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Rover 200 / 25

The Rover 200 Series, and later the Rover 25, are a series of small family cars that were produced by British manufacturer Rover from 1984 until 2005.

Rover 200 Series
Rover 25
Rover 25
Overview
ManufacturerRover
Production1984 – 2005 (2008 – 2011)
1984 – 1989 (Rover 200 MkI)
1989 – 1995 (Rover 200 MkII)
1995 – 1999 (Rover 200 MkIII)
1999 – 2004 (Rover 25 MkI)
2004 – 2005 (Rover 25 MkII)
2003 – 2005 (Rover Streetwise)
2008 – 2011 (MG 3 SW) (China)
AssemblyUnited Kingdom: Longbridge, Birmingham
Body and chassis
ClassSmall family car (C)
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
PredecessorTriumph Acclaim
Austin Maestro (for MkII)
Austin Metro (for MkIII)
SuccessorRover 400 HH-R (for MkII)
MG 5 (for Rover 25)
MG 3 (for MG)

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. Just before BMW's sale of Rover in 2000, and following a facelift, the model was renamed and sold as the Rover 25, and the MG ZR was based on the Rover 25 with mechanical changes to the suspension. 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.

Rover 200 (SD3; 1984–1989) edit

Rover 200 (SD3)
 
Rover 213 SE
Overview
Production1984–1989
Body and chassis
Body style4-door saloon
RelatedHonda Ballade
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission2-speed Honda automatic
4-speed ZF automatic
5-speed Honda manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Length4,156 mm (163.6 in)
Width1,623 mm (63.9 in)
Height1,378 mm (54.3 in)
 
Rover 213 SE, rear
 
Rover 213 side profile

The original Rover 200 (sometimes referred to by the codename SD3) was the replacement for the earlier Triumph Acclaim, and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland (BL) and Honda.[1] 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. It was launched on 19 June 1984, at which time there was still a high demand for small family saloons, with many manufacturers selling this type of car under a different nameplate to similar-sized hatchbacks. For example, Ford was selling the saloon version of the Escort as the Orion, the saloon version of the Volkswagen Golf was called the Jetta, and Vauxhall would soon launch an Astra-based saloon called the Belmont. The Rover 200 Series, however, was not based on a hatchback.

Earlier in 1984, Austin Rover had confirmed that the successor to the Acclaim would be badged as a Rover rather than a Triumph – a decision which signalled the end for the Triumph brand. The move was seen as controversial as the Rover brand had long been associated with large executive saloons as well as the Land Rover and Range Rover, and there were fears that its application to a small Japanese-derived compact would devalue the Rover name.[citation needed]

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 (52 kW; 70 bhp) 1.3-litre 12-valve engine, or British Leyland's own S-series engine in 1.6-litre format (both in 86 PS (63 kW; 85 bhp) carburettor and 103 PS (76 kW; 102 bhp) 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. 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 alongside the Rover equivalent, with the Ballade models then going to Honda's new Swindon plant for quality-control checks.

Although production ceased in late 1989, stocks of the car continued to be available until early 1990, when it was replaced by the Rover 400.

This model of car (SD3 saloon version; 216S in the first series, then replaced by a 216SE EFi model) is well known as Richard and Hyacinth Bucket's car in the BBC Television sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995).[2][3]

Rover 200 (R8; 1989–1995) edit

Rover 200 (R8)
 
Rover 200 Series Mk2
Overview
Production1989–1995
DesignerRoy Axe
Body and chassis
Body style3/5-door hatchback
2-door coupé
2-door cabriolet
5-door estate
RelatedHonda Concerto
Rover 200 Coupé
Rover 400 (R8)
Powertrain
Engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,550 mm (100.4 in)
Length4,220 mm (166.1 in) (hatchback, cabriolet)
4,370 mm (172.0 in) (estate)
4,270 mm (168.1 in) (coupé)
Width1,680 mm (66.1 in)
Height1,400 mm (55.1 in) (hatchback, estate)
1,390 mm (54.7 in) (cabriolet)
1,370 mm (53.9 in) (coupé)
 
Rover 200 Series Mk2, rear 34 view
 
Pre-facelift Rover 216 GSi (United Kingdom)
 
Pre-facelift Rover 216 GSi (The Netherlands)
 
Rover 200 Coupé

The R8 Rover 200, sometimes referred to as the Mk 2 Rover 200, was launched on 11 October 1989. Unlike the Mk 1, Ballade-based, 200, this model was a five-door hatchback designed to replace the Maestro while the saloon variant, called the 400 Series, was effectively the replacement for the previous Rover 200 Series when it was launched in April 1990. The 400 had a different name in an effort to position it slightly upmarket from the hatchback version, analogous to the Ford Orion, the saloon version of the Ford Escort. Once again, the model was designed in collaboration with Honda (who produced the new designed-for-Europe Concerto model) and both models would share production lines at Rover's Longbridge facility. The 200 and Concerto itself were based on the 4th generation Civic (EC), of which the 3-door hatchback, coupé CRX and saloon versions were sold in the United Kingdom.

The R8 200 was the first car to be introduced by the newly privatised Rover Group.

The Maestro continued alongside the Rover 200 hatchback as a budget option until production finished in December 1994.

The 200 also spawned three-door hatchback, coupé and convertible versions, while the 400 eventually spawned an estate version, referred to as the Tourer. These latter variants were solely Rover designed and produced products, with no Honda Concerto versions available. Initial plans to sell the coupe version under the MG marque were abandoned, although the 5-door hatchback was the most popular and common version.

