Rover M-Series engine
Encyclopedia
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
.
The M-Series was produced only in one cubic capacity - 1994 cc (2.0 L), and was a 16 valve development of the older British Leyland O-Series unit first seen in 1978. For the Rover 800, there were two different versions, with single point fuel injection
(for the Rover 820e) or multi-point injection (for the 820i). The M-Series uses the same cylinder block
as the O-Series unit as found in the Maestro
and Montego
, which mates with the Honda
PG-1 manual gearbox.
In 1990, the M-series was also installed in the Rover 200-series, before being superseded in 1992 by the similar T-Series
which was a development of the same design.
In the end, 563 examples were built, of which, many ended up in the hands of BAe executives (BAe/Rover company cars being the biggest source of UK Rover 800 registrations at the time). Only a handful survive today.
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
introduced by the Austin Rover Group
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...
in 1986 for the then-new Rover 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 M-Series was produced only in one cubic capacity - 1994 cc (2.0 L), and was a 16 valve development of the older British Leyland O-Series unit first seen in 1978. For the Rover 800, there were two different versions, with single point fuel injection
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....
(for the Rover 820e) or multi-point injection (for the 820i). The M-Series uses the same cylinder block
Cylinder block
A cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
as the O-Series unit as found 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...
, which mates with the 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...
PG-1 manual gearbox.
In 1990, the M-series was also installed in the Rover 200-series, before being superseded in 1992 by the similar T-Series
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...
which was a development of the same design.
Turbocharged version
Tickford also tuned the M-Series engine which was installed in 536 models of the Rover 820 in 1991. This was nicknamed the Tickford Turbo. It needed to have its power capped: it is believed that marketing had a say in the final power output of the M16 Turbo:The request from marketing was to not hinder V6 sales therefore the performance should be similar to the 2.7-litre Honda V6 (177PS) hence the performance was limited to 180 PS deliberately.
In the end, 563 examples were built, of which, many ended up in the hands of BAe executives (BAe/Rover company cars being the biggest source of UK Rover 800 registrations at the time). Only a handful survive today.