Rover 800 Series

Rover 800 Saloon ( 1986-1991 )

The Rover 800 series was introduced by the MG Rover Group in October 1986 and consisted of two saloon versions ( four-door sedan and five-door hatchback ) and later also a coupe version. The 800 series was located in the upper middle class.

The vehicles until the fall of 1991 produced the first series were offered under a single brand was founded especially for the U.S.: Sterling Motor Cars was formed Rover's re-entry into the United States. The cars were separated by Range Rover models over the ARCONA (Austin- Rover Corporation of North America), an organization formed for the reintroduction of Rover automobiles in North America sales company in Miami, sold. This form of marketing has been practiced due to the only moderate success only until 1990.

The coupe debuted in the summer of 1992, shortly after the start of production of the second series, was therefore never sold in its original target market.

• 2.1 1991 2.1.1 coupe

Development

Partnership with Honda

The Rover 800 was intended as a replacement for the outdated Rover SD1 years. The car was developed in the early 1980s, in technical cooperation with Honda under the internal code "XX". The corresponding Honda version was called the Honda Legend and was referred to internally as the " HX ". Together, the two cars was the floor pan and body core structure, the chassis, axles, transmissions and V6 engines. The gear for the Rover 820erVierzylinder were also a Honda development and were built along with the gears for the 825/827 and Legend in England. The two-liter engines of the Rover were productions of Austin- Rover and further developments of earlier series. The Rover 800 as well as the first series of the Honda Legend for the European market were produced in the former Morris plant in Cowley in Oxford. For the Asia-Pacific market Honda produced the Rover models in Japan.

The car possessed in technical terms over a much more complex design than its predecessor. The basic version of the 800ers had a 2.0-liter 16- valve engine, which was developed from the robust O- series of British Leyland and called M- series. The cars were in England as Rover 820 models with single-point injection ( in 820e ) and 88 kW (120 hp) and four -point injection MPi ( in the 820i ) and 98 kW ( 133 hp ) sold. In Germany these were sold exclusively as MPi injectors with regulated catalytic converter.

The top model Rover 825 had a Honda, built in Japan V6 engine with 2.5 -liter displacement and 24 valves. This was in 1988 increased to 2.7 liters of displacement to counteract any lack of torque at low speeds. The original versions were sold in Germany than 2.5 liters with catalyst and 110 kW ( 150 hp ), while the 2.7 liter engine 117 kW reached (169 hp). The models without catalyst developed 122 kW (166 hp) with automatic and 127 kW ( 173 hp ) with manual gearbox.

A diesel engine with 2498 cc and 87 kW ( 118 hp ) was supplied in 1990 by VM Motori. This engine was also found in other vehicles such as the Jeep Cherokee and in some Range Rover models. In Germany this was offered starting in 1992 for a short time.

The Sterling on the American market, there was only with the V6 engine; in Europe were models with "Sterling " designation the respective best-equipped version. In the second series of the 800 came from 1992, yet since 1990 the market located Rover T-Series engine is used, which was serving as Turbo 147 kW (200 hp). This model was not available in Germany. In England it was sold as " Vitesse " and in other European countries than 820 ti. The engine played for Rover also marketing aspects play a role: he helped the car with adequate power in markets such as Italy, the Netherlands and France to expel where cars are occupied than 2.0 liter engine with a luxury tax, under which the versions 2.5 & 2.7 liter displacement fell.

The models " Vitesse " were available in Germany only in the first series and possessed exclusively by the 2.7-liter V -6 engine in conjunction with the five-door hatchback variant. In England, these versions were available for the Series XX & R17, and later in connection with the Rover turbo engine. With the introduction of the new model in the autumn of 1991, this designation was the same as the name "Sterling " is no longer maintained on the German market.

The handling of the Rover 800 was marked by the front suspension with double wishbones, so that it possessed in comparison to other cars of the upper middle class over a limited to sporty driving comfort with a relatively low travel. They took therefore inevitably in purchase, to disappoint the expectations of customers and the trade press, since the vehicle with models like the BMW 5 Series, the Alfa 164 and the Saab 9000 should compete.

