RELEASE IMMEDIATE
STYLISH AND MODERN
NEW CITYROVER ON SALE UK
MG Rover Group announces its eagerly awaited new CityRover
will be on sale in MG Rover UK dealer showrooms during November.
The new CityRover provides
a competitive value for money blend of space, performance and specification featuring:
· A stylish modern
exterior appearance, with distinctive Rover presence
· 1.4-litre 85Ps
engine provides impressive performance in a sector where small engines and lower
performance is the norm
· High driving position
and raised rear seats providing good visibility
· Five wide opening
doors for easy access
· Large cabin space
with comfortable leg and shoulder room
· Comfortable ride
with balanced handling and excellent manoeuvrability
· Four model range
line-up, with individual appeal and value proposition
· Excellent value
for money, with prices starting from £6,495
Guy Pigounakis, UK Commercial Director for MG Rover Group, said:
“The arrival of CityRover marks MG Rover Group’s return
to the city car sector. The truly
competitive combination of modern style, performance and its value proposition
ensures it will have wide appeal.“
For
further information please contact your local MG-Rover dealer, pictures can be
seen at the end of this release.
PRODUCT
IN DETAIL
New CityRover
CityRover is an attractive
modern ‘city sector’ car that provides a highly competitive value-for-money blend
of space, performance and specification in the £6,500 to sub £9,000 price band.
Though compact, easy to drive and park, it has a roomy and user-friendly
‘tall’ package, with easy access for all ages.
The new model will be sold through all MG Rover dealers and benefits from
the regular three-year/60,000 mile warranty and 6-year anti-perforation cover.
Competing in the
newly emerging City car stream of the small car sector, the CityRover is in competition with products like the Ford Ka,
Peugeot 106, Hyundai Getz and the Citroen C2.
The alliance with
Tata Motors was formed following the desire by MG Rover
Group to return to the City car sector, since the production of the popular Metro/
Rover 100 finished in 1997. The CityRover
is intended to appeal to cost conscious people who appreciate style and quality
within this city car sector.
The CityRover range comprises four
trim levels, all with 1.4-litre petrol engine, five speed manual transmission
and five-doors. The straightforward,
but carefully researched range structure begins with the CityRover Solo, a remarkably well-equipped entry-level car.
The range then offers two parallel mid-price choices, the CityRover
Sprite (with the emphasis on sporting style) and CityRover
Select (with emphasis on luxury). As
a top of the range model, the CityRover Style offers
the full array of features and even the option
of a full leather trim package.
Sporting features
of the ‘Sprite’ model include alloy wheels, leather sports style steering wheel,
front fog lamps, body coloured side sill extensions and rear spoiler. Luxury features on the ‘Select’ model
include front and rear electric windows plus air conditioning as standard.
Both ‘Sprite’ and
‘Select’ have power steering, remote central locking, a tachometer and a CD/Tuner.
All these features are included on the top model, the ‘Style’, which also
benefits from anti-lock braking and a passenger airbag.
Paint choices include
two solid and eight optional metallic/pearlescent colours.
CityRover – Product
specification overview
Solo
Driver’s airbag
Radio
cassette
Anti-glare
rear view mirror
1.4-litre 85Ps
petrol engine
Perimetric anti-theft
alarm system
Remote
fuel flap and tailgate release
Tinted
glass with windscreen shade band
| Select | Sprite |
| CD
Tuner | CD
Tuner |
| Power
steering | Alloy
wheels |
| Air
conditioning | Power
steering |
| Remote
central door locking | Remote
central door locking |
| Electric
front and rear windows | Rear
spoiler and sport pack |
Style
ABS
CD Tuner
Alloy wheels
Air conditioning
Power steering
Passenger airbag
Rear spoiler and
sport pack
Remote central
door locking
Electric front
and rear windows
Design
MG Rover Group’s
designers and engineers have given CityRover a distinctive
modern Rover appearance inside and out complemented with the new-style Rover Viking
Ship badge.
The style of the
CityRover is derived from the Italian designed Indian
built Tata Indica. MG Rover Group’s design team changed key
aspects of design to give CityRover its own unique Rover
look and feel; including exterior and interior style enhancements, and chassis
improvements.
The exterior changes
include new front and rear bumpers and the inclusion of the distinctive Rover
integral front grille, with bright chrome finisher. CityRover has
been engineered to deliver Rover ride and handling characteristics, which provide
an easy and enjoyable drive.
Body Design
and Packaging
CityRover is based on an
exceptionally robust platform that has been engineered to cope with some of the
world’s most demanding terrain and operating conditions. MG Rover Group’s own tests on the notorious
MIRA Pavé circuit have shown that CityRover has an exceptionally strong and fatigue-resistant
structure. Engineers have exploited
this fundamental strength of the platform to deliver a true Rover feel of solidity
unusual in this price sector.
The key to CityRover’s generous interior space is its long 2400mm wheelbase
and tall build. Getting in and out
is very easy, with wide opening doors and high mounted seating, which provides
for a commanding driving position.
