Rover 75
| Rover 75 | |
|---|---|
 Rover 75 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Rover Group (1999–2000) MG Rover (2000–2005) |
| Production | 1999–2005 |
| Assembly | Cowley, Oxford, UK (1999–2000) Longbridge, Birmingham, UK (2000–05) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door estate |
| Layout | FF layout FR layout (V8) |
| Related | MG 7 MG ZT Roewe 750 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.8 L I4 1.8 L Turbo I4 2.0 L V6 2.5 L V6 4.6 L Ford Modular V8 2.0 CDT I4 2.0 CDTi I4 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Rover 600 Rover 800 |
The Rover 75 is an executive car produced by British automobile manufacturers Rover Group and later by MG Rover, under the Rover marque. The Rover 75 was available with front-wheel drive in either a saloon or estate body and latterly, in long-wheelbase form and a rear-wheel-drive, V8-engined specification. In 2001, a MG-branded version was launched by MG Rover, called the MG ZT.
The Rover 75s were built by the Rover Group under BMW at Cowley, Oxfordshire, for just a year. After Rover Group's sale, the Rover 75 was built by MG Rover Group at their Longbridge site in Birmingham.
The Rover 75 was unveiled to the public at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show, with deliveries commencing in February 1999. Production of the Rover and later MG badged models ceased on 8 April 2005 when manufacturer MG Rover Group entered administration.
Flexible electronics design
The BMW electronics based Rover 75[citation needed] incorporate the entire in-car entertainment system (Radio Function, Navigation System, Television and Telecommunications systems) is based on a very flexible automotive computer system from BMW.[1] As a result the Rover 75 can be easily upgraded with the newest BMW technologies including BMW's Bluetooth System, the DVD based Navigation system, and Widescreen displays as well as BMW's CD changers that play MP3s[2]
History
The Rover 75 started life as part of a group of three new designs[3] for the company under the guidance of Richard Woolley; a large saloon codenamed flagship, a smaller vehicle (with the codename of Eric), and the 75. Of these only the 75 concept progressed. The initial aim was to re-skin the Rover 600[4] but following the BMW takeover it was quickly decided that this platform would not be re-used but replaced by an entirely new model.
Work on the new model, codenamed 'R40', progressed well with little operational interference from BMW; the styling received an enthusiastic response from the management and both companies believed the classical look would be the ideal direction for Rover.
Under the lauded styling was a range of petrol and diesel engines from 1.8- to 2.5-litre sizes. Petrol engines provided were Rover's 4-cylinder K series in 1.8-litre guise and the quad cam KV6, offered in either short-stroke 2.0 or revised 2.5-litre formats. The 2.0-litre was later dropped on introduction of the 1.8-litre turbo for emissions purposes. The diesel unit was BMW's common rail motor, designated M47R. This unit was a mildly de-tuned BMW 2.0-litre turbodiesel, the same core engine being used at the same time in the parent company's 3 & 5-Series models and later found in the Land Rover Freelander from 2001.
Transmissions on all models were either the Getrag 283 5-speed manual, supplied from the company's new facility in Bari, Italy, or the JATCO 5-speed automatic unit - one of the first transverse engine deployments made with this feature.
Braking was supplied courtesy of all-round discs, complimented with a Bosch 5.7 4-channel ABS system and electronic brake force distribution. The parking brake was a cable operated drum integral within the rear discs.
Suspension was a MacPherson strut arrangement at the front, anchored by lower alloy L-arms. The wide spacing of the mounting points, compliant bushes and a perimeter subframe gave the model a cushioned yet precise ride with relaxed handling that could be tuned for different markets or model derivatives such as the later MG ZT. The rear suspension, after a period of uncertainty during development, was eventually a version of BMW's Z-Axle arrangement first featured on the 1988 Z1 sports car.