The 200 also saw the introduction of Rover's brand-new 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 Rover T-series engine, with limited-run turbocharged Rover 220s in GTi and GSi-Turbo trims, boasting a power output of 200 PS (147 kW; 197 bhp) as standard. The Rover-engined models drove the front wheels via jointly developed Peugeot/Rover R65 gearboxes (1.4-litre) and Rover PG-1 gearboxes for the 1.6- and 2.0-litre versions. From December 1990, the carburettor-engine 214S (with a 1.4 engine from the Metro) was added to the range, but discontinued within two years due to EEC emissions requirements. Its gap was filled by the 214i, which featured the 1.4 K-series unit from the 214Si and 214SLi.

Also available were two PSA (non-electronically controlled Lucas CAV injection pumps) Indirect injection diesel engines, with the choice of naturally aspirated 1.9-litre XUD9 or turbocharged 1.8 XUD7T engines. They were class leaders for refinement in Peugeot and Citroën 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.

In France, Italy, and Portugal, where demand for diesel cars was high, Honda offered a rebadged 200 Turbodiesel called the Concerto TD. Despite the Concerto name, this model retained the 200's exterior lighting, suspension, and trim.[4]

On its launch, the R8 200 was one of the few new designs in the small family car class. For instance, Ford's Escort had been around since 1980, (with a facelift in early 1986) and Vauxhall's Astra was unchanged from its 1984 launch. Indeed, the only major European competitors that had been around for less than five years were the Peugeot 309, Renault 19 and Fiat Tipo. However, the Escort, Astra and Golf had all been replaced by the start of 1992.

On average, up to 110,000 Rover 200 and 400 (R8) models were sold each year, more than half being sold in Britain. The 214 won What Car?'s 1990 "Car of the Year", but was not considered for the 1990 European Car of the Year award as it was not yet available on the required number of European markets for it to be shortlisted.[5]

The 4-seat Cabriolet (codenamed Tracer) and the Coupé (codenamed Tomcat) were developed concurrently and were based on the 3-door understructure. Rover worked closely with Pininfarina to develop the hood mechanism of the Cabriolet, with the car being announced in spring 1992.

In the autumn of 1992, the 200 received a mild facelift, featuring redesigned front indicator lights, but unlike its 400 sibling, which was also facelifted at the same time, the car did not feature a new grille (which Rover reintroduced on the 1992 R17 facelift of the Rover 800) or new body coloured bumpers. This led to some owners retro-fitting the 400's new grille on to the 200. In 1993 Rover finally added the new grille and body coloured bumpers to the 200 range.

The Coupé was also launched in autumn 1992 and featured an entry-level 1.6 SOHC, and a normally aspirated or turbocharged 2.0-litre T-series. In several markets, where engine taxation was based on displacement, the 1.6 SOHC and the normally aspirated 2.0 were replaced with a single, 1.6 DOHC–engined version. The 1.6 was also available with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The 220 Turbo was the fastest Rover to be produced at the time, with a top speed of more than 150mph. Rover had originally considered marketing the coupe version of the car as an MG, but eventually decided to include it as part of the Rover 200 range. The addition of more powerful versions of the Rover 200 Series, including the GTi models, saw the demise of the high performance MG Maestro 2.0 EFi and Turbo models in 1991.

As publicity for the Coupé's launch, a group of volunteer Rover employees prepared two special Land Speed Record cars and after an aborted run in August, broke 37 UK Land Speed Records on 26/27th September 1992 at the Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire. These included a flying 5 km average speed of 156 mph (251 km/h) and a 24-hour average speed of 138 mph (222 km/h). 36 of these records remain unbroken. The record breaking was referred to as "The Tomcat Affair", in reference to the project's development codename.[6]

Rover 200 (R3; 1995–1999) edit

Rover 200 (R3)
 
Overview
Production1995–1999
Body and chassis
Body style3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
RelatedRover 400 (HH-R)
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,500 mm (98.4 in)
Length3,970 mm (156.3 in)
Width1,690 mm (66.5 in)
Height1,420 mm (55.9 in)
 
Rover 214 5-door
 
Rover 214 Si 3-door

The Rover 200, codenamed R3, was smaller than the Honda-based R8 cars. This was due to Rover's need to replace the ageing Metro, 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). Honda were contracted by Rover to provide tooling and feasibility experts working alongside their Rover colleagues both in Japan and in the Design Studio at Canley. This was also at a time when Honda were moving production of the Honda Concerto replacement 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 but was not sufficiently profitable.

After a delay, to consider several options to maintain production volumes at Longbridge, the SK3 project was revised by the Rover Engineering Team. The major change being a Maestro/Montego derived H-frame rear suspension package that allowed fitment of a fuel tank, a full-size spare wheel and an exhaust silencer whilst retaining a good-sized boot, as opposed to only 3-out-of-4 that the carry-over R8 rear suspension allowed in the SK3 package. This also saved over £100 per car allowing the project to be approved for production. The new programme was renamed R3, to align with other programmes.

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. During the mid-1990s the L-series was a very competitive engine, regarded as second only to the Volkswagen TDI in overall performance, and an improvement over the R8's XUD - particularly in fuel economy, while almost matching it for refinement.

Launched with 1.4i 16v (105 PS (77 kW; 104 bhp)) and 1.6i 16v (111 PS (82 kW; 109 bhp)) petrol engines and 2.0 turbodiesel (86 PS (63 kW; 85 bhp) and intercooled 105 PS (77 kW; 104 bhp) versions) engines, the range grew later to include a 1.1i (60 PS (44 kW; 59 bhp)) and 1.4i 8v (75 PS (55 kW; 74 bhp)) engines and also 1.8 16v units in standard (120 PS (88 kW; 118 bhp)) and variable valve formats (145 PS (107 kW; 143 bhp)). 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 redesigned interior and dashboard to accommodate the fitment of a passenger airbag in line with new safety standards. Changes to the front structure, with the addition of a transverse strut at the back of the engine bay, improved the crash performance of the car,

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 Fiat Bravo/Brava and Renault Mégane.