The rear seats
also feature the classic 60/40 split (standard on all, but the entry model) with
jack-knife folding giving a flat load floor and flexible load carrying configurations
between 220 litres and 610 litres. On the Solo model, the rear seat squab
folds forward in one piece, and the complete seat can then be rolled forward to
the vertical position, forming a load restraint bulkhead and giving an unobstructed
flat load floor. Rover-specified
interior trim uses a variety of high grade woven or knitted fabrics according
to model, and there is a full-leather seat option for the top ‘Style’ model.
A wheelbase of
2400mm within an overall length of 3703mm means that the wheels are positioned
right at the corners for optimum ride and handling qualities. Maximum cabin space, with a semi-MPV stance,
provides a commanding seating position. The rear seating is ‘theatre’ style, being
slightly higher than the front seats, to give rear passengers a better view.
The overall interior space is impressive and betters that of most city
sector and many small sector cars.
Technical Specification
All CityRover models enjoy excellent performance and are powered
by a 1.4-litre, 1405cc petrol engine with an alloy cylinder head, single overhead
camshaft, and multi-point fuel injection. It develops 85Ps at 5500rpm, and a solid
120Nm of torque at 3500rpm. The power
unit is compliant with current European emission legislation, including on-board
diagnostic (OBD) facilities.
MG Rover Group
engineers have tuned the chassis, which has all-independent coil sprung suspension
(McPherson strut front, semi-trailing arms at the rear), specifying 14 inch by
5J wheels and 175/60R 14 tyres, a lower ride height and revised damper and spring
rates to give an optimised ride and handling balance.
Smooth running
is ensured by the fully counterbalanced crankshaft running in five main bearings,
with a deep-skirted crankcase extending well below the crankshaft centreline for
greater strength and stiffness. As
part of the CityRover specification, engineers have
added a hydraulic engine mount for enhanced refinement.
With substantial
torque (120Nm/88.5 lb ft at 3500rpm) combined with well-chosen gearing, CityRover has good driveability. Its in-gear acceleration figures are well
ahead of class averages, with 30-50 mph in 4th gear achieved in 8.4
seconds, rather than the ‘double-figures’ required by typical 1.4-litre rivals.
CityRover’s progress is especially
effortless when compared with the many price rivals with smaller engines. This
more relaxed power delivery, needs less gear changing and engine revs and the
five-speed gearbox provides a pleasantly light shift action, featuring an interlock
mechanism to prevent accidental engagement of reverse.
Capable
Chassis
CityRover’s all-independent
suspension uses coil springs and hydraulic damper struts all round. At the
front, there is a McPherson Strut arrangement, with the lower wishbone having
wide-based pivot points set well back in the structure for effective geometry
control, low stress and protection from frontal accident damage. A front anti-roll bar is standard on all
models. Again using wide-based pivot
points, the rear suspension semi-trailing arms are set at a shallow angle from
the lateral to give benign camber and steer characteristics.
MG Rover Group
engineers have specified unique suspension settings, with negative camber and
a lower ride height, plus 14-inch diameter wheels carrying 175/60 tyres, to achieve
the combination of ride comfort with well-balanced handling and road holding traditional
in a Rover. Alloy wheels are standard
on the Sprite and Style versions.
Powerful and progressive
braking is provided by 231mm diameter front ventilated discs and 200mm diameter
rear drums, with diagonal split dual line hydraulics and servo assistance. Anti-lock
braking is standard on the Style model, and available as an option on all other
models.
Rack and pinion
steering gives smooth, accurate control, and power assisted steering is standard
on Sprite, Select and Style models, optional on Solo.
Safety
and Security Features
To the fundamental
primary safety characteristics of the chassis design, CityRover adds the important benefit of good all round vision
resulting from deep windows and a high seating position. High-mounted rear lamp assemblies help
other road users to see the tail lamps, brake lights and turn signals, and are
supplemented by rear fog lamps and a roof-level central brake light. A dipping rear view mirror protects the
driver from glare at night.
There are childproof
rear door locks, and a safety isolation switch for the rear windows on Select
and Style models with all-round electric windows. On Sprite, Select and Style models with
remote central locking, single point entry comes as standard. All four doors have ‘door open’ safety
reflectors. Close to the driver’s
seat are twin release levers for the tailgate and fuel filler flap; there is an
engine immobiliser, perimetric alarm system and anti-theft
shielding for the door locks.
Impact protection
features on all models include tubular anti-intrusion bars inside the doors, a
standard driver’s airbag and a collapsible steering column. The front seats have
belt pre-tensioners, the inner belt anchorages are attached
to the seat frames to optimise belt fit at all seat positions, and there are also
anti-submarine panels and height-adjusting head restraints.
Rear seat head
restraints are integral with the seat squabs. A front passenger airbag is standard on
the Style version, and optional for the other three models. This comes with a key operated disable
key switch, to allow the fitment of child seats to the front passenger seat.
Alloy
wheels on Sprite and Style versions have Thatcham approved
security wheel bolts fitted as standard.
Fully
Equipped
Complementing CityRover’s
spacious cabin is an impressive level of standard equipment and thoughtful Rover
detailing, even on the lowest-cost Solo version.
