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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">BTCC</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">27/04/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">MG ZS EX259</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">New Touring Car</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/X259New%20BTC.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> Besides launching the three new race / rally cars, the MG Launch yesterday also introduced the X POWER name, as a sub-brand of MG Sport & Racing Limited.<BR> <BR> 'MG X Power' will "bind together and symbolise all of MG Sport & Racing’s activities". The letter X stems from historic MG associations, such as the ‘EX’ engineering project numbers and the ‘XP’ engine number prefix. 'X' codes are used for the company's MG prototype model codes, and the new motorsport cars have ‘EX’ code numbers.<BR> <BR> MG X Power will become well known worldwide as it is seen emblazoned on the flanks of the competition cars, on team clothing and on merchandise.<BR> <BR> The car above is the new BTCC machine for later in the year. Warren Hughes and Anthony Reid will drive the ZS, and they should race them for the first time on September 8 /9, at Silverstone.<BR> <BR> They will be powered by a race tuned 2 litre KV6 engine, and will start track testing in July. The last three BTCC events of the 2001 season will provide ‘shakedown’ testing in preparation for the full 2002 season. <BR> <BR> Dick Bennetts, Managing Director of West Surrey Racing (WSR), who are running the ZSs, stated: “The new regulations are an exciting change. There were a lot of critics initially as the cars are not as high tech as their predecessors, but personally I believe that they should give much more cost effective and better racing – possibly an equal playing field by 2002.<BR> <BR> “The cars are more sophisticated than super production, plus they look and sound good on the track.<BR> <BR> “The MG ZS has great potential. It has double wishbone front suspension and should produce good horsepower from its V6 engine. The initial feeling towards the aerodynamics is positive which is just as well as we are not allowed much in the way of development anymore – it looks to be a very efficient car in road trim."<BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>