Rover 200 Series
Encyclopedia
The Rover 200 Series, and the later Rover 25, were a series of small car models produced by the Austin Rover Group
, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover.
There have been three distinct generations of the Rover 200. The first generation was a four-door saloon car based on the Honda Ballade
. The second generation was available in three or five-door hatchback
forms, as well a coupé
and cabriolet (in relatively small numbers). Its sister model, the Honda Concerto
was built on the same production line in Rover's Longbridge factory. The final generation was developed independently by Rover on the platform of its predecessor, and was available as a three or five-door hatchback. After the sale of Rover in 2000, and following a facelift, the model was renamed and sold as both the Rover 25 and MG ZR. Production ceased in 2005 when MG Rover went into administration
. Production rights and tooling for the model, but not the Rover name, now belong to Chinese car manufacturer, Nanjing Automotive.
, and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland (BL) and Honda
. Only available as a four-door saloon, the 200 series was intended to be more upmarket than the company's Maestro
and Montego
models, which the 200 Series came in between in terms of size.
Essentially, the 200 series was a British built Honda Ballade
, the original design of which had been collaborated upon by both companies. Engines employed were either the Honda Civic
derived E series
'EV2' 71 PS 1.3 litre 12 valve engine, or BL's own S-Series engine in 1.6 litre format (both in 86 PS carburettor and 103 PS Lucas EFi
form). The resulting cars were badged as either Rover 213 or Rover 216.
The 213 used either a Honda five-speed manual gearbox or a Honda three-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, the British-engined 216 also employed a Honda five-speed manual gearbox, unlike the S-Series engine when fitted in the Maestro
and Montego
. There was also the option of a German ZF
four-speed automatic on some 216 models as well.
The Honda-badged version was the first Honda car to be built in the United Kingdom (the Honda equivalent of the 200 Series' predecessor, the Triumph Acclaim
, was never sold in the UK). Ballade bodyshells, and later complete cars, were made in the Longbridge plant
plant alongside the Rover equivalent, with the Ballade models then going to Honda's new Swindon plant for quality-control checks.
This model of car is well known as Richard
and Hyacinth Bucket
's car in the BBC Television
sitcom Keeping up Appearances
(1990–1995). Early episodes show a light blue 1987 216S, but later episodes feature a 1989 216SE EFi
model (re-badged for continuity as a 216S, and with the same numberplate).
Trim levels (as of July 1989) were:
X = Unavailable
✓ = Available
O = Optional
(who produced the new designed-for-Europe Concerto
model) and both models would share production lines at Rover's Longbridge facility. Initially only available as a five-door hatchback
, this was the first application of Rover's ground breaking K-Series family of engines (appearing in 1.4 L (1396 cc) twin-cam 16-valve
form).
The 1.6 L (1590 cc) version used either a Honda
D16A6 SOHC or D16A8 DOHC powerplant, while the 2.0 L M-Series
unit from the 800-series followed soon afterwards (1991) in the sportier versions. Later versions used the sturdier Rover T-Series engine
, with limited-run turbocharged Rover 220s in GTi and GSi-Turbo trims, boast a power output of 200 PS as standard. The Rover-engined models drove the front wheels via jointly developed Peugeot
/Rover R65 gearboxes (1.4 litre) and licence built Honda
-designed PG1s for the 1.6 and 2.0 litre versions.
Also available were two PSA
(non-electronically controlled Lucas CAV injection pumps) Indirect injection
diesel engine
s, with the choice of naturally aspirated 1.9 litre XUD9 or turbocharged
1.8 XUD7T engines. They were class leading in their refinement in Peugeot and Citroen installations, but less refined in the Rovers. These engines were installed instead of the non-electronically controlled Bosch HPVE Direct Injection Rover MDi / Perkins Prima used in the Austin Maestro
and Montego
, because that engine with its noisy combustion but lower fuel consumption, was deemed too unrefined for the new models.
On its launch, the R8 was in a sector in which many of the competing designs were at least five years old. For instance, Ford's Escort had been around since 1980 (with a facelift in early 1986) and the Vauxhall Astra
was unchanged from its 1984 launch. The only major European competitors that had been around for less than five years were the Peugeot 309
, Škoda Favorit
and Fiat Tipo
.
The Rover 200 was produced alongside the more down-market Maestro, giving buyers a choice of two quite different products in the Rover range.
A four-door saloon version was launched in early 1990 as the Rover 400-series. By 1992, cabriolet (convertible
) and three-door hatchback body styles of the Rover 200 were available. The range was rounded off in 1993 by a coupé. The coupé and cabriolet continued after the rest of the range had been superseded, but without the 200 tag—known instead as the Rover Coupé or Cabriolet respectively, and without Honda power, either; the 1600 cc K-series engine replacing the Honda unit until production ceased in 1999. These models are the most successful Rovers ever made, generating a considerably greater number of sales than the original 200, and the Maestro that it was partially replacing. In December 1991, the Rover 200 was Britain's most popular new car of the month, and it featured in the top 10 during every year that it was on sale.. On average, anything up to 110,000 Rover 200 and 400 (R8) models were sold in the UK each year. The 200 won What Car?