At the time of the launch there had been speculation within the media that the Rover 75 used the BMW 5-Series platform, perhaps due to the overall size of the model, the apparent presence of a transmission tunnel and the use of the parent company's rear suspension system. This was in fact not the case; Rover engineers had used the concept of incorporating a central tunnel which had been explored by BMW as part of their own research into front-wheel-drive chassis design. As the 75 took shape, this core engineering was passed over to Rover and evolved into the Rover 75 structure [citation needed]. The tunnel concept, along with the rear suspension system, was also used by the Rover engineers for the design of the MINI.
At launch the Rover 75 quickly attracted praise for its styling and design integrity. Some critics of the car labelled its styling too "retro", suggesting it had been designed with an older buyer in mind, and was not sporting enough when compared to the competition[citation needed]. However, the 75 won a series of international awards including various "most beautiful car" awards, including one in Italy.[5][6]
Assembly originally took place at Cowley but in 2000, following the sale of the company by BMW to Phoenix Venture Holdings, production was moved to Longbridge in Birmingham, England.[7] 2001 saw the introduction of the Rover 75 Tourer (developed alongside the saloon but never authorised for production by BMW), swiftly followed by the MG ZT and MG ZT-T, more sporting interpretations of the model, differentiated by modified, sporting chassis settings and colour and trim derivatives [citation needed]. Between 2000 and 2003, there were few changes to the range, the biggest being the 2.5-litre V6 engine being joined by a low pressure turbocharged 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder engine. The introduction of the 'greener' 1.8-litre turbo greatly benefited British company car drivers who are taxed on carbon dioxide emissions. A customisation programme, Monogram, was launched, allowing buyers to order their car in a wider range of exterior paint colours and finishes, different interior trims and with optional extras installed during production [citation needed].
From June 2002 A factory approved Dual Fuel Petrol-Liquid Petroleum Gas conversion was available in the UK on 1.8-litre 75 models only. The LPG conversion was an aftermarket undertaking approved by MG Rover. Developed by EcoGas Systems Ltd and Landi Renzo S.R.L. in conjunction with MG Rover Powertrain Limited, the conversion was ordered from Rover dealerships, the cars retaining the three-year factory warranty. The retail price of the conversion is £2,195, but in an effort to encourage LPG use for transport for ecological reasons the UK Government offered a Powershift Rebate of some 60% of the conversion cost. When running on LPG the Rover 75 suffers only a slight reduction in performance compared to running on petrol, LPG fuel consumption is also slightly higher than when running on petrol but this is more than offset by the greatly reduced cost of the fuel.
Rover announced the new V8 model at the Geneva Motor Show in the same year. This was the second iteration of the modified rear-wheel-drive platform developed by MG Rover and already receiving plaudits from the media. The car also boasted a new grille stretching down from the bonnet shutline to the bottom lip of the bumper - a style that had also just appeared on Audi's A6, which was not lost on the press.
A long-wheelbase 'limousine' version called Rover 75 Vanden Plas was also introduced in 2002. Developed in conjunction with specialist vehicle builder S. MacNeillie & Son Limited in Walsall, England, the model was stretched by 200 mm in the rear floorpan, with longer rear doors. The extra length, and the fitment of the V8 grille were the only visual clues to the changes made. Available only in the Connoisseur specification, production moved to Longbridge after an initial short run by the coachbuilding partner.
