MG Rover News

As all MG enthusiasts should know 2004 is the official 80th anniversary year for the marque. Additionally, what many may not also realise is that it is also the centenary for the Rover marque. Clearly then this year justifies more activity by the company to recognise these anniversaries. Following the well publicised extended production shutdown over the 2003 Christmas period MG Rover has entered 2004 with a surge of announcements, with more to come as the year progresses.

2 litre K series ZR
On the 9th January came the announcement by MG Sport and Racing at the Autosport International Show of their new 2 litre MG ZRX with available engine tunes ranging from 160 to 250ps, which was mentioned in more detail in last month’s ‘Enjoying MG’. The speed at which the 2-litre engine development has gone from a concept on a sheet of paper to a road application bodes well, hopefully, for wider use still.

MG ZRX 2 litre

Engine tunes available ranging from 160 to 250ps

Streetwise range expansion
On the 15th January came the confirmation of a manual 1.6 litre and CVT 1.8 litre option for the Streetwise range. In the first few months of availability, the Streetwise seems to be attracting quite polarised views between those who love it and those who hate it. Generally, more people seem to like it than not, but as I have mentioned previously, it also seems to be attracting some potential ZR buyers.

Facelifted Rover 75
On the 19th January was perhaps an earlier release than intended for the face-lifted Rover 75 model. The reference to ‘Earlier’ referring to the appearance of an advert for MG Rover cars in national newspapers that showed the new style cars. The style of the 75 has previously been recognised through an award as one of the world’s most beautiful cars, therefore changing its appearance is a risky business, but unless your product range has Morgan like status you have to freshen things up periodically. Since it is now 6 years since the launch of the 75, that freshen up is due. Obvious changes are centred on the front and rear mouldings and wheels as these are elements that offer the greatest flexibility to change.

The front especially shows the changes with a new Rover grille and headlamps. The previous separated main and dip parts of the headlamps are now visibly a single unit with either projector or Xenon units for dip beam. For those who are not sure how these compare to normal headlamps, the projector unit still uses a standard type of bulb, but the lamp unit uses a small diameter lens to control the light and looks not unlike the bottom of a milk bottle. Xenon uses a similar lens to control the light, but the light source is similar to an electric arc. This method should allow a headlamp unit to last the life of the car. Both give the characteristic ‘rainbow’ effect to the edge of the beam patterns. Xenon has a slight performance advantage over projector types too.

The front indicator has also been moved as the original 75 indicator was right at the bottom of the permitted minimum legal height for these lamps. Although not stated I read between the lines that the ‘crisping up’ of the handling and option of a sports suspension shows that the ride height has been lowered too.

Many other detail changes have been made, such as to wheel styles and uprated security. A number of these do not show in images and will require actual viewing of a car to appreciate, however even from the images the external styling can be seen to be different, but still retains a certain elegance.

The interior has seen changes in trim and detail too. Here, some of the negative comment being previously mentioned of the old model is quite likely to have come from familiarity over that six year period rather than any major failings. Nevertheless, there is a wide range of interior options with interestingly more emphasis on potential younger buyers with clearly more sports orientated treatments. This is certainly closing the ground between Rover and MG products!

Longbridge site sold
First announcement of the year, on the 6th January, was the raising of £42.5 million with the sale of the Longbridge site to long time partners in dealings with the Longbridge assets, St Modwen Properties plc. This involves a lease back arrangement for 35 years to MG Rover at an annual premium and releases a substantial cash amount for product development at a time when the value of the land can be better utilised. It will in no way alter or restrict the day-to-day operations or growth of MG Rover in the future. Interestingly many other big name companies have used this asset release method, such as Goodyear and Corus.

80th Anniversary MG TF
Just two days after the 75 announcement saw the unveiling of the 80th anniversary Limited Edition MG TFs. Consisting of three available variants with 135, 120 Stepspeed and 160ps specifications, they come with two distinct flavours, contemporary and classic styles. The contemporary TFs in either Starlight Silver or the new Pearl Black have a Burgundy-coloured hood. Inside the car is Ash Grey with Black leather and Grenadine (Red) Alcantara leather seats, which have a special 80th logo embroidered, ‘1924 MG 2004’. A bright finish console, door casings, gear knob and handbrake grip are also used to complete the effect. This is not dissimilar to the previous 75th anniversary MGF, which was one of the more successful limited edition models.

80th Anniversary MG TF

Recognising that many MG buyers actually prefer the ‘wood and leather’ style there is the third 80th anniversary variant which sees the first use of a new Pearlescent Green, Goodwood Green, complemented by a Tan hood. Owners of 1998 Abingdon MGFs may comment that the similar coloured hoods on their cars were difficult to keep clean, a fact that has been taken on board during the development period of this particular 80th anniversary model. Inside the car is a matching tan finish with wood effect inserts in the doors, console and gear knob. Seats carry the same logo and are finished in tan leather with black Alcantara.

Grenadine alcantara and black leather interior with comptemporary silver finish

Black alcantara wand tan leather with traditional wood finish

Both styles of the 80th anniversary models are visually striking and whilst not mechanically different to other TFs should carry more value in the future second hand market because they are celebratory models, not marketing specials. This will be enhanced by a total of only 1600 being made with only 500 available for the UK market each being individually numbered. One of the first models recently achieved a staggering £275,000 price at a London charity auction. Fortunately the remaining 499 examples for the UK will be somewhat more realistically priced at between £18,895 and £21,195 on the road retail prices.

No information was available at the time of writing if or when these models will appear on the MG Privilege Purchase Scheme, but a telephone call to the Club office, or a visit to your local MG Rover dealer should provide more up to date information.

Facelift for MG ZT range
On the 27th January came the follow up to the Rover 75 facelift with the MG ZT facelift, perhaps also an advance release for the same reasons as applied to the 75. With aspects of some Rover 75s clearly moving closer to ZT marketing ground, how the ZT would be changed was eagerly anticipated. Initial views were mixed as perhaps more than the 75; the visual statement of the original ZT is one of the strongest on our roads. Changing that clearly presented a much greater challenge to the design team and the results, seen only on released images, has drawn some mixed comment.

MG ZT

MG ZT-T

These images show a less aggressive front mainly due to the headlamp treatment and the grille appearing to have less definition. It also appears in some images that there is no mesh in the open grille areas, but in fact there is black mesh. In some respects, the images portray a smile with a missing tooth. Once again, like the Rover 75, the released images do not do justice to the changes and in this case may even do it an injustice, so it is strongly suggested that personal final decisions are made after seeing an example in the flesh, perhaps in a darker colour.

Aside from the front and rear changes there are new wheels and revised external badging. On the 190 and 260 models there are new ‘190’ or ‘V8’ badges fitted on the front wing sides under the indicator side repeater. The V8 especially reflecting the original feature of the MGBGT V8 with its single side mounted V8 badge on the left side.

Inside the new models there continues the very wide range of facilities that has always been available. There are new materials and finishes and new instrument graphics back lit in blue. Spec levels start with a basic which is common to ZT 120 and ZT 160 and then it rises through + (plus) and finishing with SE designations. One practical improvement will benefit rear seat passengers with more knee and foot clearance as seat cushions and squabs have been reprofiled.

The new model does come in very slightly more expensive to the tune of £230 for the ZT 120 to £725 for the ZT and ZT-T 260 SE models. This at the normal retail prices and once again information relating to these new models on the MG Privilege Purchase Scheme is unknown at the time of writing.

MG ZT and ZT-T sales were up 28% in 2003 over 2002 and it is to be hoped that the changes and relatively small price increases doesn’t slow this sales progress down.