1990 "Car of the Year"
A mid-life facelift saw the reintroduction of the Rover grille, which had also reappeared on the "R17" facelift of the Rover 800
. This change was achieved without significant change to the remaining structure, but provided a more distinctive Rover "family look" and established a certain distance from the Honda Concerto
.
, which by now was 15 years old. Although some elements of the previous 200 / 400 were carried over (most notably the front structure, heater, steering and front suspension), it was by-and-large an all-new car that had been developed by Rover. Honda did provide early body design support as a result of moving production of the Honda Concerto
from Longbridge to Swindon
, freeing up capacity for 60,000 units at Rover. At this point, the car had a cut-down version of the previous car's rear floor and suspension and was codenamed SK3.
Lack of boot space and other factors led to Rover re-engineering the rear end to take a modified form of the Maestro rear suspension and the product was renamed R3. By the time the car was launched, Honda and Rover had already been "divorced" after the BMW
takeover the previous year. The new 200 used K-Series petrol engines, most notably the 1.8 L VVC
version from the MGF, and L-series
diesel engine.
Launched with 1.4i 16v (105 PS) and 1.6i 16v (111 PS) petrol engines and 2.0 turbodiesel (86 PS and intercooled 105 PS versions) engines, the range grew later to include a 1.1i (60 PS) and 1.4i 8v (75 PS) engines and also 1.8 16v units in standard (120 PS) and variable valve formats (145 PS). R65 Peugeot/Rover Manual gearboxes carried over from the R8 Rover 200 were available across the range and a CVT option was available on the 1.6i 16v unit.
The R3 featured a completely re-designed interior and dashboard to accommodate the fitment of a passenger airbag in line with new safety standards. Owners' main complaints about the interior ranged from relatively poor quality materials, to general fit and finish of trim although this is subject to personal opinion.
The 1.8-litre models earned a certain amount of praise for their performance, whilst the intercooled turbo diesel was claimed as one of the fastest-accelerating diesel hatchbacks on the market in the late 1990s.
Unlike its predecessor the R3 was not available in Coupe, Cabriolet or Tourer bodystyles. although Rover updated these versions of the older model with mild styling revisions and the fitting of the new dashboard from the R3, which was possible due to the shared front bulkhead. In the UK, these models were no longer branded as 200/400 models, simply being referred to as the Rover Coupe, Cabriolet and Tourer.
The Rover 200 might have been marketed as a supermini
, it compares closely in size and engine range with contemporary models such as the Ford Fiesta
and Vauxhall Corsa. Instead Rover priced the car to compete with vehicles like the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Astra
. Rover's only offering in the supermini segment at the time was the ageing Metro and this gap in the company's line-up needed to be filled.
The third generation 200 was initially popular, being Britain's seventh-best-selling new car in 1996 through to 1998. Within three years it had fallen out of the top 10 completely and was being outsold by traditionally poorer selling cars like the Volkswagen Polo Mk3
and the Peugeot 206
.
Inside, there was red quilted leather seats and door panels, red carpet, seat belts and steering wheel. Alloy heater controls and turned aluminium trim complimented this. On the outside, there was Brooklands Green paintwork, with silver trim details, large 16" alloys, and an exclusive woven mesh grille sat above a huge orange snout in the front bumper, which was the BRM trademark nose on all of its 1960s Formula One racing cars.
Technical adjustments consisted of 20 mm (0.78740157480315 in) lower ride height over the Vi and improved damping and handling, a close-ratio gearbox with a TorSen
differential further developed from the Rover 220 Turbo, reduced torque steer and improved straight-line stability.
The price was £18,000, excluding extras such as air conditioning, passenger airbag and a CD player. There was only 795 were built for the UK, with an additional 350 for overseas markets. The steep price was originally slashed to £16,000 and when the Rover 25 was launched, this was cut to £14,000 to get rid of vehicles still lingering in showrooms.
G = Good
A = Acceptable
M = Marginal
P = Poor
. This version used similar frontal styling to the larger 75
model. The chassis
had been uprated to give sportier handling (suspension and steering setup from 200vi) and the front end had been restyled to give it the corporate Rover
look first seen in the range-topping 75
, a number of safety improvements and interior changes were made, but the 25 was instantly recognisable as a reworked 200 Series. The 1.4 L, 1.6 L and 1.8 L petrol engine
s as well as the 2.0 L diesel
were all carried over from the previous range. CVT automatic gearboxes were carried over from the R3 200, with 'Steptronic' (later 'Stepspeed' post-BMW demerger) semi-automatic system available from late 2000. R65 manual gearboxes were again carried over but were later superseded by Ford 'IB5' units in mid-2003.
