MG Rover has confirmed its new luxury sports car is to be built in Birmingham.

It will build up to 2,000 MG X80s a year at Longbridge instead of Qvale Modena, the Italian firm which MG Rover bought from its American owners in June.

A coupé version of the 4.6 litre car will be launched next summer followed by a roadster version in 2003.

An MG Rover spokesman said the ability to house production of the X80 under one roof at Longbridge had contributed to the decision to move it from Italy.

"We are talking about a very low-line production. This is not a mass-produced car as it is mostly hand built. "There may be some new supply-line jobs, but this is not really about jobs and I cannot say how many are likely to be on offer. " (October 1, 2001)