Rover 200 BRM edit

 
1999 Rover 200 BRM

The Rover 200 BRM was first shown at the 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 145 PS (107 kW) 1.8-litre VVC K-Series.

Inside, there were 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, 16-inch alloy wheels, and an exclusive woven mesh grille sat above a large orange snout in the front bumper, which was the BRM trademark nose on all of its 1960s Formula One racing cars.

 
1999 Rover 200 BRM (rear)
 
1999 Rover 200 BRM interior

Technical adjustments consisted of 20 mm (0.8 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 were only 795 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 edit

The NCWR organisation (New Car Whiplash Ratings) tested the Rover 200 and awarded it the following scores:[7]

NCWR Score
Geometric: G
Dynamic: A
Overall: A

G = Good A = Acceptable M = Marginal P = Poor

Reviews edit

The Rover 200 received moderate to good reviews from the motoring press.

  • Parker's Car Guides      [8]
    'Pros: Cheap to buy; good to drive.' | 'Cons: Reliability hasn't been good.'
  • RAC      [9]
    '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.'

Rover 25 (1999–2005) edit

Rover 25
 
Overview
Production1999–2005
Body and chassis
Body style3/5-door hatchback
"Commerce" (panel van)
RelatedRover 45
Rover Streetwise
MG ZR
MG 3 SW
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission5-speed manual
6-speed automatic
CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,500 mm (98.4 in)
Length3,990 mm (157.1 in)
Width1,690 mm (66.5 in)
Height1,420 mm (55.9 in)
 
Rover 25 3-door
 
Rover 25 5-door
 
Rover Commerce (van)
 
 
2004 Facelift

A facelifted version of the Rover 200, renamed the Rover 25 (internal codename Jewel) was launched in 2000. It was repositioned and priced to compete with the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, rather than larger cars like the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. 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 engines 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 1.8-litre engined cars and all diesels used Rover's PG1 5-speed manual gearbox throughout the car's life.

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. This development saw power boosted from 60 to 75 PS (44 to 55 kW; 59 to 74 bhp).

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 (118 kW; 158 bhp) unit, which had a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). It was frequently the UK's best-selling "hot hatch". At this time the Rover 25 GTi was discontinued.

Initially available in i, iE, iS, iL and GTi trim levels, a range topping iXL model was introduced in 2002 adding full leather upholstery, passenger airbag and 15-inch 'Coronet' alloy wheels to the iL specification. Initially available with the 1.6-litre K series engine, a 1.4-litre version of the iXL followed.

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.[10]

In 2004, MG Rover gave the cars an exterior restyle to make them look more modern. The majority of changes however were focused on the interior, which featured a completely new layout and fascia design. Trim levels were revised to i, Si, SEi and SXi, with high-spec leather-trimmed GLi, GSi and GXi models introduced for the 2005 model year.

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 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 3SW, was relaunched in China.[11]

The Rover 25 was Britain's best selling new car in 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. However, sales quickly settled back down to normal levels, and although the asking price was now in line with other superminis, the 25 was never able to seriously compete with the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa in terms of popularity. It was outsold by the Peugeot 206, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Renault Clio.

Safety edit

The 25 underwent the Euro NCAP car safety tests in 2001 and achieved the following ratings:[12]

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:[13]

NCWR Score
Geometric: M
Dynamic: n/a
Overall: P

G = Good A = Acceptable M = Marginal P = Poor

Security edit

The Rover 25 was tested by Thatcham's New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) organisation and achieved the following ratings:[14]

< 06/2003 Rating
Theft of car:      
Theft from car:      
> 07/2003 Rating
Theft of car:      
Theft from car:      

Reviews edit

The Rover 25 received mixed to good reviews from the motoring press.

  • The AA      [15]
    '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 Guides      [16]
    'Pros: Sporty driving experience, good quality.'
    'Cons: Cramped interior.'
  • RAC           [17]
    '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      [18]
    '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.'