The Rover 25 also saw the introduction, from autumn 2000, of the 16V twin-cam version of the 1.1 L K-Series engine, replacing the 1.1 Single Cam 8-valve K-Series Engine previously found in the Rover 211i. (Badged just Rover 200) This development saw power boosted from 60 PS.
Less than a year after the Rover 25 was launched, BMW
sold the Rover Group to the Phoenix consortium for a token £10. By the summer of 2001, the newly named MG Rover Group had introduced a sporty version of the Rover 25: the MG ZR
. It had modified interior and exterior styling, as well as sports suspension
, to give the car the look of a "hot" hatchback
. The largest engine in the range was the 1.8 VVC 160 PS unit, which had a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph) . It was frequently Britain's best-selling "hot hatch".
In 2003, Rover made a version of the car with increased ride height and chunkier bumpers, called Streetwise
. The car was marketed by Rover as an "urban on-roader". They also introduced a van
version of the 25 called the Rover Commerce.
By 2004, the age of the Rover 25 / MG ZR's interior design in particular was showing, so MG Rover gave the cars an exterior restyle to make them look more modern. The majority of changes however were focussed on the interior, which featured a completely new layout and fascia design. Production of both cars was suspended in April 2005 when the company went into administration. In March 2005 the 25 won the "Bargain of the Year Award" at the prestigious Auto Express Used Car Honours: "The compact hatchback was recognised by the judges for the availability and affordability that help make five-year old examples an attractive purchase proposition."
Specifications for the Rover 25 design were purchased by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in early 2005, though new MG Rover Group owner, Nanjing Automobile Group
now owns the tooling for the car. In 2008, the Streetwise, rebadged as the MG 3
SW, was relaunched in China.
The Rover 25 was actually Britain's best selling new car for the month of April 2000, due to a brief surge in sales among buyers wanting to support the company at the time of their sell-off by BMW.
The NCWR organisation (New Car Whiplash Ratings) tested the facelifted Rover 25 and awarded it the following scores:
G = Good
A = Acceptable
M = Marginal
P = Poor
Austin Rover Group
The Austin Rover Group was a British motor manufacturer. It was formed in 1981 as the mass-market car manufacturing subsidiary of British Leyland...
, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover.
There have been three distinct generations of the Rover 200. The first generation was a four-door saloon car based on the Honda Ballade
Honda Ballade
The Honda Ballade was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord...
. The second generation was available in three or five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
forms, as well a coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
and cabriolet (in relatively small numbers). Its sister model, the Honda Concerto
Honda Concerto
The Honda Concerto was an automobile produced by Honda from 1988 to 1994. Like its predecessor, the Honda Quint and Honda Ballade sedan , it shared its platform with a Rover product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400...
was built on the same production line in Rover's Longbridge factory. The final generation was developed independently by Rover on the platform of its predecessor, and was available as a three or five-door hatchback. After the sale of Rover in 2000, and following a facelift, the model was renamed and sold as both the Rover 25 and MG ZR. Production ceased in 2005 when MG Rover went into administration
Administration (insolvency)
As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – an alternative to liquidation – is often known as going...
. Production rights and tooling for the model, but not the Rover name, now belong to Chinese car manufacturer, Nanjing Automotive.
Rover 200 (SD3, 1984–89)
The original Rover 200 (sometimes referred to by the codename SD3) was the replacement for the earlier Triumph AcclaimTriumph Acclaim
The Triumph Acclaim was a front-wheel drive medium-sized family car made by British Leyland from 1981 to 1984. It was based on the Honda Ballade and used a Honda-designed engine, but met United Kingdom component-content requirements...
, and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland (BL) and 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...
. Only available as a four-door saloon, the 200 series was intended to be more upmarket than the company's Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
and Montego
Austin Montego
The Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. The Montego was the replacement for the Morris Ital, to give British Leyland a modern competitor for the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall...
models, which the 200 Series came in between in terms of size.
Essentially, the 200 series was a British built Honda Ballade
Honda Ballade
The Honda Ballade was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord...
, the original design of which had been collaborated upon by both companies. Engines employed were either 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...
derived E series
Honda E engine
The E-series was a line of inline 4-cylinder automobile engines from Honda. These engines were used in the popular Honda Civic, Accord, and Prelude cars in the 1970s and 1980s...
'EV2' 71 PS 1.3 litre 12 valve engine, or BL's own S-Series engine in 1.6 litre format (both in 86 PS carburettor and 103 PS Lucas EFi
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
form). The resulting cars were badged as either Rover 213 or Rover 216.
The 213 used either a Honda five-speed manual gearbox or a Honda three-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, the British-engined 216 also employed a Honda five-speed manual gearbox, unlike the S-Series engine when fitted in the Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
and Montego
Austin Montego
The Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. The Montego was the replacement for the Morris Ital, to give British Leyland a modern competitor for the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall...
