Developed during Rover's ownership of MG, the TF - launched in 1995 as the MGF - was a departure from the front-engine layout long associated with the brand. The current TF continues to use the same mid-engine layout, albeit there is a twist: much of the car is built in China, not in the UK.
As the MG brand was sold to the Nanjing Automotive Corporation in 2005, all tooling associated with the TF was moved to China. MG does own a plant in Longbridge, England, but it's relegated to painting cars and final assembly tasks. Plans to manufacture the car in the United States have gone by the wayside.
Even so, enthusiasts are lining up for the convertible. The Birmingham Post reports nearly three-quarters of the first 500 TFs are already accounted for.
Source: Automotive News