Powertrains edit

These were the engines available for the Rover 200 (1995–1999) and Rover 25 (1999–2005). 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 0–62 mph
0–100 km/h
Fuel economy[clarification needed] Emissions
(CO2)
Petrol[19]
1998–2001 1.1 8v Manual 1.1 L, 4 in-L 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) 90 N⋅m (66 lb⋅ft) 155 km/h (96 mph) 14.5 secs 42.0 mpg‑imp (6.73 L/100 km; 35.0 mpg‑US) 165 g/km
2001–2005 1.1 16v Manual 1.1 L, 4 in-L 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) 95 N⋅m (70 lb⋅ft) 161 km/h (100 mph) 13.5 secs 41.3 mpg‑imp (6.84 L/100 km; 34.4 mpg‑US) 160 g/km
1995–1999 1.4 8v Manual 1.4 L, 4 in-L 74 PS (54 kW; 73 hp) 117 N⋅m (86 lb⋅ft) 166 km/h (103 mph) 12.5 secs 41.0 mpg‑imp (6.89 L/100 km; 34.1 mpg‑US) 170 g/km
1999–2005 1.4 16v 84 Manual 1.4 L, 4 in-L 84 PS (62 kW; 83 hp) 110 N⋅m (81 lb⋅ft) 169 km/h (105 mph) 11.8 secs 41.3 mpg‑imp (6.84 L/100 km; 34.4 mpg‑US) 164 g/km
1996–1999 1.4 16v 103 Manual 1.4 L, 4 in-L 103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp) 127 N⋅m (94 lb⋅ft) 185 km/h (115 mph) 10.0 secs 39.0 mpg‑imp (7.24 L/100 km; 32.5 mpg‑US) 173 g/km
1999–2005 1.4 16v 103 Manual 1.4 L, 4 in-L 103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp) 123 N⋅m (91 lb⋅ft) 180 km/h (112 mph) 10.2 secs 41.3 mpg‑imp (6.84 L/100 km; 34.4 mpg‑US) 164 g/km
1995–1999 1.6 16v Manual 1.6 L, 4 in-L 111 PS (82 kW; 109 hp) 145 N⋅m (107 lb⋅ft) 190 km/h (118 mph) 9.3 secs 39.0 mpg‑imp (7.24 L/100 km; 32.5 mpg‑US) 176 g/km
1999–2005 1.6 16v Manual 1.6 L, 4 in-L 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) 138 N⋅m (102 lb⋅ft) 185 km/h (115 mph) 9.5 secs 41.3 mpg‑imp (6.84 L/100 km; 34.4 mpg‑US) 164 g/km
2001–2005 1.6 16v Steptronic 1.6 L, 4 in-L 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) 138 N⋅m (102 lb⋅ft) 177 km/h (110 mph) 10.3 secs 36.6 mpg‑imp (7.7 L/100 km; 30.5 mpg‑US) 184 g/km
1997–1999 1.8 16v Manual 1.8 L, 4 in-L 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) 165 N⋅m (122 lb⋅ft) 195 km/h (121 mph) 8.6 secs 38.3 mpg‑imp (7.38 L/100 km; 31.9 mpg‑US) 179 g/km
1999–2002 1.8 16v Steptronic 1.8 L, 4 in-L 117 PS (86 kW; 115 hp) 160 N⋅m (118 lb⋅ft) 185 km/h (115 mph) 9.5 secs 34.7 mpg‑imp (8.1 L/100 km; 28.9 mpg‑US) 194 g/km
1997–2002 1.8 16v VVC Manual 1.8 L, 4 in-L 145 PS (107 kW; 143 hp) 174 N⋅m (128 lb⋅ft) 204 km/h (127 mph) 7.5 secs 37.8 mpg‑imp (7.47 L/100 km; 31.5 mpg‑US) 178 g/km
Diesel[19]
1995–1999 2.0 TD 86 Manual 2.0 L, 4 in-L 86 PS (63 kW; 85 hp) 170 N⋅m (125 lb⋅ft) 169 km/h (105 mph) 12.0 secs 49.5 mpg‑imp (5.71 L/100 km; 41.2 mpg‑US) 166 g/km
1995–1999 2.0 TD 105 Manual 2.0 L, 4 in-L 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) 210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft) 185 km/h (115 mph) 9.7 secs 50.1 mpg‑imp (5.64 L/100 km; 41.7 mpg‑US) 166 g/km
1999–2005 2.0 TD 101 Manual 2.0 L, 4 in-L 101 PS (74 kW; 100 hp) 240 N⋅m (177 lb⋅ft) 182 km/h (113 mph) 9.9 secs 55.4 mpg‑imp (5.10 L/100 km; 46.1 mpg‑US) 150 g/km
2002–2004 2.0 TD 113 Manual 2.0 L, 4 in-L 113 PS (83 kW; 111 hp) 240 N⋅m (177 lb⋅ft) 185 km/h (115 mph) 9.1 secs 51.5 mpg‑imp (5.49 L/100 km; 42.9 mpg‑US) 150 g/km

References edit

  1. ^ Alan Pilkington (1996). Transforming Rover, Renewal against the Odds, 1981–94. Bristol Academic Press, Bristol, pp.199, ISBN 0-9513762-3-3
  2. ^ Braithwaite-Smith, Gavin (23 September 2011). "Rover 216: Pass the bucket or bouquet?". PetrolBlog. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances, TV Series, 1990–1995". imdcb.com. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  4. ^ Adams, Keith (15 July 2011). "Gallery : Honda Concerto TD". AROnline. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ "What Car? Awards: the winners - Previous Car of the Year winners". What Car?. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  6. ^ Braithwaite-Smith, Gavin (7 October 2022). . Hagerty UK. The Hagerty Group, LLC. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ . Thatcham.org. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Rover 200 Car Review – Parker's". Parkers.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  9. ^ . RAC. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  10. ^ . Austin-rover.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  11. ^ . www.chinacartimes.com. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  12. ^ "Rover 25; Euro NCAP – For safer cars crash test safety rating". Euro NCAP. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  13. ^ . Thatcham.org. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  14. ^ . Thatcham.org. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Car Reviews: Rover 25 1.4 84 E" (PDF). The AA. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  16. ^ "Rover 25 Car Review – Parker's". Parkers.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  17. ^ . RAC. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  18. ^ . Whatcar.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  19. ^ a b "Models – Rover 25". 3.mg-rover.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2005. Retrieved 12 August 2010.