. There was also the option of a German ZF
ZF Friedrichshafen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....
four-speed automatic on some 216 models as well.
The Honda-badged version was the first Honda car to be built in the United Kingdom (the Honda equivalent of the 200 Series' predecessor, the Triumph Acclaim
Triumph Acclaim
The Triumph Acclaim was a front-wheel drive medium-sized family car made by British Leyland from 1981 to 1984. It was based on the Honda Ballade and used a Honda-designed engine, but met United Kingdom component-content requirements...
, was never sold in the UK). Ballade bodyshells, and later complete cars, were made in the Longbridge plant
Longbridge plant
The Longbridge plant is an industrial complex situated in the Longbridge area of Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is currently owned by SAIC Group and is a manufacturing and research and development facility for its MG Motor subsidiary....
plant alongside the Rover equivalent, with the Ballade models then going to Honda's new Swindon plant for quality-control checks.
This model of car is well known as Richard
Richard Bucket
Richard Bucket is a fictional character played by Clive Swift in the British comedy TV series Keeping Up Appearances, which was aired from 1990 to 1995...
and Hyacinth Bucket
Hyacinth Bucket
Hyacinth Bucket, who insists her last name is pronounced "Bouquet" , is the main character in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances , played by Patricia Routledge.-Personality:...
's car in the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
sitcom Keeping up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. Centred on the life of eccentric, social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket , the sitcom portrays a social hierarchy-ruled British society...
(1990–1995). Early episodes show a light blue 1987 216S, but later episodes feature a 1989 216SE EFi
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
model (re-badged for continuity as a 216S, and with the same numberplate).
Trim levels (as of July 1989) were:
| Engine & Transmission | S | SE | Vanden Plas | Vitesse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 213 – 1.3 L 5 Speed Manual | ✓ | X | X | X |
| 213 – 1.3 L 3 Speed Auto | O | ✓ | X | X |
| 216 – 1.6 L 5 Speed Manual | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 216 – 1.6 L 4 Speed Auto | X | O | O | X |
X = Unavailable
✓ = Available
O = Optional
Rover 200 (R8, 1989–95)
This model, codenamed R8 and sometimes referred to as the Rover 200 Mk2, was the first car to be introduced by the newly privatised Rover Group. Once again, the model was designed in collaboration with HondaHonda
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 produced the new designed-for-Europe Concerto
Honda Concerto
The Honda Concerto was an automobile produced by Honda from 1988 to 1994. Like its predecessor, the Honda Quint and Honda Ballade sedan , it shared its platform with a Rover product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400...
model) and both models would share production lines at Rover's Longbridge facility. Initially only available as a five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, this was the first application of Rover's ground breaking K-Series family of engines (appearing in 1.4 L (1396 cc) twin-cam 16-valve
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
form).
The 1.6 L (1590 cc) version used either a 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...
D16A6 SOHC or D16A8 DOHC powerplant, while the 2.0 L M-Series
Rover M-Series engine
The Rover M-Series is a 4-cylinder, DOHC internal combustion engine introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986 for the then-new Rover 800-series....
unit from the 800-series followed soon afterwards (1991) in the sportier versions. Later versions used the sturdier Rover T-Series engine
Rover T-Series engine
The Rover T16 engine was a 1994 cc petrol engine, produced by Rover from 1992 to 1999. It has a bore of and a stroke of . It is a development of the M-Series , which was in turn a development of the O-Series, which dated back to the BMC B-Series engine as found in the MG B and many...
, with limited-run turbocharged Rover 220s in GTi and GSi-Turbo trims, boast a power output of 200 PS as standard. The Rover-engined models drove the front wheels via jointly developed Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
/Rover R65 gearboxes (1.4 litre) and licence built 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...
-designed PG1s for the 1.6 and 2.0 litre versions.
Also available were two PSA
PSA Peugeot Citroën
PSA Peugeot Citroën is a French manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles sold under the Peugeot and Citroën marques. Headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, PSA is the second largest automaker based in Europe and the number eight in the world.-History:In December 1974 Peugeot S.A....
(non-electronically controlled Lucas CAV injection pumps) Indirect injection
Indirect injection
In an internal combustion engine, the term indirect injection refers to a fuel injection where fuel is not directly injected into the combustion chamber...
diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s, with the choice of naturally aspirated 1.9 litre XUD9 or turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
1.8 XUD7T engines. They were class leading in their refinement in Peugeot and Citroen installations, but less refined in the Rovers. These engines were installed instead of the non-electronically controlled Bosch HPVE Direct Injection Rover MDi / Perkins Prima used in the Austin Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
and Montego
Austin Montego
The Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. The Montego was the replacement for the Morris Ital, to give British Leyland a modern competitor for the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall...
