Rover 600
Encyclopedia
The Rover 600 Series is a compact executive car
produced by the British car maker Rover
from 1993 to 1999.
The Rover 600 exterior was designed by Rover, a re-skin of the Tochigi-developed Honda Accord, also built in the UK by Honda
in Swindon
. The core structure and vast majority of the engineering content was sourced from Honda but the vehicles were designed at the same time, with a small Rover team on-site in Japan
. Colour and trim derivatives were also used to help separate the Rover from the Honda in the marketplace. The 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3-litre straight-4
petrol engines were all provided by Honda
. However, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Rover L-Series engine
and turbocharged petrol engines
were developed by Rover itself, evolutions of units already available elsewhere in the Rover model range.
The 600's interior included wood and chrome trim, as well as relatively high equipment levels, although rear legroom was criticised as rather constrained. The interior was similar to the Japan
ese-built Honda Ascot Innova, except with a few cosmetic changes. Carpet was also not evident along the bottom trim of the dashboard, although it did feature there on the Innova.
The Honda-derived chassis was reported to give a comfortable but unsporting ride. Given the Rover's equipment, prices were reasonably competitive in the large family car
segment and considerably lower than the price of such compact executive car
s such as the BMW 3 Series
and Audi A4
.
After six years, Rover 600 production ceased in the Spring of 1999; it was replaced with the retro-styled Rover 75
developed under BMW's stewardship. The 75 also replaced the larger 800 Series
.
The 600 had been a popular car in the compact executive sector, with a large percentage of sales being to the fleet market.
In 1994, the 620ti was launched. It had a turbocharged, intercooled
, 16-valve, twin-cam 2.0-litre T series engine
, a top speed of 143 mi/h, and a 0-60 mph time of 7 seconds, thanks to 197 bhp and 174 lbft torque. The 620ti also had uprated suspension, dark half-leather upholstery, and a set of six-spoke 16 inch alloy wheels. Autocar magazine (February 8, 1995) had an example on a long term test and found it to be as quick in the mid-range as a Ford Sapphire
2.0i Cosworth following tests at Millbrook Proving Ground.
Badging was determined by engine size: 618 models had 1.8-litre engines, 620 had 2.0 engines, 623 had 2.3-litre engines. Petrol engines, apart from the 620ti, were Honda units and the 620ti, and all diesel versions were Rover units. Honda used the Rover diesel engine in the diesel version of the Accord in Europe.
The 600 was available in a number of different trims. All models had power-assisted steering
(PAS), electric front windows, remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser and tinted windows. The Si had split rear seats, Si Auto and above got a sunroof. SLi trim added electric rear windows and wooden door trim; GSi models received 15" multispoke alloys and full leather trim. From 1994 all cars had a driver's airbag. The 623iS had half leather trim and a small lip spoiler on its boot. The ti featured a set of hefty and curvaceous 16" six spoke alloys with up rated suspension, 'Torsen' gearbox and a dark half leather interior.
Run out models included:
S and SD models had the appearance of the 620ti, with the same hefty six spoke 16" alloy wheels and half leather trim. L and LD models had seven spoke 15" alloy wheels and full leather trim resembling the GSi models.
The range was revised (or mildly "facelifted") twice. The first revisions were in 1996 which included a slightly revised interior with a padded front arm rest and separate rear head rests, all models, apart from the ti, had 15" wheels, high level brake light, new alarm and immobiliser system (the alarm changed from an infra-red to a radio controlled handset and the ignition key became a 'transponder key', without which the immobiliser could not be disarmed), drink holders in the front doors, electric headlight adjuster and all models from Si specification upwards receive air-con and 15" alloys. At this time the T series changed ignition system from Distributor to 'wasted spark
', pistons, Klinger head gasket, LSD and the steering was changed to Rover's Positive Centre Feel (PCF) system. UK cars which featured these revisions were all badged as "600" only, in line with most other models in the Rover range which no longer had badging by engine sizes.
The final revisions came in 1997, just over a year later, and all cars got slightly lowered suspension (~10 mm) and body-coloured sills, rubbing strips, door handles and door mirror covers.
End of the line...
Along with the larger 800
it was replaced by the 75
in 1999.
Compact executive car
Compact executive car is a car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than executive cars. In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment. In North American terms, close equivalents are compact premium car, compact luxury car, entry-level luxury car and...
produced by the British car maker 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...
from 1993 to 1999.
The Rover 600 exterior was designed by Rover, a re-skin of the Tochigi-developed Honda Accord, also built in the UK 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...
in 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...
. The core structure and vast majority of the engineering content was sourced from Honda but the vehicles were designed at the same time, with a small Rover team on-site in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Colour and trim derivatives were also used to help separate the Rover from the Honda in the marketplace. The 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3-litre straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
petrol engines were all provided 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...