External links edit

  • Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club
  • Rover 200/25 development story

  Media related to Rover 200 and Rover 25 at Wikimedia Commons

rover, rover, series, later, rover, series, small, family, cars, that, were, produced, british, manufacturer, rover, from, 1984, until, 2005, rover, seriesrover, 25rover, 25overviewmanufacturerroverproduction1984, 2005, 2008, 2011, 1984, 1989, rover, 1989, 199. The Rover 200 Series and later the Rover 25 are a series of small family cars that were produced by British manufacturer Rover from 1984 until 2005 Rover 200 SeriesRover 25Rover 25OverviewManufacturerRoverProduction1984 2005 2008 2011 1984 1989 Rover 200 MkI 1989 1995 Rover 200 MkII 1995 1999 Rover 200 MkIII 1999 2004 Rover 25 MkI 2004 2005 Rover 25 MkII 2003 2005 Rover Streetwise 2008 2011 MG 3 SW China AssemblyUnited Kingdom Longbridge BirminghamBody and chassisClassSmall family car C LayoutFront engine front wheel driveChronologyPredecessorTriumph AcclaimAustin Maestro for MkII Austin Metro for MkIII SuccessorRover 400 HH R for MkII MG 5 for Rover 25 MG 3 for MG 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 coupe 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 Just before BMW s sale of Rover in 2000 and following a facelift the model was renamed and sold as the Rover 25 and the MG ZR was based on the Rover 25 with mechanical changes to the suspension 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 Contents 1 Rover 200 SD3 1984 1989 2 Rover 200 R8 1989 1995 3 Rover 200 R3 1995 1999 3 1 Rover 200 BRM 3 2 Safety 3 3 Reviews 4 Rover 25 1999 2005 4 1 Safety 4 2 Security 4 3 Reviews 5 Powertrains 6 References 7 External linksRover 200 SD3 1984 1989 editRover 200 SD3 nbsp Rover 213 SEOverviewProduction1984 1989Body and chassisBody style4 door saloonRelatedHonda BalladePowertrainEngine1 3 L Honda EV2 I41 6 L S series I4Transmission2 speed Honda automatic4 speed ZF automatic5 speed Honda manualDimensionsWheelbase2 450 mm 96 5 in Length4 156 mm 163 6 in Width1 623 mm 63 9 in Height1 378 mm 54 3 in nbsp Rover 213 SE rear nbsp Rover 213 side profile The original Rover 200 sometimes referred to by the codename SD3 was the replacement for the earlier Triumph Acclaim and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland BL and Honda 1 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 It was launched on 19 June 1984 at which time there was still a high demand for small family saloons with many manufacturers selling this type of car under a different nameplate to similar sized hatchbacks For example Ford was selling the saloon version of the Escort as the Orion the saloon version of the Volkswagen Golf was called the Jetta and Vauxhall would soon launch an Astra based saloon called the Belmont The Rover 200 Series however was not based on a hatchback Earlier in 1984 Austin Rover had confirmed that the successor to the Acclaim would be badged as a Rover rather than a Triumph a decision which signalled the end for the Triumph brand The move was seen as controversial as the Rover brand had long been associated with large executive saloons as well as the Land Rover and Range Rover and there were fears that its application to a small Japanese derived compact would devalue the Rover name citation needed 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 52 kW 70 bhp 1 3 litre 12 valve engine or British Leyland s own S series engine in 1 6 litre format both in 86 PS 63 kW 85 bhp carburettor and 103 PS 76 kW 102 bhp 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 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 alongside the Rover equivalent with the Ballade models then going to Honda s new Swindon plant for quality control checks Although production ceased in late 1989 stocks of the car continued to be available until early 1990 when it was replaced by the Rover 400 This model of car SD3 saloon version 216S in the first series then replaced by a 216SE EFi model is well known as Richard and Hyacinth Bucket s car in the BBC Television sitcom Keeping Up Appearances 1990 1995 2 3 Rover 200 R8 1989 1995 editRover 200 R8 nbsp Rover 200 Series Mk2OverviewProduction1989 1995DesignerRoy AxeBody and chassisBody style3 5 door hatchback2 door coupe2 door cabriolet5 door estateRelatedHonda ConcertoRover 200 CoupeRover 400 R8 PowertrainEnginepetrol 1 4 L K series I41 6 L K series I41 6 L Honda D16A6 I41 6 L Honda D16A8 DOHC I42 0 L M series I42 0 L T series I42 0 L T series turbo I4diesel 1 8 L PSA XUD7TE turbo I41 9 L PSA XUD9A I4DimensionsWheelbase2 550 mm 100 4 in Length4 220 mm 166 1 in hatchback cabriolet 4 370 mm 172 0 in estate 4 270 mm 168 1 in coupe Width1 680 mm 66 1 in Height1 400 mm 55 1 in hatchback estate 1 390 mm 54 7 in cabriolet 1 370 mm 53 9 in coupe nbsp Rover 200 Series Mk2 rear 3 4 view nbsp Pre facelift Rover 216 GSi United Kingdom nbsp Pre facelift Rover 216 GSi The Netherlands nbsp Rover 200 Coupe The R8 Rover 200 sometimes referred to as the Mk 2 Rover 200 was launched on 11 October 1989 Unlike the Mk 1 Ballade based 200 this model was a five door hatchback designed to replace the Maestro while the saloon variant called the 400 Series was effectively the replacement for the previous Rover 200 Series when it was launched in April 1990 The 400 had a different name in an effort to position it slightly upmarket from the hatchback version analogous to the Ford Orion the saloon version of the Ford Escort Once again the model was designed in collaboration with Honda who produced the new designed for Europe Concerto model and both models would share production lines at Rover s Longbridge facility The 200 and Concerto itself were based on the 4th generation Civic EC of which the 3 door hatchback coupe CRX and saloon versions were sold in the United Kingdom The R8 200 was the first car to be introduced by the newly privatised Rover Group The Maestro continued alongside the Rover 