The Rover 75 V8 was created as means of proving MG Rover's engineering expertise and to attract a development partner to the company. The car was extensively re-engineered to accommodate a 4.6-litre V8 unit (obtained from Ford and used in the Mustang), driving the rear wheels to give a car with much higher performance, taking advantage of the stiffening tunnel in the body structure.[8] These cars were built on the standard production line, and then removed to allow the necessary structural modifications to be carried out. The cars were then returned to the trimming lines for completion. Just under 900 were produced in both saloon and Tourer (estate or wagon) carrying either Rover 75 or MG ZT trim. The cars had numerous differences to the standard versions, drive train notwithstanding, with non standard heating/ ventilation, and brakes and suspension capable of dealing with the extra power [citation needed]. Externally, there is little to indicate what is under the bonnet, other than quad exhaust pipes and a couple of subtle badges, although a large 'V8 grille' was fitted to some cars following the 2004 facelift. They are likely to become sought after as classics [citation needed]. A heavily modified MG ZT-T V8, known as the X-15 broke the speed record for a non-production estate car on Bonneville Salt Flats in September 2003, achieving 225.609 mph (363.082 km/h). The engine was bored out to 6 litres producing 765 bhp (570 kW; 776 PS), but remained normally aspirated.[citation needed]
In early 2004, Rover face-lifted the design of the 75 to a less retro, more European, look. Changes were restricted to bolt-on components, with new bumpers front and rear, mirrors, lights and grille. Rover also added a new trim to the range called Contemporary which featured revised fittings. This refresh received mixed reactions from the media.
Since its launch, the 75 has been one of the most popular ministerial cars in the British Government. Various Ministers are driven around in 75s and Tony Blair had access to a 75 Limousine while he was in power, but was never seen in it.[9] Recently though[when?], Alistair Darling has been seen in a 'V8 Grille' Rover 75 which could be the 75 Limousine.
Based on the combination of safety, performance and maintainability, the Rover 75 was found in 2011 to be the cheapest car to insure in the United Kingdom across all age groups.[10]
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1999–2003 Rover 75 -
2004–2005 Rover 75 facelift -
2001–2004 Rover 75 Tourer, an estate variant of the Rover 75 -
2004–2005 Rover 75 Tourer facelift -
1999–2003 Rover 75 -
2004–2005 Rover 75 facelift -
2001–2004 Rover 75 Tourer, an estate variant of the Rover 75 -
2004–2005 Rover 75 Tourer facelift
Popularity
Initial sales of the Rover 75 were disappointing, as it failed to match the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 in the British car sales charts during 1999 [citation needed]. The public unveiling of the car at the Birmingham Motor Show was unfortunately over-shadowed by a speech containing criticism of the British Government's attitude to financial assistance in the redevelopment of the Rover Longbridge factory (where the new Mini was to have been produced) [citation needed]. Stunned press reaction interpreted this as saying that BMW were unhappy with continuing financial losses and were intending to close Rover down [citation needed]. This undoubtedly scared off many prospective buyers, despite the very positive reaction to the car itself [citation needed]. Indeed it did (and still does) hold up very well with the Jaguar S-Type that was unveiled at the same show [citation needed].
Sales picked up substantially during 2000[citation needed], and it was Britain's fifth most popular new car in the month of April of that year[citation needed]. It was still selling reasonably well at the time of MG Rover's bankruptcy in April 2005 [citation needed], and a small number of unsold 75s were still in stock as of early 2007 [citation needed], as Nanjing Automobile was preparing to re-open Longbridge [citation needed].
