Full specification details and imagery of the new Rover 45 are released today
(April 20) in advance of first deliveries in May. Key features include:

• A distinctive new exterior style, featuring twin headlamp design
• New high quality fascia design, incorporating four styled circular air vents
• New technological, convenience and comfort features

The new Rover 45 follows the latest evolution of Rover’s highly regarded style and brand identity. Its clean fresh lines reflect the contemporary elegance of the recently launched new Rover 75. A new front bumper design produces a cleaner and more sculpted exterior appearance. Substantial changes are made to the rear with a new boot and bumper style, complemented by new alloy wheels and centre-line badging.

Inside, the high quality and stylish cabin features an all-new fascia, centre console, switchgear and an array of technology features. The new Rover 45 combines a crisp and attractive style with excellent refinement, supple ride and handling and high standards of accommodation.

In Rover’s centenary year, the Rover 45 is part of the brand’s largest ever product portfolio that includes the CityRover, Commerce CDV, Rover 25, Streetwise and Rover 75. The new Rover 45 will make its show debut at Motor Show Live, at the NEC, Birmingham (May 27), with order placement now possible through MG Rover dealers and first customer deliveries from May.

• Product summary
• New features and summary
• Specification summary, by model
• Performance, fuel economy and CO₂
• Pricing, including options

The exterior style changes to the new Rover 45 include a new front bumper design, a deeper integral front grille and twin lens headlamps and integrated indicator lamps, beneath a tough clear cover, that together give the 45 a much fresher and entirely more modern face.

At the rear the treatment is even more substantial, with a new, more angular rear bumper with re-positioned number plate, and a clean-panel rear boot / tailgate treatment giving a more defined rear appearance, enhanced on all models (4dr Saloon and 5dr Hatchback) with a rear lip spoiler for a completely new design style. Other exterior changes include body coloured side rubbing strip and lower sill extensions, giving a lowered body appearance.

The new fascia design includes four styled circular air vents that give definition and feature to the centre and ends of the fascia, and each finished in chrome. A narrower wood fascia insert dresses the interior appearance for a more subtle interpretation of this traditional Rover feature. The insert is also available in a new range of finishes – burr walnut for the Rover traditionalists, and for Rover customers after something a little more contemporary, light oak and dark oak finishes are also available.

A key new comfort specification feature introduced on Rover 45 is Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) air conditioning. This luxury feature allows the precise desired temperature of the air conditioning to be set, in Fahrenheit or Centigrade, with an external temperature display and solar sensor compensation. The new control panel is fully integrated in the console. This appealing new feature is standard on Club SE and Connoisseur models and is therefore available from an affordable £12,995.

A new feature for the latest Rover 45 is the remote activated boot release feature. This customer convenience feature allows the owner easier access to the boot of the car; by pressing a third button on the remote plip, the driver can release the boot lock while approaching the car. The boot will actually be open by the time they get to the car, and is particularly useful when approaching with either or both hands full.

The interior also features revised columns stalks that have a superior feeling matt finish. The switches used within the revised centre console are soft-touch membrane switches that look and operate in a more positive and modern way.

At service, the program wash / wipe facility can be programmed to vary the number of times the wipers operate after the windscreen wash has finished. A new ‘Dribble Wipe’ feature is an extra wipe of the screen approximately 4 seconds after the last wipe has occurred, after the program wash wipe, to capture any subsequent water dribble.

Auto relocking – if the car is locked / armed and the unlock button pressed, the car will auto lock / rearm if no doors are opened within 30 seconds and assumes the vehicle was unlocked / disarmed accidentally.

Speed locking – doors automatically lock when vehicle speed is greater than 3 mph / 5 km/h. The doors remain locked when the vehicle is stationary and will automatically unlock again when the ignition is turned off. Doors can be unlocked by using the master lock / unlock button.

Rover 45 has a Thatcham Cat. 1 alarm, top level security system and complies with the latest 2004 Security directives. The alarm system uses a battery backed up sounder, located within a shielded enclosure and protected with tamper proof fixings, which will activate if the power supply is tampered with.

Audible mislock – features a short horn sound if door / boot / bonnet are open when the vehicle is locked with the key or remote. The boot is more secure now the key lock is no longer specified and Automatic Engine immobilisation is activated after the ignition is switched off.

The new remote plip has a changing lock / unlock code every time it is used. No thief could record (or capture) the code then use it later. A new design of plip now features lock, unlock and remote boot release opening. It can be operated with the alarm armed or disarmed. The alarm rearms when the boot is closed, with hazard warning lamps flashing to indicate this security. The latest plip design has a much enhanced operating range.

This new feature is located amongst the switches in the new centre console. It offers a greater degree of security as the car can instantly lock all of the doors, regardless of ignition or engine state, with a single press of the button. Also included is drive-away locking for occupant security against possible external threats. A panic alarm can be triggered by pressing the Master Locking Switch for over two seconds locking all doors, activating the alarm siren and flashing the hazard lamps and de-activated by another two second press or by pressing the plip unlock button.

All UK specification Rover 45s (except the 1.4 Classic) feature the TrafficMaster® Traffic Alert System for congestion avoidance and rear ultrasonic parking distance sensors. No competitors currently apply either of these customer convenience features as extensively within their ranges.

