MG ZS
Encyclopedia
MG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
ZS (2001–2005) is a sports family car. The ZS is essentially a badge engineered Rover 45 (which was launched in 1999). The 45 in turn is a facelifted version of the Rover 400
Rover 400
The second generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in the summer of 1995 as a hatchback and later a saloon. This time it was based on the Honda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the European Honda Civic range in five-door hatchback form...
which was launched in hatchback form in 1995 and saloon form in 1996. The Rover 400 had much in common with the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
of 1995-1999. At the time of development, Honda and Rover worked in partnership to design and develop cars for the Japanese and European markets.
Development
The model was rapidly created from the Rover 45 after BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
sold off Rover in 2000. Development of the model was greatly accelerated by the fact that Rover had already created 400-series prototypes of the car using V6 engines and sporting suspension setups. In fact, MG-Rover developed MG versions of all three Rover cars on sale at the time. The Rover 25 became the MG ZR
MG ZR
The MG ZR is a high-performance MG-branded "hot hatch" version of the Rover 25 supermini-class car, produced by MG Rover at their Longbridge plant in Birmingham from 2001 to 2005...
, the 45 the ZS and the 75
Rover 75
The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK...
the ZT
MG ZT
The MG ZT is a high-performance MG-branded version of the Rover 75 executive car, produced by MG Rover at their Longbridge plant in Birmingham from 2001 to 2005. An estate version, the MG ZT-T, was also available. Styling is similar to the 75, although uprated springs and chassis modifications make...
.
The Rover 45 donor car did not have a reputation for being a driver's car but in fact it was the most suitable car in the Rover range for transformation into an MG, its Honda heritage providing double-wishbone front suspension and fully independent multi-link rear suspension.
As a Rover, the 45 was optimised for comfort rather than handling — however, as an MG the opposite was the case. The ZS 180, offering 175 bhp from a 2.5 L V6 engine and acceleration to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, received favourable reviews in the press, with particular prase for its steering, handling and suspension.
Variants and updates
A successor to the Rover 45/MG ZS (known internally as RD/X60) was under development in the early 2000s. This was to have been based on a shortened Rover 75Rover 75
The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK...
floorplan and was to appear in saloon, hatchback and 'tourer' (estate) bodystyles. Chassis development was being undertaken by Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Tom Walkinshaw Racing , was an auto racing team and engineering firm founded in 1976 by touring car racer Tom Walkinshaw.-History:TWR started by modifying BMW 3.0 CSLs, but soon was contracted to head Mazda's works program in the British Touring Car Championship. The TWR developed RX-7, with Win...
and ceased when TWR collapsed. The non-appearance of RD/X60 meant that the ZS was facelifted and continued in production until the demise of MG Rover.
In 2004 the ZS was facelifted with the rest of the MG Rover range. The retro design cues adopted when the 400 became the 45 were mostly dropped. For the first time the Rover 45 and MG ZS became noticeably different looking cars – at least in the high specification ZS180 version. Wheelarch extensions, side vents in the wings and other touches delivered a distinctive look for the new ZS. The 2004 model also received a revised interior with new seat materials, a new dash design incorporating climate control on certain models.
MG ZS production ceased in April 2005 on the bankruptcy of MG Rover, and the rights to make the car were soon repossessed by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
- who owned the rights to the original 1995 design.
Nanjing Automobile of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
bought the assets of MG Rover in July 2005, and the ZS's successor—the MG6
MG 6
The MG6 is a mid-size car built by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, derived from the Roewe 550 and hence distantly related to the Rover 75, sharing its front subframe...
—was eventually announced in 2009. It will be built in China as well as the downsized Longbridge plant with sales starting in 2011.
