MG Cars Australia is showcasing the highly acclaimed MGF Super Sports — a stunning new Spyder design concept car -- at the Melbourne International Motor Show on Friday, February 26.

"The MGF Super Sports is inspired by the historic exploits of MG in road races around the world,' said Owen Peake, Sales and Marketing Manager for MG Cars Australia.

"The MG design team in the UK built on the strengths of the production-model MGF to create this lightweight, exquisitely finished, modern interpretation of a classic weekend race car,' he said.

In true MG tradition, the Super Sports is powered by a supercharged engine - a version of the K Series 1.8 litre unit producing 147kW of power. It utilises a race specification suspension tune developed from the 1998 MGFCup UK race series.

MGF Super Sports exterior styling is muscular and accentuates the purposeful stance of the production MGF, through the use of lightweight flared front and rear side panels which accommodate a wider track, larger wheels and tyres.

The deep red bodywork and full-length white tonneau, with chrome embellishments, conjure up memories of typical racing MGs of the past.

A chrome engine air intake, feeding the supercharger, rises in classic style above the mid-engine installation.

The driver's cockpit is set within a full-length tonneau moulded from carbon fibre composite and features a fast rake, low drag, Spyder-style racing screen.

The seats are fully trimmed in white and red leather with red accent stitching, and are purpose-built within an overall interior exploiting the white and chrome theme.

Developed in just three months under the experimental project number 'EX254' - MGF Super Sports is the latest in a tradition extending back to the 1920s.

The Super Sports name itself, as well as epitomising the character of the design study, was the first used on an MG race car in 1924.

The Super Sports design study explores a number of ideas relevant to the development of lightweight sports cars, including the use of aluminium body panels, carbon fibre composites, and high power small capacity engines.

"MG is well-known for producing cars which capture the imagination both on and off the race track,' said Mr. Peake.

"MGF Super Sports is a car in the true spirit of the MG — it's a contemporary evocation of the MG tradition.'