, because that engine with its noisy combustion but lower fuel consumption, was deemed too unrefined for the new models.
On its launch, the R8 was in a sector in which many of the competing designs were at least five years old. For instance, Ford's Escort had been around since 1980 (with a facelift in early 1986) and the Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
was unchanged from its 1984 launch. The only major European competitors that had been around for less than five years were the Peugeot 309
Peugeot 309
The Peugeot 309 was a small family car manufactured between 1985 and 1993 in England and France.The 309 was originally intended to be badged as a Talbot and, as development progressed, to be called the Talbot Arizona...
, Škoda Favorit
Škoda Favorit
The Škoda Favorit 135 and Škoda Favorit 136 were a range of small family cars produced by Czech auto manufacturer Škoda Auto from 1987 to 1995. It was Škoda Auto's first car to follow the European trend of locating the engine at the front, mounted transversely, and was also their first car to use...
and Fiat Tipo
Fiat Tipo
The Fiat Tipo is a small family car designed by the IDEA design house and produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995.The Tipo was initially available only as a five-door hatchback. The car was made entirely out of galvanized body panels to avoid rust, and was built on a...
.
The Rover 200 was produced alongside the more down-market Maestro, giving buyers a choice of two quite different products in the Rover range.
A four-door saloon version was launched in early 1990 as the Rover 400-series. By 1992, cabriolet (convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
) and three-door hatchback body styles of the Rover 200 were available. The range was rounded off in 1993 by a coupé. The coupé and cabriolet continued after the rest of the range had been superseded, but without the 200 tag—known instead as the Rover Coupé or Cabriolet respectively, and without Honda power, either; the 1600 cc K-series engine replacing the Honda unit until production ceased in 1999. These models are the most successful Rovers ever made, generating a considerably greater number of sales than the original 200, and the Maestro that it was partially replacing. In December 1991, the Rover 200 was Britain's most popular new car of the month, and it featured in the top 10 during every year that it was on sale.. On average, anything up to 110,000 Rover 200 and 400 (R8) models were sold in the UK each year. The 200 won What Car?
What Car?
What Car? is a long-running UK monthly automobile magazine and website, currently edited by Steve Fowler and published by Haymarket Motoring. First published in 1973, it is intended primarily as a magazine for consumers rather than dedicated automobile enthusiasts...
1990 "Car of the Year"
Rover 800
The Rover 800 series is an executive car introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986 and also marketed as the Sterling in the United States. Co-developed with Honda, it was a close relative to the Honda Legend and the successor to the Rover SD1....
. This change was achieved without significant change to the remaining structure, but provided a more distinctive Rover "family look" and established a certain distance from the Honda Concerto
Honda Concerto
The Honda Concerto was an automobile produced by Honda from 1988 to 1994. Like its predecessor, the Honda Quint and Honda Ballade sedan , it shared its platform with a Rover product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400...
.
Rover 200 (R3, 1995–99)
The Rover 200, codenamed R3, was smaller than the Honda-based R8 cars. This was due to Rover's desperate need to replace the ageing MetroRover Metro
The Metro is a supermini car that was produced by the Austin Rover Group division of British Leyland and its successors. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin miniMetro. It was intended to complement the Mini, and was developed under the codename LC8....
, which by now was 15 years old. Although some elements of the previous 200 / 400 were carried over (most notably the front structure, heater, steering and front suspension), it was by-and-large an all-new car that had been developed by Rover. Honda did provide early body design support as a result of moving production of the Honda Concerto
Honda Concerto
The Honda Concerto was an automobile produced by Honda from 1988 to 1994. Like its predecessor, the Honda Quint and Honda Ballade sedan , it shared its platform with a Rover product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400...
from Longbridge to Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, freeing up capacity for 60,000 units at Rover. At this point, the car had a cut-down version of the previous car's rear floor and suspension and was codenamed SK3.
Lack of boot space and other factors led to Rover re-engineering the rear end to take a modified form of the Maestro rear suspension and the product was renamed R3. By the time the car was launched, Honda and Rover had already been "divorced" after the BMW
BMW
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...
takeover the previous year. The new 200 used K-Series petrol engines, most notably the 1.8 L VVC
Variable Valve Control
VVC is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by Rover and applied to some high performance variants of the company's K Series 1800cc engine....
version from the MGF, and 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...
diesel engine.
Launched with 1.4i 16v (105 PS) and 1.6i 16v (111 PS) petrol engines and 2.0 turbodiesel (86 PS and intercooled 105 PS versions) engines, the range grew later to include a 1.1i (60 PS) and 1.4i 8v (75 PS) engines and also 1.8 16v units in standard (120 PS) and variable valve formats (145 PS). R65 Peugeot/Rover Manual gearboxes carried over from the R8 Rover 200 were available across the range and a CVT option was available on the 1.6i 16v unit.