200 hatchback as a budget option until production finished in December 1994 The 200 also spawned three door hatchback coupe and convertible versions while the 400 eventually spawned an estate version referred to as the Tourer These latter variants were solely Rover designed and produced products with no Honda Concerto versions available Initial plans to sell the coupe version under the MG marque were abandoned although the 5 door hatchback was the most popular and common version The 200 also saw the introduction of Rover s brand new 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 Rover T series engine with limited run turbocharged Rover 220s in GTi and GSi Turbo trims boasting a power output of 200 PS 147 kW 197 bhp as standard The Rover engined models drove the front wheels via jointly developed Peugeot Rover R65 gearboxes 1 4 litre and Rover PG 1 gearboxes for the 1 6 and 2 0 litre versions From December 1990 the carburettor engine 214S with a 1 4 engine from the Metro was added to the range but discontinued within two years due to EEC emissions requirements Its gap was filled by the 214i which featured the 1 4 K series unit from the 214Si and 214SLi Also available were two PSA non electronically controlled Lucas CAV injection pumps Indirect injection diesel engines with the choice of naturally aspirated 1 9 litre XUD9 or turbocharged 1 8 XUD7T engines They were class leaders for 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 In France Italy and Portugal where demand for diesel cars was high Honda offered a rebadged 200 Turbodiesel called the Concerto TD Despite the Concerto name this model retained the 200 s exterior lighting suspension and trim 4 On its launch the R8 200 was one of the few new designs in the small family car class For instance Ford s Escort had been around since 1980 with a facelift in early 1986 and Vauxhall s Astra was unchanged from its 1984 launch Indeed the only major European competitors that had been around for less than five years were the Peugeot 309 Renault 19 and Fiat Tipo However the Escort Astra and Golf had all been replaced by the start of 1992 On average up to 110 000 Rover 200 and 400 R8 models were sold each year more than half being sold in Britain The 214 won What Car s 1990 Car of the Year but was not considered for the 1990 European Car of the Year award as it was not yet available on the required number of European markets for it to be shortlisted 5 The 4 seat Cabriolet codenamed Tracer and the Coupe codenamed Tomcat were developed concurrently and were based on the 3 door understructure Rover worked closely with Pininfarina to develop the hood mechanism of the Cabriolet with the car being announced in spring 1992 In the autumn of 1992 the 200 received a mild facelift featuring redesigned front indicator lights but unlike its 400 sibling which was also facelifted at the same time the car did not feature a new grille which Rover reintroduced on the 1992 R17 facelift of the Rover 800 or new body coloured bumpers This led to some owners retro fitting the 400 s new grille on to the 200 In 1993 Rover finally added the new grille and body coloured bumpers to the 200 range The Coupe was also launched in autumn 1992 and featured an entry level 1 6 SOHC and a normally aspirated or turbocharged 2 0 litre T series In several markets where engine taxation was based on displacement the 1 6 SOHC and the normally aspirated 2 0 were replaced with a single 1 6 DOHC engined version The 1 6 was also available with a 4 speed automatic gearbox The 220 Turbo was the fastest Rover to be produced at the time with a top speed of more than 150mph Rover had originally considered marketing the coupe version of the car as an MG but eventually decided to include it as part of the Rover 200 range The addition of more powerful versions of the Rover 200 Series including the GTi models saw the demise of the high performance MG Maestro 2 0 EFi and Turbo models in 1991 As publicity for the Coupe s launch a group of volunteer Rover employees prepared two special Land Speed Record cars and after an aborted run in August broke 37 UK Land Speed Records on 26 27th September 1992 at the Millbrook Proving Ground Bedfordshire These included a flying 5 km average speed of 156 mph 251 km h and a 24 hour average speed of 138 mph 222 km h 36 of these records remain unbroken The record breaking was referred to as The Tomcat Affair in reference to the project s development codename 6 Rover 200 R3 1995 1999 editRover 200 R3 nbsp OverviewProduction1995 1999Body and chassisBody style3 door hatchback5 door hatchbackRelatedRover 400 HH R PowertrainEnginepetrol 1 1 L K series I41 4 L K series I41 6 L K series I41 8 L K series I41 8 L K series VVC I4diesel 2 0 L L series turbo I4Transmission4 speed automatic5 speed manualCVTDimensionsWheelbase2 500 mm 98 4 in Length3 970 mm 156 3 in Width1 690 mm 66 5 in Height1 420 mm 55 9 in nbsp Rover 214 5 door nbsp Rover 214 Si 3 door The Rover 200 codenamed R3 was smaller than the Honda based R8 cars This was due to Rover s need to replace the ageing Metro 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 Honda were contracted by Rover to provide tooling and feasibility experts working alongside their Rover colleagues both in Japan and in the Design Studio at Canley This was also at a time when Honda were moving production of the Honda Concerto replacement 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 but was not sufficiently profitable After a delay to consider several options to maintain production volumes at Longbridge the SK3 project was revised by the Rover Engineering Team The major change being a Maestro Montego derived H frame rear suspension package that allowed fitment of a fuel tank a full size spare wheel and an exhaust silencer whilst retaining a good sized boot as opposed to only 3 out of 4 that the carry over R8 rear suspension allowed in the SK3 package This also saved over 