A VISION of the sort of MG Rover cars that could lie ahead has been released by one of those bidding to revive the company.
David James CBE, the corporate doctor who saved the Millennium Dome, has put together a British-backed bid to save MG Rover from falling into Chinese ownership.
Barrie Wills, spokesman for the Project Kimber bid that is named after MG founder Cecil Kimber, says: "This is the last chance to save Britain's largest independent car maker from falling into overseas ownership.
"It is a credible, fully-funded bid with a strong management team that has varied and extensive expertise working in the motor industry.
"There is a lot of passion involved but this is balanced by a pragmatic and realistic business plan that will see the brand develop over the coming years and generate job development at Longbridge."
Chinese hopeful Nanjing Automotive says it also wants to restart production of the cars in the UK, possibly at the Longbridge site.
The company says it has plans for a new MG Midget together with replacements for the MG ZS and its Rover 45 equivalent.
These two companies are in competition with Chinese firm Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and its partner, ex-Ford boss Martin Leach for MG Rover.
A decision on the future of the respective bids is expected soon.