The R3 featured a completely re-designed interior and dashboard to accommodate the fitment of a passenger airbag in line with new safety standards. Owners' main complaints about the interior ranged from relatively poor quality materials, to general fit and finish of trim although this is subject to personal opinion.
The 1.8-litre models earned a certain amount of praise for their performance, whilst the intercooled turbo diesel was claimed as one of the fastest-accelerating diesel hatchbacks on the market in the late 1990s.
Unlike its predecessor the R3 was not available in Coupe, Cabriolet or Tourer bodystyles. although Rover updated these versions of the older model with mild styling revisions and the fitting of the new dashboard from the R3, which was possible due to the shared front bulkhead. In the UK, these models were no longer branded as 200/400 models, simply being referred to as the Rover Coupe, Cabriolet and Tourer.
The Rover 200 might have been marketed as a supermini
Supermini
A superminicomputer, or supermini, is “a minicomputer with high performance compared to ordinary minicomputers.” The term was an invention used from the mid-1970s mainly to distinguish the emerging 32-bit minis from the classical 16-bit minicomputers...
, it compares closely in size and engine range with contemporary models such as the Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
and Vauxhall Corsa. Instead Rover priced the car to compete with vehicles like the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
. Rover's only offering in the supermini segment at the time was the ageing Metro and this gap in the company's line-up needed to be filled.
The third generation 200 was initially popular, being Britain's seventh-best-selling new car in 1996 through to 1998. Within three years it had fallen out of the top 10 completely and was being outsold by traditionally poorer selling cars like the Volkswagen Polo Mk3
Volkswagen Polo Mk3
The Volkswagen Polo Mk3 is the third generation of the Volkswagen Polo supermini, produced from 1994 until late 1999 and some in 2000. It was produced in two forms, the initial car being known as the Mark 4 or IIII, and the facelifted version known as the Mark 4 Phase II or unofficially as the...
and the Peugeot 206
Peugeot 206
The Peugeot 206 is a supermini car, manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot from 1998 to 2010.Even though the 206 has finished production in most markets as of 2010, in Europe since 2009, it is available the 206+, with a back and especially a front design that resembles the Peugeot 207.-The...
.
Rover 200 BRM
The Rover 200 BRM was first shown at 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, the reaction from the press and public was good enough that after a year of development the Rover 200 BRM LE was officially launched at the British Motor Show in October 1998. It was based on the range-topping Vi model but with 1960's BRM styling cues. The engine was the familiar 145 PS 1.8-litre VVC K-Series.Inside, there was red quilted leather seats and door panels, red carpet, seat belts and steering wheel. Alloy heater controls and turned aluminium trim complimented this. On the outside, there was Brooklands Green paintwork, with silver trim details, large 16" alloys, and an exclusive woven mesh grille sat above a huge orange snout in the front bumper, which was the BRM trademark nose on all of its 1960s Formula One racing cars.
Technical adjustments consisted of 20 mm (0.78740157480315 in) lower ride height over the Vi and improved damping and handling, a close-ratio gearbox with a TorSen
Torsen
Torsen is a type of differential used in automobiles. It was invented by American Vernon Gleasman and manufactured by the Gleason Corporation. Torsen is a contraction of Torque-Sensing...
differential further developed from the Rover 220 Turbo, reduced torque steer and improved straight-line stability.
The price was £18,000, excluding extras such as air conditioning, passenger airbag and a CD player. There was only 795 were built for the UK, with an additional 350 for overseas markets. The steep price was originally slashed to £16,000 and when the Rover 25 was launched, this was cut to £14,000 to get rid of vehicles still lingering in showrooms.
Safety
The NCWR organisation (New Car Whiplash Ratings) tested the Rover 200 and awarded it the following scores:| NCWR | Score |
|---|---|
| Geometric: | G |
| Dynamic: | A |
| Overall: | A |
G = Good
A = Acceptable
M = Marginal
P = Poor
Reviews
The Rover 200 received moderate to good reviews from the motoring press.- Parker's Car GuidesParker's Car GuidesParker's Car Price Guide is a monthly magazine and, more recently, website listing prices for new and used cars in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1972 and is the longest-running price guide available to the public. It has expanded over the years to offer reviews, technical data and...
'Pros: Cheap to buy; good to drive.' | 'Cons: Reliability hasn't been good.' - RAC
'It may not be 'Above All' but it's certainly a Rover. These days that means class, which, in this case, needn't cost a lot.' - Wise Buyers
'Supermini on steroids or shrunken small family hatchback? Try this lively, enjoyable car before you [make a] decision. Just don't expect practicality to rival Focus or 306.'