100 per car allowing the project to be approved for production The new programme was renamed R3 to align with other programmes 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 During the mid 1990s the L series was a very competitive engine regarded as second only to the Volkswagen TDI in overall performance and an improvement over the R8 s XUD particularly in fuel economy while almost matching it for refinement Launched with 1 4i 16v 105 PS 77 kW 104 bhp and 1 6i 16v 111 PS 82 kW 109 bhp petrol engines and 2 0 turbodiesel 86 PS 63 kW 85 bhp and intercooled 105 PS 77 kW 104 bhp versions engines the range grew later to include a 1 1i 60 PS 44 kW 59 bhp and 1 4i 8v 75 PS 55 kW 74 bhp engines and also 1 8 16v units in standard 120 PS 88 kW 118 bhp and variable valve formats 145 PS 107 kW 143 bhp 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 redesigned interior and dashboard to accommodate the fitment of a passenger airbag in line with new safety standards Changes to the front structure with the addition of a transverse strut at the back of the engine bay improved the crash performance of the car 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 Fiat Bravo Brava and Renault Megane Rover 200 BRM edit nbsp 1999 Rover 200 BRM The Rover 200 BRM was first shown at the 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 145 PS 107 kW 1 8 litre VVC K Series Inside there were 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 16 inch alloy wheels and an exclusive woven mesh grille sat above a large orange snout in the front bumper which was the BRM trademark nose on all of its 1960s Formula One racing cars nbsp 1999 Rover 200 BRM rear nbsp 1999 Rover 200 BRM interior Technical adjustments consisted of 20 mm 0 8 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 were only 795 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 edit The NCWR organisation New Car Whiplash Ratings tested the Rover 200 and awarded it the following scores 7 NCWR Score Geometric G Dynamic A Overall A G Good A Acceptable M Marginal P Poor Reviews edit The Rover 200 received moderate to good reviews from the motoring press Parker s Car Guides nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 8 Pros Cheap to buy good to drive Cons Reliability hasn t been good RAC nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 9 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 Rover 25 1999 2005 editRover 25 nbsp OverviewProduction1999 2005Body and chassisBody style3 5 door hatchback Commerce panel van RelatedRover 45Rover StreetwiseMG ZRMG 3 SWPowertrainEnginepetrol 1 1 L K series I41 4 L K series I41 6 L K series I41 8 L K series I41 8 L K series VVC I4diesel 2 0 L L series turbo I4Transmission5 speed manual6 speed automaticCVTDimensionsWheelbase2 500 mm 98 4 in Length3 990 mm 157 1 in Width1 690 mm 66 5 in Height1 420 mm 55 9 in nbsp Rover 25 3 door nbsp Rover 25 5 door nbsp Rover Commerce van nbsp nbsp 2004 Facelift A facelifted version of the Rover 200 renamed the Rover 25 internal codename Jewel was launched in 2000 It was repositioned and priced to compete with the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa rather than larger cars like the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra 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 engines 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 1 8 litre engined cars and all diesels used Rover s PG1 5 speed manual gearbox throughout the car s life 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 This development saw power boosted from 60 to 75 PS 44 to 55 kW 59 to 74 bhp 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 118 kW 158 bhp unit which had a top speed of 210 km h 130 mph It was frequently the UK s best selling hot hatch At this time the Rover 25 GTi was discontinued Initially available in i iE iS iL and GTi trim levels a range topping iXL model was introduced in 2002 adding full leather upholstery passenger airbag and 15 inch Coronet alloy wheels to the iL specification Initially available with the 1 6 litre K series engine a 1 4 litre version of the iXL followed 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 10 In 2004 MG Rover gave the cars an exterior restyle to make them look more modern The majority of changes however were focused on the interior which featured a completely new layout and fascia design Trim levels were revised to i Si SEi and SXi with high spec leather trimmed GLi GSi and GXi models introduced for the 2005 model year 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 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 3SW was relaunched in China 11 The Rover 25 was Britain s best selling new car in 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 However sales quickly settled back down to normal levels and although the asking price was now in line with other superminis the 25 was never able to seriously compete with the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa in terms of popularity It was outsold by the Peugeot 206 Fiat Punto Volkswagen Polo Seat Ibiza Skoda Fabia and Renault Clio Safety edit The 25 underwent the Euro NCAP car safety tests in 2001 and achieved the following ratings 12 Euro NCAP Rating Adult occupant nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Child occupant n a Pedestrian nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp The NCWR organisation New Car Whiplash Ratings tested the facelifted Rover 25 and awarded it the following scores 13 NCWR Score Geometric M Dynamic n a Overall P G Good A Acceptable M Marginal P Poor Security edit The Rover 25 was tested by Thatcham s New Vehicle Security Ratings NVSR organisation and achieved the following ratings 14 lt 06 2003 Rating Theft of car nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Theft from car nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp gt 07 2003 Rating Theft of car nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Theft