcastle, Leicester, Coventry, Bicester, Brecon, Norwich, West London, Swindon, Maidstone, Exeter, Falmouth and Newtownabbey and Bangor in Northern Ireland. Further new dealers are already in the process of being appointed in 2015.

The MG6 also performed on the road receiving major accolades from its customers, who voted it Best Handling car in the 2014 Auto Express Driver Power survey. The MG brand was also voted the third best brand to own in Britain’s largest car owner survey.

After receiving the trophy from Jean Todt, Matthew Cheyne, Head of Marketing for MG, said: “I am delighted to be celebrating this achievement and the fact that we have just successfully completed the negotiations to return and defend our title in 2015 with Triple Eight Racing.

“The team and drivers did a great job in 2014 to secure the manufacturer title for MG and with Andrew Jordan and Pirtek already on board this year; we are looking forward to challenging for both the drivers and manufacturers titles in 2015.”

Andrew Jordan visits Longbridge ahead of BTCC season opener, and collects his new MG3

• New MG ace Andrew Jordan sets sights on 2015 BTCC crown
• Visit to MG’s Birmingham operation marks countdown to season
• Collects new MG3 – and tunes in!

MG’s new race star, Andrew Jordan, laid down the gauntlet when he visited the iconic Longbridge factory to mark the three month countdown to the start of the new season.

Looking lean and mean, the ultra-quick driver who became the youngest ever champion in the history of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship when he captured the winner’s crown in 2013, said he was determined to re-claim the championship again in 2015.

Last year MG and Triple Eight Racing took the BTCC Manufacturer/Constructor title and Andrew visited the MG factory to get an insight into MG, the fastest growing car brand in the UK. 

Accompanied by his father Mike, an ever-present guide in Andrew’s hugely impressive career, Andrew (25) had a peek behind the scenes into some of the operations at MG’s Birmingham headquarters.

Representatives from Pirtek UK, one of MG’s new partners supporting the Triple Eight Racing prepared MG6’s and Andrew’s longest running sponsor under the ‘Pirtek Racing’ banner, were also shown around the iconic Longbridge site.

Andrew and his fellow guests were able to gain an insight into the MG business both in the UK and abroad and he was introduced to a variety of people involved in designing, engineering and building the fast-selling MG3 and multi-award winning MG6.

With his Triple Eight race engineered MG6 GT now ready to start its pre-season testing programme, Andrew said he was just itching to get behind the wheel for the first time.

Meanwhile he collected his new MG3 from the MG Sales Centre, based at the factory site and the sales team enjoyed showing their newest celebrity customer the wide range of features and benefits that his new car has to offer.

Andrew said: “I just can’t wait to get started. I love the MG3, it’s a really funky little machine. I love the detail in everything down to the seats and even the red trim on the mats. I’m looking forward to giving it a good run out when we go testing in February and March.

“I think we’re going to have a really competitive season and there’s a few things that we’re looking to try out that I’m confident will help us bring even more out of the MG6, which has proven to be a really competitive package. Make no mistake about it, I’m here to win.” 

MG’s Head of Marketing, Matthew Cheyne, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Andrew, Mike and the team from Pirtek UK to Longbridge. We’re confident that with Andrew and Triple Eight Racing in tandem, we are going to have a great year on the track. But we’re also very excited at the prospects off track too as we develop relationships with our new team partners Pirtek Racing.

“Andrew looks great in his MG3 and we know he will help bring this car to a wider audience, just as his racing will continue to do with the MG6.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener when he asked the MG Sales Centre team to pre-set Radio 1 on the DAB radio in the MG3, but then you have to remember that despite already being an experienced racer and champion, he’s still a very young driver and that’s doubly exciting for the future.”

The first race of the 2015 season will be at the world-famous Brand’s Hatch circuit on the weekend of April 4/5.

The ultimate Pony car is now available to order in the UK - get in quick, they will shift.

• New Ford Mustang can now be specified and ordered in the UK for the first time in more than 50 years
• Priced from £28,995 the new Ford Mustang is available equipped with a 2.3-litre EcoBoost or a 5.0-litre V8 engine
• New Ford Mustang offers 19-inch wheels and performance brakes, SYNC 2 voice control with eight-inch touchscreen, exclusive colours
• Online configurator allows customers to explore options and pricing  

Today marked a special moment in automotive history as customers in the UK were, for the first time ever, able to specify and order the new Ford Mustang – more than 50 years after the iconic car first went into production.

Equipped with a 314PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine or a 418PS 5.0-litre V8 engine, the new Ford Mustang fastback and convertible models are available to order from FordStores priced from £28,995.

An online configurator will enable customers to specify their Mustang and review pricing.  In addition, smartphone and tablet users can see and share exactly how their chosen Mustang could look, using a new augmented reality app that places the car in the setting of their choice.

Available for Apple and Android devices this week, the app enables customers to first select bodystyle, exterior colour, and alloy wheel options. They can then view the car in their chosen setting in real-time using the camera feature of their mobile device. Users can even hear realistic engine sounds, and also share photos of their virtual Mustang.

“There’s never been a better time to introduce this iconic car across Europe. All-new Ford Mustang is the most modern, technologically advanced and forward-looking Mustang in the amazing history of the marque,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. 

“Being able to specify a Mustang that reflects your individual character has always been a key part of the model’s appeal. With our new app, customers will be able to see exactly how the all-new Mustang could look outside their house, and as a part of their life.”

Available with six-speed manual or automatic transmission, all-new Ford Mustang features as standard: 19-inch wheels, aperformance brake package, automatic HID xenon headlamps, LED tail lamps, and a rear diffuser. Further standard equipment includes dual-zone climate control, a nine-speaker sound system, and SYNC 2 voice control connectivity with an eight-inch colour touch screen.

Additional options include climate control seats and premium 19-inch alloy wheels with Lustre Nickel finish (available as part of the optional custom pack). Ten exterior colour choices include exclusive Competition Orange and tri-coat Triple Yellow.

The all-new Ford Mustang is exclusively available to order in the UK at new FordStores. Located mostly in metropolitan areas, Ford is currently rolling out the stores across the country.

Never before has Mustang gone on sale worldwide and the all-new Mustang will be available to customers in more than 100 markets. First shipments are headed for Asia, with vehicles arriving in the UK in late autumn..

Ford made the first 500 Ford Mustangs for Europe available to reserve during the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final. More than 9,300 people registered online for a chance to reserve one of the models during the match, the first 500 registrations were placed in just 30 seconds.