Rover 25 (1999–2005)
A face-lifted version, renamed the Rover 25 (internal codename Jewel) was launched in autumn 1999 for the 2000 model yearModel year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
. This version used similar frontal styling to the larger 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...
model. The chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
had been uprated to give sportier handling (suspension and steering setup from 200vi) and the front end had been restyled to give it the corporate Rover
Rover (car)
The Rover Company is a former British car manufacturing company founded as Starley & Sutton Co. of Coventry in 1878. After developing the template for the modern bicycle with its Rover Safety Bicycle of 1885, the company moved into the automotive industry...
look first seen in the range-topping 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...
, a number of safety improvements and interior changes were made, but the 25 was instantly recognisable as a reworked 200 Series. The 1.4 L, 1.6 L and 1.8 L petrol engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
s as well as the 2.0 L diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
were all carried over from the previous range. CVT automatic gearboxes were carried over from the R3 200, with 'Steptronic' (later 'Stepspeed' post-BMW demerger) semi-automatic system available from late 2000. R65 manual gearboxes were again carried over but were later superseded by Ford 'IB5' units in mid-2003.
The Rover 25 also saw the introduction, from autumn 2000, of the 16V twin-cam version of the 1.1 L K-Series engine, replacing the 1.1 Single Cam 8-valve K-Series Engine previously found in the Rover 211i. (Badged just Rover 200) This development saw power boosted from 60 PS.
Less than a year after the Rover 25 was launched, BMW
BMW
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 the Rover Group to the Phoenix consortium for a token £10. By the summer of 2001, the newly named MG Rover Group had introduced a sporty version of the Rover 25: 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...
. It had modified interior and exterior styling, as well as sports suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
, to give the car the look of a "hot" hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
. The largest engine in the range was the 1.8 VVC 160 PS unit, which had a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph) . It was frequently Britain's best-selling "hot hatch".
In 2003, Rover made a version of the car with increased ride height and chunkier bumpers, called Streetwise
Rover Streetwise
The Rover Streetwise was a small car made by MG Rover. It was based on the Rover 25, but had an increased ride height and chunkier bumpers. The car was marketed by Rover as an 'urban on-roader'.Production ended in April 2005 due to the bankruptcy of MG Rover....
. The car was marketed by Rover as an "urban on-roader". They also introduced a van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
version of the 25 called the Rover Commerce.
By 2004, the age of the Rover 25 / MG ZR's interior design in particular was showing, so MG Rover gave the cars an exterior restyle to make them look more modern. The majority of changes however were focussed on the interior, which featured a completely new layout and fascia design. Production of both cars was suspended in April 2005 when the company went into administration. In March 2005 the 25 won the "Bargain of the Year Award" at the prestigious Auto Express Used Car Honours: "The compact hatchback was recognised by the judges for the availability and affordability that help make five-year old examples an attractive purchase proposition."
Specifications for the Rover 25 design were purchased by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in early 2005, though new MG Rover Group owner, Nanjing Automobile Group
Nanjing Automobile Group
Nanjing Automobile is a state-owned enterprise with a history that dates from 1947, making it the oldest of the Chinese automobile manufacturers, although the comparatively younger First Automobile Works was the first to actually make cars.The group's products have included cars, trucks, and...
now owns the tooling for the car. In 2008, the Streetwise, rebadged as the MG 3
MG 3
The MG3 is a supermini-class car produced by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation under the MG marque in two generations from 2008 onwards.- First generation :Production of the first-generation model, sold as the MG3 SW, began in 2008...
SW, was relaunched in China.
The Rover 25 was actually Britain's best selling new car for the month of April 2000, due to a brief surge in sales among buyers wanting to support the company at the time of their sell-off by BMW.
Safety
The 25 underwent the Euro NCAP car safety tests in 2001 and achieved the following ratings:| Euro NCAP | Rating |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant: | |
| Child occupant: | n/a |
| Pedestrian: |
The NCWR organisation (New Car Whiplash Ratings) tested the facelifted Rover 25 and awarded it the following scores:
| NCWR | Score |
|---|---|
| Geometric: | M |
| Dynamic: | n/a |
| Overall: | P |
G = Good
A = Acceptable
M = Marginal
P = Poor
Security
The Rover 25 was tested by Thatcham's New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) organisation and achieved the following ratings:| < 06/2003 | Rating |
|---|---|
| Theft of car: | |
| Theft from car: |
| > 07/2003 | Rating |
|---|---|
| Theft of car: | |
| Theft from car: |
Reviews
The Rover 25 received mixed to good reviews from the motoring press.- The AAThe Automobile AssociationThe Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
'The original 200 ... was never going to sell against the Golfs and Astras of the time, even though that was the sales pitch and price. The 25 remedied this. We're left with a hatchback that's now the right size and price to compete; if only it were better equipped and these lower-range versions offered a bit more comfort when they're on the move.' - Parker's Car GuidesParker's Car GuidesParker's Car Price Guide is a monthly magazine and, more recently, website listing prices for new and used cars in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1972 and is the longest-running price guide available to the public. It has expanded over the years to offer reviews, technical data and...