. However, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel
Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
Rover L-Series engine
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...
and turbocharged petrol engines
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...
were developed by Rover itself, evolutions of units already available elsewhere in the Rover model range.
The 600's interior included wood and chrome trim, as well as relatively high equipment levels, although rear legroom was criticised as rather constrained. The interior was similar to the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-built Honda Ascot Innova, except with a few cosmetic changes. Carpet was also not evident along the bottom trim of the dashboard, although it did feature there on the Innova.
The Honda-derived chassis was reported to give a comfortable but unsporting ride. Given the Rover's equipment, prices were reasonably competitive in the large family car
Large family car
A large family car, also known as a D-segment car, is a European automobile classification which is larger than a small family car and smaller than an executive car. Multi-purpose vehicles based on a large family car design are often called large MPVs, while similarly-priced models from luxury car...
segment and considerably lower than the price of such compact executive car
Compact executive car
Compact executive car is a car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than executive cars. In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment. In North American terms, close equivalents are compact premium car, compact luxury car, entry-level luxury car and...
s such as the BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
and Audi A4
Audi A4
The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive...
.
After six years, Rover 600 production ceased in the Spring of 1999; it was replaced with the retro-styled Rover 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...
developed under BMW's stewardship. The 75 also replaced the larger 800 Series
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....
.
The 600 had been a popular car in the compact executive sector, with a large percentage of sales being to the fleet market.
620ti
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
, 16-valve, twin-cam 2.0-litre 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...
, a top speed of 143 mi/h, and a 0-60 mph time of 7 seconds, thanks to 197 bhp and 174 lbft torque. The 620ti also had uprated suspension, dark half-leather upholstery, and a set of six-spoke 16 inch alloy wheels. Autocar magazine (February 8, 1995) had an example on a long term test and found it to be as quick in the mid-range as a Ford Sapphire
Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a large family car that was built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément. The code used during development was "Project Toni"....
2.0i Cosworth following tests at Millbrook Proving Ground.
Versions
The 600 was available in the following versions:- 618i
- 618 Si
- 620i
- 620 Si
- 620 SLi
- 620 GSi
- 623 SLi
- 623 GSi
- 623 iS
- 620ti
- 620 Di
- 620 SDi
- 620 SLDi
- 620 GSDi
Badging was determined by engine size: 618 models had 1.8-litre engines, 620 had 2.0 engines, 623 had 2.3-litre engines. Petrol engines, apart from the 620ti, were Honda units and the 620ti, and all diesel versions were Rover units. Honda used the Rover diesel engine in the diesel version of the Accord in Europe.
The 600 was available in a number of different trims. All models had power-assisted steering
Power steering
Power steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
(PAS), electric front windows, remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser and tinted windows. The Si had split rear seats, Si Auto and above got a sunroof. SLi trim added electric rear windows and wooden door trim; GSi models received 15" multispoke alloys and full leather trim. From 1994 all cars had a driver's airbag. The 623iS had half leather trim and a small lip spoiler on its boot. The ti featured a set of hefty and curvaceous 16" six spoke alloys with up rated suspension, 'Torsen' gearbox and a dark half leather interior.
Run out models included:
- 618iL
- 618iS
- 620iSD
- 620iLD
S and SD models had the appearance of the 620ti, with the same hefty six spoke 16" alloy wheels and half leather trim. L and LD models had seven spoke 15" alloy wheels and full leather trim resembling the GSi models.
The range was revised (or mildly "facelifted") twice. The first revisions were in 1996 which included a slightly revised interior with a padded front arm rest and separate rear head rests, all models, apart from the ti, had 15" wheels, high level brake light, new alarm and immobiliser system (the alarm changed from an infra-red to a radio controlled handset and the ignition key became a 'transponder key', without which the immobiliser could not be disarmed), drink holders in the front doors, electric headlight adjuster and all models from Si specification upwards receive air-con and 15" alloys. At this time the T series changed ignition system from Distributor to 'wasted spark
Wasted spark
The wasted spark system is an ignition system used with some four-stroke cycle internal combustion engines. In a wasted spark system, the spark plugs fire in pairs even though one is on its compression stroke and one is on its exhaust stroke. The extra spark on the exhaust stroke has no effect and...
', pistons, Klinger head gasket, LSD and the steering was changed to Rover's Positive Centre Feel (PCF) system. UK cars which featured these revisions were all badged as "600" only, in line with most other models in the Rover range which no longer had badging by engine sizes.
The final revisions came in 1997, just over a year later, and all cars got slightly lowered suspension (~10 mm) and body-coloured sills, rubbing strips, door handles and door mirror covers.
End of the line...
Along with the larger 800
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....
it was replaced by 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...
in 1999.