All doorsills are protected by scuff plates, and there is a courtesy lamp
delay to assist settling in at night. The
interior light incorporates independent reading lamps for the driver and front
passenger. All models have a passenger vanity mirror
in the sun visor, with a hinged flap cover to avoid unwanted distraction or reflections.
A buzzer warns
if the headlamps are left on, with the key removed. There is a comprehensive heating and ventilating
system, with 4-speed fan, recirculation setting and four fascia air vents, while
the sought-after feature of air conditioning is standard on Select and Style models.
A radio cassette
player is fitted as standard on Solo versions. Four speakers, a roof mounted aerial,
a quartz clock, an instrument illumination dimmer control, variable intermittent
screen wipe and rear wash/wipe are range standard. The Solo model benefits from tinted glass
with a windscreen shadeband, a lockable glovebox, full length centre console,
cigar lighter, rear parcel shelf and stylish white instrument graphics.
A 15-minute automatic timer switches off the heated rear window to save
energy.
Interior Trim Materials
The CityRover interior colourway is
grey, with the following combinations of fabrics and features:
| Solo | Grey ‘Lights’
seat facing and head restraints with ‘Lumens’ side bolsters and PVC backs &
borders. |
| Sprite | Grey
‘Reflections’
seat facings and head restraints with ‘Lucent’ side bolsters and door casing inserts.
The centre console (facia and floor) features a bright finish, with a sports style
gearknob and leather covered steering wheel. |
| Select | Grey
‘Aureol’ seat facings
and head restraints with ‘Austral’ side bolsters, PVC backs and borders.
The centre console (fascia and floor) features a technical finish. |
| Style | Grey
‘Aureol’ seat facings
and head restraints with ‘Austral’ side bolsters, backs, borders and door casing
inserts. The centre console (facia
and floor) features a technical finish, with a sports style gearknob
and leather covered steering wheel. |
| Style | Optional
perforated Charcoal grey leather |
Exterior colour choice
There is a choice
of ten exterior paint colours for CityRover:
Solid
Cherry
Red
Mint
White
Optional
metallic
Arctic
Silver
Oceana
Blue
Optional
pearlescent
Aqua
Green
Granite
Purple
Mica
Black
Le Mans Green
Marine
Blue
Options
With such a high
level of standard equipment for the price range, CityRover does not need a big options list. For the
CityRover
Technical specification
and performance
Engine
1405cc 4cyl 2v SOHC
Max
power
kW
62.5
Max
Power
Ps
85
@
engine speed
rpm
5500
Max
torque
Nm
120
lb ft
88.5
@
engine speed
rpm
3500
Max
engine speed
rpm
6250
Cd
0.32
CdA
m2
0.69
Unladen weight
kg
1040
Inertia
Weight Class
kg
1130
Transmission
Five-speed manual TA 65
Final drive ratio
4.640
Wheels/tyres
front/rear
5J 175/60 R14
Gear
Ratios
5th
0.710
4th
0.950
3rd
1.360
2nd
1.950
1st
3.420
Reverse
3.580
Overall
gearing
5th
mph (kph)
19.4 (31.3)
4th
/1000rpm
14.6 (23.5)
3rd
10.2 (16.4)
2nd
7.1 (11.4)
1st
4.1 (6.5)
Max
speed in gears
mph (kph)
100 (160)
4th
93 (150)
3rd
64 (103)
2nd
44 (72)
1st
25 (41)
Performance
Max
speed
mph (kph)
100 (160)
Engine
speed @ max
rpm
5100
0-60mph
(0-100kph)
seconds
11.9 (12.8)
30-50mph
(4th gear)
seconds
8.4
50-70mph
(4th gear)
seconds
10.0
80-120km/h
(4th gear)
seconds
12.9
Fuel economy (Euro III Standard)
Urban
mpg (l/100km)
28.5
(10.0)
Extra-Urban
mpg (l/100km)
46.6
(6.1)
Combined
mpg (l/100km)
37.9 (7.4)
CO2
g/km
167
Pricing
and Competition
The range comprises four models
with the entry ‘Solo’ version incorporating an enhanced feature specification:
Model Description
VED
1st
Reg Fee
OTR Price
1.4 Solo
C
£25
£6,495
1.4 Solo with PAS
and split rear seat
C
£25
£6,895
1.4 Sprite
C
£25
£7,895
1.4 Select
C
£25
£7,895
1.4 Style
C
£25
£8,895
OTR prices will remain the same
from 1St January, when First Registration Fee increases from £25 to
£38
Options
CityRover model specifications
have been set at a level and with a structure that allows a very simple options
list, as follows:
Solo Sprite Select Style
Price (inc.VAT)
Metallic Paint
O
O
O
O
£295
PAS & Split
folding rear seat
O
S
S
S
£400
Passenger Airbag
O
O
O
S
£150
Anti-lock Brakes
O
O
O
S
£300
Leather Seat Trim
-
-
-
O
£795
Key:
O = Option S =
Standard
- = feature not available
ABI
insurance group rating
Solo and Sprite - Group 4E
Select and Style - Group 5E
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