Austin Ambassador

Austin Ambassador Vanden Plas

The Austin Ambassador ( development code BL LM19 ) was a five-door hatchback sedan in the middle class, which was developed under BL in 1980 and offered by the Austin Rover Group from 1982 to 1984. The English name ambassador means " envoy, ambassador ". The car was the development of the original four-door model Princess Represents the facelift was so thoroughly that only the doors and the internal structure were retained. In contrast to the Princess, the car was produced only as a right-hand drive and only available in the UK.

History

The introduction of the Ambassador was the streamlining and modernization tried the model range of BL founded at the very beginning of the 1980s. Both the virtually unsaleable become five-door hatchback as well as the Austin Maxi version of the technically and visually outdated Morris Marina should be taken as soon as possible from the program. Because the planned successor as five-door midsize cars Austin Maestro was still in a very early stage of development, it was up to its introduction a few years to bridge. Order in the meantime continue to offer a five-door hatchback model with tailgate, the built since 1975 Princess was subjected to that facelift and fitted with tailgate together with hinged rear seat sold as Austin Ambassador. For similar reasons, in 1980 the Morris Ital was already emerged as a facelifted version of the Morris Marina. In both cases, the name change was due to the bad reputation of the original models.

The revised model was very extensive and extended to body, engine and interior. The high boy 2.2-liter six-cylinder accounted for, causing the front of the car could be made flatter and more aerodynamic. Through the use of the tailgate extensive and costly changes of the component parts were needed at the rear. The C-pillars also received side windows for improved visibility. Inside, there was a new dashboard and a much more extensive, but overall less than dibasic perceived equipment. Ergonomics and build quality, however, had improved noticeably.

Criticism but there was not only for the low-order equipment, but also, as before, the Princess of the little high-torque motors and the missing fifth gear. Also, the elimination of the previously pronounced wedge shape caused incomprehension. The fact that the customers' desire for sportiness and comfort were little overall addressed, looked in comparison to the Princess in further declining sales figures.

The Ambassador was initially offered with 1.7-liter and 2.0 -liter engines and available in the configurations L, HL, HLS. Instead of the 2.2-liter top model, there was a Vanden Plas version with the 2.0 -liter engine and twin carburettors. In 1983, also the HLS the twin carburettor engine.

With the launch of the Austin Maestro and Montego notchback version of the Ambassador was discontinued. At the same time ended the production of the Morris Ital.

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