from car nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Reviews edit The Rover 25 received mixed to good reviews from the motoring press The AA nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 15 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 Guides nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 16 Pros Sporty driving experience good quality Cons Cramped interior RAC nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 17 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 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 18 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 Powertrains editThese were the engines available for the Rover 200 1995 1999 and Rover 25 1999 2005 Each engine was modified at regular intervals throughout its life with economy and emissions improving with the changes Years Model amp Transmission Engine Power Torque Top Speed 0 62 mph0 100 km h Fuel economy clarification needed Emissions CO2 Petrol 19 1998 2001 1 1 8v Manual 1 1 L 4 in L 60 PS 44 kW 59 hp 90 N m 66 lb ft 155 km h 96 mph 14 5 secs 42 0 mpg imp 6 73 L 100 km 35 0 mpg US 165 g km 2001 2005 1 1 16v Manual 1 1 L 4 in L 75 PS 55 kW 74 hp 95 N m 70 lb ft 161 km h 100 mph 13 5 secs 41 3 mpg imp 6 84 L 100 km 34 4 mpg US 160 g km 1995 1999 1 4 8v Manual 1 4 L 4 in L 74 PS 54 kW 73 hp 117 N m 86 lb ft 166 km h 103 mph 12 5 secs 41 0 mpg imp 6 89 L 100 km 34 1 mpg US 170 g km 1999 2005 1 4 16v 84 Manual 1 4 L 4 in L 84 PS 62 kW 83 hp 110 N m 81 lb ft 169 km h 105 mph 11 8 secs 41 3 mpg imp 6 84 L 100 km 34 4 mpg US 164 g km 1996 1999 1 4 16v 103 Manual 1 4 L 4 in L 103 PS 76 kW 102 hp 127 N m 94 lb ft 185 km h 115 mph 10 0 secs 39 0 mpg imp 7 24 L 100 km 32 5 mpg US 173 g km 1999 2005 1 4 16v 103 Manual 1 4 L 4 in L 103 PS 76 kW 102 hp 123 N m 91 lb ft 180 km h 112 mph 10 2 secs 41 3 mpg imp 6 84 L 100 km 34 4 mpg US 164 g km 1995 1999 1 6 16v Manual 1 6 L 4 in L 111 PS 82 kW 109 hp 145 N m 107 lb ft 190 km h 118 mph 9 3 secs 39 0 mpg imp 7 24 L 100 km 32 5 mpg US 176 g km 1999 2005 1 6 16v Manual 1 6 L 4 in L 110 PS 81 kW 108 hp 138 N m 102 lb ft 185 km h 115 mph 9 5 secs 41 3 mpg imp 6 84 L 100 km 34 4 mpg US 164 g km 2001 2005 1 6 16v Steptronic 1 6 L 4 in L 110 PS 81 kW 108 hp 138 N m 102 lb ft 177 km h 110 mph 10 3 secs 36 6 mpg imp 7 7 L 100 km 30 5 mpg US 184 g km 1997 1999 1 8 16v Manual 1 8 L 4 in L 120 PS 88 kW 118 hp 165 N m 122 lb ft 195 km h 121 mph 8 6 secs 38 3 mpg imp 7 38 L 100 km 31 9 mpg US 179 g km 1999 2002 1 8 16v Steptronic 1 8 L 4 in L 117 PS 86 kW 115 hp 160 N m 118 lb ft 185 km h 115 mph 9 5 secs 34 7 mpg imp 8 1 L 100 km 28 9 mpg US 194 g km 1997 2002 1 8 16v VVC Manual 1 8 L 4 in L 145 PS 107 kW 143 hp 174 N m 128 lb ft 204 km h 127 mph 7 5 secs 37 8 mpg imp 7 47 L 100 km 31 5 mpg US 178 g km Diesel 19 1995 1999 2 0 TD 86 Manual 2 0 L 4 in L 86 PS 63 kW 85 hp 170 N m 125 lb ft 169 km h 105 mph 12 0 secs 49 5 mpg imp 5 71 L 100 km 41 2 mpg US 166 g km 1995 1999 2 0 TD 105 Manual 2 0 L 4 in L 105 PS 77 kW 104 hp 210 N m 155 lb ft 185 km h 115 mph 9 7 secs 50 1 mpg imp 5 64 L 100 km 41 7 mpg US 166 g km 1999 2005 2 0 TD 101 Manual 2 0 L 4 in L 101 PS 74 kW 100 hp 240 N m 177 lb ft 182 km h 113 mph 9 9 secs 55 4 mpg imp 5 10 L 100 km 46 1 mpg US 150 g km 2002 2004 2 0 TD 113 Manual 2 0 L 4 in L 113 PS 83 kW 111 hp 240 N m 177 lb ft 185 km h 115 mph 9 1 secs 51 5 mpg imp 5 49 L 100 km 42 9 mpg US 150 g kmReferences edit Alan Pilkington 1996 Transforming Rover Renewal against the Odds 1981 94 Bristol Academic Press Bristol pp 199 ISBN 0 9513762 3 3 Braithwaite Smith Gavin 23 September 2011 Rover 216 Pass the bucket or bouquet PetrolBlog Retrieved 8 September 2021 Keeping Up Appearances TV Series 1990 1995 imdcb com Retrieved 25 September 2011 Adams Keith 15 July 2011 Gallery Honda Concerto TD AROnline Retrieved 19 November 2020 What Car Awards the winners Previous Car of the Year winners What Car Archived from the original on 9 February 2013 Retrieved 1 April 2012 Braithwaite Smith Gavin 7 October 2022 Peaking Tomcat 30 years of the record breaking Rover 200 Coupe Hagerty UK The Hagerty Group LLC Archived from the original on 1 December 2023 Safety New Car Whiplash Ratings Car Search Thatcham MIRRC Thatcham org Archived from the original on 28 July 2011 Retrieved 15 July 2011 Rover 200 Car Review Parker s Parkers co uk Retrieved 18 August 2010 Rover 200 Review Car Reviews RAC Archived from the original on 23 July 2011 Retrieved 18 August 2010 Austin Rover Online Austin rover co uk Archived from the original on 3 May 2008 Retrieved 15 July 2011 MG3 SW 80 000rmb to 120 000rmb actually might be worth it www chinacartimes com 21 February 2008 Archived from the original on 21 November 2008 Retrieved 13 March 2009 Rover 25 Euro NCAP For safer cars crash test safety rating Euro NCAP Retrieved 15 August 2010 Safety New Car Whiplash Ratings Car Search Thatcham MIRRC Thatcham org Archived from the original on 28 July 2011 Retrieved 15 July 2011 New Vehicle Security Ratings Car Search Car Results Thatcham MIRRC Thatcham org Archived from the original on 2 August 2011 Retrieved 15 July 2011 Car Reviews Rover 25 1 4 84 E PDF The AA Retrieved 18 August 2010 Rover 25 Car Review Parker s Parkers co uk Retrieved 18 August 2010 Rover 25 Review Car Reviews RAC Archived from the original on 30 October 2010 Retrieved 18 August 2010 Rover 25 Readers Reviews New Car Review What Car Whatcar com Archived from the original on 25 March 2010 Retrieved 18 August 2010 a b Models Rover 25 3 mg rover com Archived from the original on 19 November 2005 Retrieved 12 August 2010 External links editRover 200 amp 400 Owners Club Rover 200 25 development story nbsp Media related to Rover 200 and Rover 25 at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rover 200 25 amp oldid 1222075094 Rover 25 1999 2005, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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