Performance
Performance data for the MG ZS range:| Model | Engine | Power | Torque | 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZS105 (ROI Only) | 1.4 L K-Series | 102 hp (76 kW) at 6000 rpm | 138 N·m (91 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm | 10.1 | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
| ZS110 | 1.6 L K-Series | 107 hp (80 kW) at 6000 rpm | 138 N·m (101 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm | 9.8 | 119 mph (192 km/h) |
| ZS120 | 1.8 L K-Series | 115 hp (86 kW) at 5500 rpm | 160 N·m (118 ft·lbf) at 2750 rpm | 9.0 | 122 mph (196 km/h) |
| ZS120 Auto | 1.8 L K-Series | 115 hp (86 kW) at 5500 rpm | 160 N·m (118 ft·lbf) at 2750 rpm | 9.9 | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| ZS180 | 2.5 L KV6 Rover KV6 Engine The KV6 automotive engine is a 24 valve, quad cam V6 engine, available in 2.5 litre or 2.0 litre, built by Powertrain Ltd which is a sister company to MG Rover... |
175 bhp ,177 ps (130 kW) at 6500 rpm | 240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) at 4000 rpm | 7.3 | 139 mph (224 km/h) |
| ZS TD (discontinued) | 2.0 L L-Series Rover L-Series engine The L-Series engine is an automotive diesel engine built by Powertrain Ltd, a sister company of MG Rover.-History:The L-Series engine commenced production in January 1995 and was the first Rover designed and manufactured direct injection diesel for use in Rover Cars applications and derived from... |
99 hp (74 kW) at 4200 rpm | --- | --- | --- |
| ZS TD 115 | 2.0 L L-Series Rover L-Series engine The L-Series engine is an automotive diesel engine built by Powertrain Ltd, a sister company of MG Rover.-History:The L-Series engine commenced production in January 1995 and was the first Rover designed and manufactured direct injection diesel for use in Rover Cars applications and derived from... |
111 hp (83 kW) at 4200rpm | 260 N·m (191 ft·lbf) at 2000 rpm | 9.5 | 120 mph (193 km/h) |
Racing
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
since 2001. The West Surrey Racing
West Surrey Racing
Founded in 1981, West Surrey Racing is a UK-based motorsport team run by New Zealander Dick Bennetts. He is responsible for masterminding the careers of such names as Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, Jonathan Palmer, Rubens Barrichello, Maurício Gugelmin and Eddie Irvine with his involvement in F3 and...
(WSR) team enjoyed 'works' status for several years and initially ran cars with a two-litre version of the Rover KV6 engine, later switching to four-cylinder K-series engines. Ex-WSR V6 cars have appeared in other hands, and a 'junior team' was run in 2002.
MG BTCC drivers to date have been:
| Year | Team | Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 (partial season) | MG Sport and Racing (WSR) | Anthony Reid Anthony Reid Anthony Reid is a British auto racing driver, born on 17 May 1957 in Glasgow, Scotland. Although Scottish he now lives in England.-Formula cars:... (2), Warren Hughes Warren Hughes Warren Hughes is a race car driver from Newcastle, England. His wife's name is Roz, and they have 2 sons. After a promising junior career, Hughes raced in touring car and sports car racing.... (20) |
| 2002 | MG Sport and Racing (WSR) | Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes |
| 2002 | Team Atomic Kitten Atomic Kitten Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost... (semi-works junior team) |
Colin Turkington Colin Turkington Colin Henry Turkington is a Northern Irish auto racing driver. His most notable success to date was becoming 2009 British Touring Car Champion driving for Team RAC. Most recently he has competed in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship driving a BMW 320si for West Surrey Racing... , Gareth Howell Gareth Howell Gareth Howell is a Welsh auto racing driver. He competed sporadically in the British Touring Car Championship from 2000 to 2008.... |
| 2003 | MG Sport and Racing (WSR West Surrey Racing Founded in 1981, West Surrey Racing is a UK-based motorsport team run by New Zealander Dick Bennetts. He is responsible for masterminding the careers of such names as Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, Jonathan Palmer, Rubens Barrichello, Maurício Gugelmin and Eddie Irvine with his involvement in F3 and... ) |
Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Colin Turkington |
| 2004 | West Surrey Racing | Anthony Reid, Colin Turkington |
| 2004 | Kartworld Racing | Jason Hughes |
| 2005 | West Surrey Racing | Rob Collard Rob Collard Robert Collard is an auto racing driver from Hampshire, best known for racing in the British Touring Car Championship, winning two races in a West Surrey Racing MG, and claiming the Independent's Cup title in 2003... |
| 2005 (Partial Season) | Kartworld Racing | Jason Hughes |
| 2006 | Team RAC (WSR) | Rob Collard, Colin Turkington |
| 2006 | Kartworld Racing | Jason Hughes |
| 2007 | Kartworld Racing | Jason Hughes, Fiona Leggate Fiona Leggate Fiona Leggate is a British auto racing driver, born on 28 May 1980 in Lincolnshire.Leggate had been interested in motorsport since her childhood, influenced by her father Malcolm Leggate who had a 19-year career in saloon car racing.... |
| 2008 | KW Racing (Kartworld Racing renamed) | Jason Hughes |