The cars are still popular and actively supported by an active and growing Owners Club[11]
Engines and performance
| Displacement | Cylinders | Fuel | Induction | Power | Torque | 0-60 mph (97 km/h) | Maximum Speed | Fuel Consumption (Mixed) | Production | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | I4 | Petrol | NA | 120 PS (88 kW; 118 bhp) | 160 N⋅m (120 lb⋅ft) | 10.9 | 121 mph (195 km/h) | 7.7 L/100 km (37 mpg‑imp; 31 mpg‑US) | 1999–2005 | MG Rover |
| 1.8 T | I4 | Petrol | Turbocharged | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) | 215 N⋅m (159 lb⋅ft) | 9.1 | 130 mph (210 km/h) | 8 L/100 km (35 mpg‑imp; 29 mpg‑US) | 2002–2005 | MG Rover |
| 2.0 | V6 | Petrol | NA | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) | 184 N⋅m (136 lb⋅ft) | 9.6 | 130 mph (210 km/h) | 9.4 L/100 km (30 mpg‑imp; 25 mpg‑US) | 1999–2002 | MG Rover |
| 2.5 | V6 | Petrol | NA | 177 PS (130 kW; 175 bhp) | 240 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft) | 8.2 | 137 mph (220 km/h) | 9.6 L/100 km (29 mpg‑imp; 25 mpg‑US) | 1999–2005 | MG Rover |
| 4.6 | V8 | Petrol | NA | 260 PS (191 kW; 256 bhp) | 409 N⋅m (302 lb⋅ft) | 6.2 | 156 mph (251 km/h) | 13.4 L/100 km (21.1 mpg‑imp; 17.6 mpg‑US) | 2003–2005 | Ford |
| 2.0 CDT | I4 | Diesel | Turbocharged | 116 PS (85 kW; 114 bhp) | 260 N⋅m (190 lb⋅ft) | 11.0 | 120 mph (190 km/h) | 5.8 L/100 km (49 mpg‑imp; 41 mpg‑US) | 1999–2005 | BMW |
| 2.0 CDTI | I4 | Diesel | Turbocharged | 131 PS (96 kW; 129 bhp) | 299 N⋅m (221 lb⋅ft) | 10.3 | 120 mph (190 km/h) | 5.8 L/100 km (49 mpg‑imp; 41 mpg‑US) | 1999–2005 | BMW |
Models
1999–2004
- Classic
- Classic SE
- Club
- Club SE
- Connoisseur
- Connoisseur SE
- Vanden Plas (long-wheelbase model)
2004-05 (facelift)
- Classic
- Connoisseur
- Connoisseur SE
- Contemporary
- Contemporary SE
- Limousine (replaced Vanden Plas as name for LWB model)
2006 SAIC Roewe 750
- 1.8 Turbo base (18K4G, essentially a Rover K-series)
- 1.8 Turbo high-line (18K4G)
- 2.5 base (25K4F, essentially a detuned Rover KV6)
- 2.5 high-line (25K4F, essentially the Rover KV6)
Reviews
- Auto Trader (7.8/10)[12]
'The 75’s biggest problem was its image; potential buyers just assumed it was hopelessly outclassed by rivals. Nothing could be further from the truth though, as the car could compete on equal terms with some prestigious adversaries' - Honest John
[13]
'Positives: A fine looking car from all angles. Destined to become a classic'
'Negatives: Let down by cooling system problems on all K-Series engines, particularly the 1.8' - Parker's [14]
'Pros: Rover refinement and heritage. Handsome looks and a charming, comfortable interior.'
'Cons: Mid-range Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz [rivals].' - RAC (6.9/10)[15]
'The Rover 75 Tourer is one of those rare ... cars that retains a genuine sense of occasion whenever you get behind the wheel. The retro clocks and the buttoned down rectitude of the detailing all contributes to a huge feel good factor.' - Verdict On Cars [16]
'Recommended. The standard 75 has an elegance missing from German executive car rivals, with wood and leather harking back to a bygone age. The Tourer estate models are, surprisingly, even prettier and very practical indeed.' - What Car? [17]
'For - It's excellent over long distances and smoothes out bumps like a luxury car. It's cheap, well equipped and practical, and comes with olde-worlde charm.'
'Against - Reliability problems.' - Which? (6.3/10)[18]
'For: rock-bottom prices | strong diesel engine | lots of equipment | comfortable'
'Against: patchy reliability | hefty depreciation | no dealer network | limited warranty' - Wise Buyer's [19]
'The elegant 75 showed that Rover ... could build a quality executive car that's refined, reliable, good to drive [with] real presence.'
Awards and accolades
- What Car? ‘Car of the Year’ 1999.
