![]() A range of four-cylinder engines were also available. The ZS featured sharper suspension tuning and offered an optional 175-hp, 2.5-liter V6 for fitting performance. The ZR’s recipe of bright colors and a body kit was once again used to dress things up. The MG ZS, a mid-size sedan based on the Rover 45, came along after BMW sold off its interest in Rover. As a sign of the times, one could even get a diesel engine in their MG ZR! Engines, all with four cylinders, ranged from 1.4-liters to 2.0-liters in size. The MG ZR, based on the Rover 25 hatchback, featured body cladding along with a palette of bright exterior colors. The Zs were based on Rover saloons and hatchbacks, cars widely perceived as being somewhat stodgy and geriatric–British Buicks, perhaps. Unfortunately, build quality was uneven, especially with the earlier cars. In 1985, MG introduced a 150-hp turbocharged Montego it was the fastest production MG to date.Īfter the 1994 demise of MG’s Montego came another lengthy absence of MG saloons it finally ended in 2001, when Rover-MG launched its Z-Series. ![]() It featured some pretty high-tech kit for the times, including hidden wipers, voice reminders and controls, and digital gauges. Once again, the MG was pitched as being slightly sportier than its Austin half-brother. The Austin Montego four-door sedan also spawned an MG version. A turbo variant, which MG offered from 1989 until 1991, actually reverted to using a carburetor! Its performance was impressive–0-60 in 6.7 seconds–but only 505 were sold. The Maestro was very much in the Volkswagen Golf mode in fact, the MG version was pitched as being somewhat equivalent to the GTi. Unlike the Metro, with its transmission-under-engine and Hydragas suspension system, the Maestro was a rather conventional front-wheel drive car with an on-end gearbox, a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam suspension in back. Launched in 1983 (with a rather troublesome 1.6-liter engine) the MG received an improved and fuel-injected 2.0-liter engine the following year. In addition to their Austin Metro variant, MG offered a version of the Austin Maestro hatchback. New to the range was a turbo model with a stiffer suspension and 93 hp on tap. The MG versions sported a full complement of MG badges, a sportier steering wheel and lots of red accents to complete the transformation. While they weren’t as well-built as some of the foreign competition, the Austin version in particular sold very well in the UK, riding atop a wave of national pride. The MG version that debuted in 1982 was pitched as sportier, with an uprated 1275cc, 72-hp version of the now-dated 60-hp A-series engine in the Austin. It would be almost another ten years before the next MG for the family man came along in the form of the 1980 Austin Metro, which launched to great success in its home market. The 1100 was discontinued in 19, in 1973. The 1100 / 1300 cars turned out to be very popular, and they remain much loved in the UK. A 1275cc version of the A-series came along later, as the 1300 model.Īn optional four-speed automatic transmission became available but proved to be less than durable unlike the manual gearbox, the automatic wasn’t happy sharing oil with the engine. There were two- and four-door versions available the two-doors proved to be more popular with the buying public. The 1100 brought MG a bit of racing success in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally, with a fourth-in-class finish. Essentially, they’re a big brother to the popular Mini, with front-wheel drive, a transversely mounted A-series engine and Hydrolastic suspension. These really deserve an article all to themselves ( ED: Coming soon, as I’ve found one). A somewhat predictable trend, but who could have guessed the most quintessential British brand would end up in China?įirst up is the MG 1100, which along with its many badge-engineered siblings, is also known as the ADO16. Despite this, bespoke saloon designs were no more, as every car was based heavily on the offerings of the current parent company. They even attempted to go high-tech in the early 1980s with digital dashes and voice control. This time we’ll watch MG try to spice things up with front-wheel drive, hatchbacks and turbos. ![]() ( first posted ) In MG Sporting Saloons Part One we saw the more traditional interpretations on the sporty family saloon.
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