According to an article in the Financial Times, Nanjing Automotive Corporation, the Chinese owners of MG, are currently developing a new sports car that should be released sometime in 2009.A Nanjing exec is quoted as saying that a new, "very good sports car that would fit in with the brand" is coming, although no further details were released.This new sports car will likely be produced at MG's Longbridge plant, however, more expensive parts, including engines and transmissions would be shipped out from China.With the first TFs expected to be produced in the next few months, it seems that MG's new masters are finally on their way to making good on their plans, and with two new models, in addition to this new coupe on the horizon, the automaker finally has a shot at rising from the ashes.[Source: Financial Times via Motor Authority] .

Hawaii Tourism Authority looking at use of sports logo

Hawkeye Sports & Entertainment, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's first sports marketing contractor, is advocating the use of an "Active Hawaii" logo to improve Hawaii's global sports image.

The logo, which is the letter H formed with two swirling lines that suggest motion, is meant to establish Hawaii as a haven where outdoor adventurers, urban escapists, endurance participants and warm-weather enthusiasts can find the active lifestyle that they crave.

If approved by the HTA, the logo would be leveraged to form the centerpiece of corporate and media partnerships, event platforms and licensing programs.

There's tremendous competition for dollars and play in the burgeoning sports tourism industry, said Mike Story, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's sports events manager.

"We believe that this strategy will help position us to capture more active-lifestyle tourists," Story said.

23 more beams in Convention Center on SEA's radar

The Sports & Exhibition Authority wants to shore up 23 more steel beams in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in the same way it fixed 26 connections after a February beam collapse, officials said Thursday.

The city-county agency's proposal is announced as county Chief Executive Dan Onorato has backed away from his intention to form an investigative team to determine who is responsible for the Feb. 5 collapse and a 2005 beam failure nearby.

The authority initially planned to install equipment to monitor beam shifts caused by temperature changes. Modifying the 23 beams might be less costly, said agency Executive Director Mary Conturo.

"What our engineers are doing right now is putting together a plan to possibly put beam seats on all of them," Conturo said. "We might do that instead of doing the monitoring."

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Posh cars for public officials - 120 sports utility vehicles (SUVs ...

Harry Douglas, Junior Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, walking away from his assigned 2004 Toyota Prado outside of Gordon House on Thursday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

An apparent love affair between government officials and gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles (SUVs) is costing the country millions of dollars to procure them and to buy petrol to keep them running.

Sunday Gleaner calculations based on documents obtained under the Access to Information (ATI) Act show no fewer than 120 SUVs on the books of 10 government ministries. Some are old now but others are spanking new. The high fuel consumption of these SUVs is compounded by the practice of drivers sitting or sleeping in the vehicles with the air condition running while they wait on their respective ministers.

Sports Sunflashes

RAUMA, FINLAND - Zach Boychuk scored the shootout winner to give Canada a 3-2 win over the U.S. yesterday at the world under-18 hockey championship. Colton Gillies tallied for Canada with less than four minutes left in regulation and Luke Schenn had Canada's other goal, while goalie Trevor Cann made 44 saves before stopping 4-of-5 U.S. shootout attempts. Canada, whose lineup includes 67's star Logan Couture, has won all three of its preliminary-round games and will face Russia tomorrow.

Nepean extends series

Zach Grasley made half of his 38 saves in the third period yesterday as the Nepean Raiders stayed alive in the CJHL championship series with a 2-1 win over the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Randy MacIntyre and Andrew Mather scored for Nepean and Brandon Richardson scored for Pembroke, which will have a second stab at winning the league title in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.