- What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 1999
- What Car? ‘Diesel Car of the Year’ 1999
- Auto Express ‘World Car’ 1999
- The Journal / AA ‘Business Car of the Year’ 1999
- Italian ‘World's Most Beautiful High Class Saloon’ 1999
- Bild am Sonntag ‘Golden Steering Wheel Award’ 1999
- The Society of Plastic Engineers ‘Innovative use of plastic’ for the 75's V6 plastic intake system 1999
- British International Motor Show ‘Best riding and handling front wheel drive saloon in the world’ 1999
- Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 1999
- Middle East Wheels & Gears ‘Car of the Year’ 1999/2000
- Japanese 'Import Car of the Year' 2000
- New Zealand's National Business Review 'Car of the Year' 2000
- Executive Class ‘Portuguese Car of the Year’ 2000
- What Car? ‘Compact Executive Car of the Year’ 2000
- The only executive car to be short-listed in the 2000 ‘European Car of the Year Awards’
- Used Car Buyer 'Used Car of the Year’ 2000
- Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2001
- Diesel Car Magazine ‘Compact Executive Car’ 2001
- JD Power customer satisfaction survey ‘Only European car in the Top 5’ 2001
- Auto Express Used Car Honours 'Best Diesel Car' 2002
- Used Car Buyer 'Best Used Medium Car’ 2002
- ITM ‘Car of the Year' 2002
- Australian Institute of Transport Management ‘Car of the Year’ 2002
- Used Car Buyer ‘Used Car of the Year’ 2004
- Used Car Buyer ‘Best Used Family Car of the Year’ 2004
- ‘Most popular British Forces Germany tax free car purchase’ 2004
- Auto Express Drive Power ‘Best Ride Quality’ 2006
- Auto Trader Used Car Awards 'Best Family Car' 2007
Chinese production (Roewe 750)
Production of the Rover 75 and MG ZT ceased when MG Rover Group went into administration in April 2005. The Rover 75 design was purchased by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in early 2005, although the new MG Rover Group owner, Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation (NAC) acquired the tooling for the car. Both companies launched revised versions of the 75/ZT in China. SAIC's model was named the Roewe 750 (following the purchase of the Rover brand by Ford, the Roewe marque was created by SAIC for use worldwide) and NAC's the MG 7.
The Roewe brand and Roewe 750 were launched at the Beijing Motor Show in November 2006. The 750 is based on the long-wheelbase 75 platform, and engineering was completed by Ricardo 2010.[20]
The MG 7 was launched in March 2007.[21] NAC also introduced a long-wheelbase version of the MG 7, called the MG 7L.[22]
References
- ^ "BMW Bus System" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Bimmernav". Bimmernav. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Interview with Richard Woolley - the 75 & ZT Owners Club". The75andztclub.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "The Unofficial Austin Rover Web Resource". Austin-rover.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "BBC News". BBC News. 1999-02-23. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "CarPages 1st January 2002". Carpages.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "European Union Industrial Relations News". Eiro.eurofound.eu.int. 2000-05-28. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "The Ultimate Resource for Rover 75". Rover75.eu. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "Auto Express Rover 75 Limousine Test". Autoexpress.co.uk. 2004-10-27. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "The 10 cheapest cars to insure". Confused.com. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
- ^ "Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club". The75andztclub.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
- ^ "Rover 75 - 10 Point Test". Auto Trader. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "Car-By-Car Reviews - Rover 75". Honest John. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "Reviews - Rover 75". Parker's Car Guides. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "Rover 75 Tourer Review - Car Reviews". RAC. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "MG Rover 75". Verdict On Cars. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "Rover 75 - New Car Review - What Car?". Whatcar.com. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "In-Depth Report - Rover 75" (PDF). Which?. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "Rover 75 Review". Wise Buyer's Guides. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ Adams, Keith (2008-09-20). "Roewe 750". AROnline. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
- ^ "Chinese plant rolls out first MG". BBC News. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
- ^ Ougarov, Kirill (2007-09-28). "MG 7 rolls out in China, TF roadster's UK launch delayed". Motor Trend. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
External links
Media related to Rover 75 at Wikimedia Commons