Rover 75
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The Rover 75 is a compact-executive class sedan car which was produced by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham. They also manufactured station wagon versions of the vehicle, referred to as the Rover 75 Tourer. There are also MG derivatives - the MG ZT and MG ZT-T. Production of the cars is currently suspended as the owners of their intellectual property and of MG Rover work out a plan to bring them back to market.
History
The 75 was launched in 1998 when Rover were under the ownership of BMW and was designed to be a replacement model for both the Rover 600 and 800 lines. The car was developed almost entirely in-house by Rover with little influence from BMW, although the fact it possessed a central tunnel its chassis lead to speculation the car used the chassis of the rear wheel drive BMW 5 Series.
The car quickly attracted praise for its class-leading characteristics, such as its ride quality, its interior, and its British styling designed by Richard Woolley (who also designed the Rover 600). Critics of the car labelled its styling too retro, suggesting it had been designed with an older buyer in mind. However, the 75 won a series of international awards including various "Most Beautiful Car" prizes.
Assembly originally took place at Cowley, but in 2000, following the break of the Rover Group and the split with BMW, production was moved to Longbridge. 2001 saw the introduction of the Rover 75 Tourer, swiftly followed by the MG ZT and MG ZT-T.
In early 2004, Rover facelifted the design of the 75 to a less retro look. This design was given a mixed reception by the motoring press, and Rover announced a new V8 model with a completely different front grille only a few months later. This grille was said to be inspired by the Rover V8s of the past. A long wheelbase "limousine" version called Rover 75 Vanden Plas, about a foot longer than the regular 75 also took this new grille.
Future production
The Rover 75 and MG ZT are currently out of production because MG Rover went into administration in April 2005. Specifications for the Rover 75 design were purchased by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in early 2005, though new MG Rover Group owner, Nanjing Automobile Group now owns the tooling for the car. The IPR deal was signed in Singapore, in case there were any disputes. It was unlikely that a dispute would arise as both companies are owned by the Chinese government. The two companies have now come to an agreement.
NAC and the GB Sports Car Company are, as of November 2005 reportedly close to reaching deal which would see the MG ZT and TF back in production, with the cars partially assembled by Nanjing in China and finished in Longbridge.
In January 2006, Automotive News reported that both Nanjing and SAIC would make the 75 saloon. Nanjing says it will produce the 75 as the MG 7, and the 75 Tourer as the MG 7T, from 2007.
Models
1999-2004 Pre-Facelift Rover 75:
Classic
Classic SE
Club
Club SE
Connoisseur
Connoisseur SE
Vanden Plas
2004-2005 Facelift Rover 75:
Classic
Connoisseur
Connoisseur SE
Contemporary
Contemporary SE
Vanden Plas
2001-2005 MG ZT and ZT-T:
CDTi (Common-Rail TurboDiesel unit in 110 bhp and 130 bhp forms)
160/160+ (Initially detuned 2.5 litre KV6, later turbocharged 1.8 K-series)
190/190+ (2.5 litre KV6)
180+ (2.5 litre KV6 with JatCo automatic gearbox)
260+ (4.6 litre V8 derived from Ford Mustang)
The Rover 75/MG-ZT Owners Club
The Rover 75 and MG-ZT have a keen following from owners and there is now an owners' club based in the United Kingdom. The club organises meets, technical information, tricks/tips and fun social events. [Rover 75/MG-ZT Owners Club Website]
External links
- [Austin-Rover.co.uk Rover 75/MG ZT Index page]
- [Rover Team]
- [Rover Turkey Web Page]
- [75 and ZT Owners Club]
- [Rover Group]
- [Automotive News report on Nanjing's future plans for the 75]
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