All Rover 45s have ABS (anti lock braking system) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) fitted as standard. EBD helps to ensure that the rear brakes contribute as much braking force as possible, equalising the braking forces.

Rover 45 retains its reputation for occupant comfort with its exceptionally smooth ride comfort, brought about by its wheelbase, longer than many of its immediate competitors. Double wishbone suspension offers high levels of camber compensation and this ensures that the maximum amount of the tyre surface is in contact with the road surface during cornering situations and therefore increasing safety and driver confidence.

Key competitors for Rover 45 are: the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, VW Golf, Renault Mégane, Peugeot 307, Citroën Xsara, Honda Civic and Nissan Almera.

Solid: Dover White, Midnight Blue, new Rio Red

Metallic: Arbour Green, Starlight Silver, new Tempest Grey, new Provence Blue and new Sonic Blue

Pearlescent: Royal Blue, British Racing Green, Black Pearl, new Ski Blue, new Platinum Gold, new Firefrost

• New clean front bumper design
• New larger integral front grille
• All new twin lens headlamps feature high-efficiency multi-faceted reflectors
• Body coloured side rubbing strip and lower sills
• New rear bumper design
• New tailgate/boot lid
• Remote plip activated boot-opening release
• New subtle lip spoiler (as standard on all models)
• New 16" alloy wheel

• New fascia design incorporates stylish rotary air vents with chrome finish
• New fascia console with soft-touch membrane switches
• New column stalks with improved quality feel
• Revised seat fabrics
• ATC air conditioning
• Master locking switch and drive-away locking for occupant security
• TrafficMaster® congestion warning alert system (unique to cars in this class)

A greater choice of colour for the interior components is available. A contemporary theme of Ash fascia with Black Oak wood finishers is expected to be a popular choice, while the availability of a Duotone fascia with Light Oak Wood offers a lighter theme to the cabin. Burr Walnut finishers are another available option. The duotone fascia is available with either Black or Light Smokestone seat fabrics, the Ash fascia only with black seats. Leather seats are available with either interior condition.

1.4-litre (103Ps) engine, exclusive five-door body style availability

Front independent double wishbone suspension with telescopic dampers

Front anti roll bar (plus rear anti roll bar on diesel models)

Rear independent multi link suspension with telescopic dampers

Power assisted steering

Driver, front passenger & front side airbags

Height adjustable front seat belts and front head restraints

ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)

All Ash fascia condition

Geo/Tuscany fabric seat facings (Black)

Black oak fascia insert strip and switch surrounds

Rotary styled air vents with chrome finish

Driver's seat height and lumbar adjustment

60/40 split folding rear seat back

Front door sill bright treadstrips

Remote central door locking

Plip controlled remote boot release function

Internal tailgate/boot release

Thatcham Category 1 alarm system with perimetric and volumetric protection

Passive engine immobilisation

Auto-relocking and speed locking functions

Master locking/unlocking switch including personal panic attack alarm mode

Rover styled front grille with chrome surround

Rear tailgate/bootlid integrated lip spoiler

Body coloured side rubbing strips

Body coloured front and rear bumpers

Body coloured sill finishers

Chrome effect door handle pulls

Green tinted glass

Union flag badge on D posts

45 badging on satin front door inserts

Clear lens twin halogen headlamps

Clear side repeater lamps

14" steel wheels with full width wheel trims

Instant tyre repair system

1.4-litre (103Ps) engine, exclusive five-door body style availability

Electric powered glass sunroof

TrafficMaster® Traffic Alert System

Rear ultrasonic parking distance sensors

1.4-litre (103Ps), 1.6-litre (109Ps), 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (101Ps) engines, available in five-door and four-door saloon body style

CFC-free on/off air conditioning including pollen filter (ilo electric sunroof)

Electric front and rear windows with driver’s one shot open

Electrically operated and heated door mirrors

Body coloured door mirrors

CD tuner

Steering wheel mounted remote audio controls and front tweeters

1.4-litre (103Ps), 1.6-litre (109Ps), 1.8-litre (117Ps, with auto option), 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (101Ps and 113Ps) engines, available in five-door and four-door saloon body style 

Automatic temperature control air conditioning

15" Turbine alloy wheels with new design of locking wheel nuts

Leather steering wheel and gearknob

Luxury Tuscany/Astoria fabric seat facings

Rear head restraints and rear armrest

Front seat back map pockets

Bright rear sill treadstrips

1.6-litre (109Ps), 1.8-litre (117Ps, with auto option), 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (113Ps) engines, available in five-door and four-door saloon body style

Leather seat facings

Chrome door mirrors

16" Nine spoke alloy wheels with new design of locking wheel nuts

CD autochanger (with radio cassette ilo CD tuner)

Front fog lights

Headlamp powerwash

Heated front seats

drop gear x1.423

Rover 45 prices range from £9,995 to £16,195, with a new Classic SE 5dr derivative, priced at £10,995, to extend the appeal of the entry-level priced model with extra specification features.

Optional 1.8-litre CVT Stepspeed models have a CO₂ of 203g/km

Rover 45 features a three year/60,000 mile warranty, six-year anti-corrosion and three-year cosmetic paint warranty with 12 months' AA Roadside Assistance cover.

* Front fog lights are standard on saloon models

** Stepspeed automatic gearbox has additional £15 Vehicle Exise Duty with tax band C to D