It has been 90 years now since Cecil Kimber founded MG, with the iconic British car manufacturer experiencing some monumental highs throughout this time. Fans of the brand could be about to witness one of the company's most successful periods in the coming months and years though, especially if research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), reported by TheBusinessDesk.com, is anything to go on...Almost a decade on from hearing the news that the MG Rover Group had entered administration and subsequently been purchased by Chinese car maker NAC, the SMMT has revealed that MG is now the fastest growing automotive brand across the whole of Britain. The research highlighted that MG has seen its year-to-date sales jump by 574 per cent from January to March of 2014!

The new MG3 supermini, on sale in the UK starting September 2013

The key elements to MG's latest success story
There are a number of factors that are helping the British manufacturer become a force to be reckoned with. Many will instantly link MG's recent sales increase with the launch of the MG3 supermini in the autumn. After all, this is a car that catches the eye with its sporty exterior and is very welcoming with its spacious interior.

The MG3 isn't short on state-of-the-art technology either. There's LED daytime running lights, which illuminate the road ahead magnificently, as well as both DAB radio and Bluetooth audio working to eliminate boring road trips. While the MG3 is the main new addition to the MG family, we would be doing the brand an injustice if we didn't give the MG6 at least some of the limelight.

MG6 1.8L Turbo (2011 model

Quite simply, there is a MG6 vehicle available whatever your tastes as a motorist. The MG6 GT has found a way to perfectly balance exceptional performance with sublime handling. Meanwhile, the MG6 Magnette is elegant and refined, making it a top family car and company car alike. There's also the powerful MG6 BTCC Edition; a vehicle created in honour of MG making its triumphant return to the British Touring Car Championships in 2012.

MG's previous standout achievements
The SMMT stats will make for wonderful reading for MG enthusiasts and will expand the list of major milestones achieved by the British firm over the past 90 years. The Motorparks website, specialists in used cars, has an in-depth MG guide on various MGs from 1995 onwards. It doesn't mention any of their previous achievements though, so here's what we think are three of the most standout moments of the "MG story" to date:

MG K3 Magnette

1. The 1933 Mile Miglia road races
MG made itself known to the world at the 1933 Mille Miglia road race. Not even a decade old at the time, the manufacturer entered the MG K3 into the event and accomplished a class

Prince Charles arrives at University College of Wales in his blue 1969 MGC GT

win. It was the first time that a team from a country other than Italy had achieved success on this stage.

2. Royal seal of approval
Arguably the most famous person to have ever bought a car from MG is HRH Prince Charles, who purchased a MGC GT "SGY 766F" back in 1969. As if that wasn't a huge thumbs up for the MG brand on its own, the Prince of Wales later passed the keys of the vehicle across to his son, the Duke of Cambridge Prince William.

The 1.5 millionth MG rolls off the line in 2002 (MG TF160 Special Edition)

3. More than a million reasons to own a MG
Almost as if the brand was celebrating the previous achievement, MG built its 1,500,000th car on April 16th 2002 — a special edition of the TF 160 manufactured to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II.

Here's to MG - A great car manufacturer with a colourful history and hopefully a very successful future. If you have any other interesting facts on MG's past please share them in the comments!

Editor Note: Article written by Peter JS — 2014-05-10
Submitted to The MG Experience