MG TF

With this in mind, Rover's decision to abandon all that made the 'F' fantastic with it all-new MG TF seems an extremely risky gamble. But on looks alone, the bet has certainly paid off. The metallic blue MG TF 135 we sampled for this exclusive drive looks stunning in the metal.

Priced at £17,245, the 135bhp MX-5 and Lotus Elise rival sports a new grille, headlamps and bumpers. Styling changes have also altered the shape of the bonnet and boot, and put sharper creases into the wings as well. A new range of colours, which includes the Trophy Blue shown here as well as a metallic grey and green, has been developed, and there is an extra set of alloy wheels to choose from, too. Wearing sharp-looking sills and cooling vents, the TF is more modern and much more aggressive than its predecessor.

Swing open the door and you'll find changes have been made to the interior trim, too. Although the basic shape and feel remain the same, the upgraded materials add to the air of refinement. As you slide behind the wheel it also becomes obvious that the driving ergonomics have been improved. The seat squab is now thinner and the rake adjustment introduced at the car's last facelift offers more versatility. But by far the greatest changes made to the MG TF are under the skin. The Hydragas suspension system has been stripped out and replaced with a conventional spring and damper arrangement. Brakes have been uprated, too, and a raft of modifications made to the engine-management system now means drivers can expect a smoother and faster throttle response.

Fire up the powerplant and it's also clear that a great deal has been done to improve sound-proofing. The mechanical thrash that accompanied the 1.8-litre K-Series unit when it was used in the MGF has all but been eliminated. The gearchange is a little shorter, too, and as you move bet-ween the five ratios the shift action feels slicker thanks to the uprated engine management.

While tinkering with the chassis, engineers also scrapped the old steering. It is now lighter and offers much more feel than ever before. Floor the throttle and speed builds quickly, with Rover claiming the MG TF 135 is capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds. Top end is an impressive 127mph. On winding roads, the MG TF feels much lighter on its toes than the old MGF. It seems very keen to change direction, and accelerates more effortlessly than its predecessor ever could. A glance at the specification reveals why. Although the car's kerbweight remains fundamentally unchanged, the new suspension and steering systems coupled with the 135bhp engine improve its agility considerably.

The ride is not quite as smooth as on its predecessor, but body control and balance remain excellent. Drive too fast into the corner and the neutral MG TF drifts evenly. Even late, heavy braking does little to upset the car.

Ultimately it's hard to be anything but impressed by the MG TF. Better in virtually every respect than the out-going car, it's a machine that seems certain to keep MG Rover at the very top of the UK's roadster sales charts. If the 'F' in MGF stood for fabulous, there can be no doubt that 'TF' in the newcomer stands for Totally Fantastic.

Although the stylish new MG TF looks similar to the MGF, drivers should be quite clear the two cars are very different. The newcomer's steering is stronger, the brakes are better and the conventional chassis set-up is every bit as capable as the Hydragas system it replaces. We still say that the driving position could be improved and the suspension is a little harsh, but these are small concerns overall. From where we are sitting it looks like Britain's favourite roadster is set to go from strength to strength.

At a glance

*New £17,245 MG TF 135 in the showrooms now

*Powered by 135bhp four-cylinder 1.8-litre K-Series engine

*New-look bodywork

*Conventional suspension set-up replaces Hydragas system