Ask an MGF chassis engineer just why its mid-


Hit Counter

engine, rear wheel drive design is better on the


 

bends than any other layout, and he’ll enthuse


 

about the ‘low polar moment of inertia; Ask him



 

G E T I N TO to translate into



 

plain English. and he’ll take an example straight


 

from the gym. Holding a dumbbell in one hand,


 

try and make it turn; because the weights are at


 

either end of the bar, this requires considerable


 

effort. The front-engined car has the same kind


 

of weight distribution. Now imagine that the


 

dumbbell weights are in the centre of the


 

bar — making it far easier to turn. The MGF’s


 

mid-engine design does the same job; it’s eager


 

to turn, and inherently well-balanced.


 

Because the weight of the engine is over the


 

driven wheels, the car has outstanding grip


p3

under acceleration. The rear wheel drive design


 

also means that there is no torque steer.
Combine this outstanding agility with the power


 

of the new 1 .8i K-Series engine, and the result is


 

pure exhilaration — particularly if you’re at the


 

wheel of the MGF l.8i VVC. The unique Variable


 

Valve Control system allows the opening period



 

of the inlet valves to be F 0 R 1.1


 

varied by altering the


 

rotational speed of each cam lobe, under the


 

control of the engine management system.


 

When you accelerate, the cam period is


 

lengthened to increase the volume of mixture


 

entering the cylinders — in effect, allowing the


 

engine to ‘take a deeper breath’, and delivering


 

truly phenomenal sprinting power. The system


 

is illustrated below.
Power. assisted


 

steering with a difference;


 

the MGF’s is


 

electronically controlled.


 

A computer calculates


 

exactly how much


 

assistance is needed for


 

the driving conditions. It’s


 

also extremely refined;


 

pump ‘groan’ and valve


 

hiss’ are a thing of the


 

past. The system Is


 

standard on the MGF 1.8


 

vvc, optional on the


 

MGF 1.8i.
Variable Valve Control
on 18i VVC model
Controls
~:is
slowed down
when valve
cam is
is
Cam is’
speeded up
speeded up
slowed down
when valve
when valve
when valve
Guide block


 

Needle roller
bearings
Pin clearance
sole
paw.
.


 

Drive ring
Radial slot
Independent
shaft
is opening
is dosed
is opening
is closed
Cam lobes
Cutaway view of the third


 

and fourth cylinder variable
valve control system.
HI,
.
‘ade Mark