'Pros: Sporty driving experience, good quality.'
'Cons: Cramped interior.' - RAC
'The Rover 25 series has developed into a very fine range of cars [and] additional chassis work had taken place ... to bring the standard models up to the old 200vi's handling standards. Rover's repositioning of the car had propelled a middle-order family hatch to somewhere near the top of the supermini class.' - What Car? Reader Reviews
'For – The 25 is cheap, quiet and has a roomy boot. Fuel consumption is good on petrols, too.'
'Against – The interior is plain, build quality is iffy, the turbodiesel is unrefined, and safety standards are poor.' - Wise Buyers
'The 25 is best regarded as a large supermini rather than a small family car. It drives well, looks classy and is fairly affordable, but it's getting on a bit.'
Powertrains
These were the engines available for the Rover 200 (1995–1999) and Rover 25 (2000–2005). Each engine was modified at regular intervals throughout its life with economy and emissions improving with the changes.| Years | Model & Transmission | Engine | Power | Torque | Top Speed | 0–100 km/h | Economy (MPG imp) |
Emissions (CO2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | ||||||||
| 1998–2001 | 1.1 8v Manual | 1.1 L, 4 in-L | 60 PS | 90 N·m (66 lb·ft) | 155 km/h (96 mph) | 14.5 secs | 42.0 mpg | 165 g/km |
| 2001–2005 | 1.1 16v Manual | 1.1 L, 4 in-L | 75 PS | 95 N·m (70 lb·ft) | 161 km/h (100 mph) | 13.5 secs | 41.3 mpg | 160 g/km |
| 1995–1999 | 1.4 8v Manual | 1.4 L, 4 in-L | 74 PS | 117 N·m (86 lb·ft) | 166 km/h (103 mph) | 12.5 secs | 41.0 mpg | 170 g/km |
| 1999–2005 | 1.4 16v 84 Manual | 1.4 L, 4 in-L | 84 PS | 110 N·m (81 lb·ft) | 169 km/h (105 mph) | 11.8 secs | 41.3 mpg | 164 g/km |
| 1997–1999 | 1.4 16v 103 Manual | 1.4 L, 4 in-L | 103 PS | 127 N·m (94 lb·ft) | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 10.0 secs | 39.0 mpg | 173 g/km |
| 1999–2005 | 1.4 16v 103 Manual | 1.4 L, 4 in-L | 103 PS | 123 N·m (91 lb·ft) | 180 km/h (112 mph) | 10.2 secs | 41.3 mpg | 164 g/km |
| 1995–1999 | 1.6 16v Manual | 1.6 L, 4 in-L | 111 PS | 145 N·m (107 lb·ft) | 190 km/h (118 mph) | 9.3 secs | 39.0 mpg | 176 g/km |
| 1999–2005 | 1.6 16v Manual | 1.6 L, 4 in-L | 110 PS | 138 N·m (102 lb·ft) | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 9.5 secs | 41.3 mpg | 164 g/km |
| 2001–2005 | 1.6 16v Stepspeed | 1.6 L, 4 in-L | 110 PS | 138 N·m (102 lb·ft) | 177 km/h (110 mph) | 10.3 secs | 36.6 mpg | 184 g/km |
| 1997–1999 | 1.8 16v Manual | 1.8 L, 4 in-L | 120 PS | 165 N·m (122 lb·ft) | 195 km/h (121 mph) | 8.6 secs | 38.3 mpg | 179 g/km |
| 1999–2002 | 1.8 16v Stepspeed | 1.8 L, 4 in-L | 117 PS | 160 N·m (118 lb·ft) | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 9.5 secs | 34.7 mpg | 194 g/km |
| 1997–2002 | 1.8 16v VVC Manual | 1.8 L, 4 in-L | 145 PS | 174 N·m (128 lb·ft) | 204 km/h (127 mph) | 7.5 secs | 37.7 mpg | 179 g/km |
| Diesel | ||||||||
| 1995–1999 | 2.0 TD 86 Manual | 2.0 L, 4 in-L | 86 PS | 170 N·m (125 lb·ft) | 169 km/h (105 mph) | 12.0 secs | 49.5 mpg | 166 g/km |
| 1995–1999 | 2.0 TD 105 Manual | 2.0 L, 4 in-L | 105 PS | 210 N·m (155 lb·ft) | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 9.8 secs | 50.1 mpg | 166 g/km |
| 1999–2005 | 2.0 TD 101 Manual | 2.0 L, 4 in-L | 101 PS | 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) | 182 km/h (113 mph) | 9.9 secs | 53.8 mpg | 150 g/km |
| 2002–2004 | 2.0 TD 113 Manual | 2.0 L, 4 in-L | 113 PS | 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 9.1 secs | 51.5 mpg | 150 g/km |