The manufacturing and quality single component in the early days of the Rover 800 was insufficient and of ill repute; example, there were problems with trim, electrics / electronics and painting. Also corrosion problems in the early models initially influenced the image. The fact that the Sterling in the JD Power satisfaction study was the rear, while its sister model, the Acura Legend was built for the U.S. in Japan, in the first year of sales occupied one of the top places, labored more sales to a luxurious customer segment.

This made everything, in addition to the ever-rising pounds, the car less attractive to Americans and brought Rover finally only one loss. Since it did not consider itself permanently in a position to compete with the discount deal of American brands and the yen - based pricing as the Japanese models ( Infiniti, Lexus and Acura ), Rovers finished second attempt to break into the U.S. foot so that you retired with the 1991 model year on the U.S. market.

In 1989, the 2.5 -liter engine was enlarged to 2.7 liters, the unreliable fittings from the Austin Maestro 2.0 is replaced by the Honda parts from the V6 and overall production quality improved. Model maintenance and quality improvement measures, however, came too late to save him from the setting in the face of poor sales in America.

Facelift

1991

In October 1991, the 800 under the code name " R17 " has been thoroughly revised, got a traditional Rover grille, reminiscent of models of the 50s and 60s, and a more rounded body shape. Revising the hood concerned, bumpers, side panels and rear tail lights, which allowed an increase in the stern, resulting in an enlargement of the luggage space. The third side window was also enlarged and drawn into the air. Front and rear of the car received new bumpers and hubcaps a new design. The fenders were also modified.

Inside, the dashboard has been modernized, the onboard computer of the predecessor important new, very dark wood held mounts in the center console, and the entire wood paneling have been revised.

From 1994 there was also a co-driver, and the design of the seats was redesigned. At times, was also a sporty interior with Recaro seats available.

The revision proved to be a design challenge, as the existing body structure, including the passenger compartment and door components still had to be used. However, the renewal of styling also meant that sales rose significantly, since the mid- 1990s was the Rover 800, the best-selling vehicle of the upper middle class in Britain.

The originating from the previous model designations " Vitesse " and " Sterling" found no more use in Germany. The new models were called 820i, 820 Si, 827 i, 827 Si and SLi 827 times. There was even a diesel version, the 825 SD or SDi.

The turbo models were not available in Germany. In England they have been sold with the designation 820 Vitesse, in all other European countries than 820 Ti The paint quality was also significantly improved at this time, so that corrosion problems had been largely resolved.

Rear view

Rover 825 SD

Coupe

In August 1992, the two-door coupe version of the Rover appeared 800

Originally it was developed with the previous model for the U.S. market, but only debuted in the style of the second series. It was made ​​as a niche model in small batches and sold in other European countries as the top model of the rover. Eighty percent of the 800 coupes were always mounted by hand.

While the coupe with the 2.7 liter V6 Honda Legend was a 827 available on the German market, you could be in England and other European countries and 2.0-liter versions with Turbo and 147 kW (200 hp) and acquire non-turbo with 100 kW (136 hp).

Interior

1996

The evaluation completed in April 1996, second facelift included only minor changes to the exterior of vehicles; the most striking feature were formerly some black trim on all models (except the Coupe), who were now painted in body color, and the revision of the suspension. The standard equipment was supplemented by an automatic climate control, an engine immobilizer, a passenger airbag and a six-disc CD changer except in the base model the "i". Wood paneling found generous use, and the " ROVER " lettering has been incorporated into the wood paneling of the front doors; the seat covers were of higher quality quality.

At the same time also debuted the input mentioned Rover KV6 engine, which had 2.5 liter displacement and 129 kW made ​​(175 hp). He was born from the enlargement of the multi- award winning international Rover K - series engine, which now had two more cylinders. The new top engine was 14 percent more economical than the Honda engine had more torque at lower speeds, working quiet and gentle according to a press release from Rover Germany. These engines were built by hand, since the car was only produced in small numbers and only a small number was equipped with KV6 engines. However, this obviously had no effect on the durability of the engine, its problems and only stopped with the start-up of the machine series production for the successor Seventyfive.

Rover 800 Hatchback (1996-1999)

Although the 800 compared to the younger competitors of its competitors had lost considerable ground (except for the introduction of the Rover KV6 engine in 1996 there were few technical changes ), he sold himself to the end of production in February 1999 well.

The 800 was then replaced by the Rover 75.

Motorsport

On June 6, 1990 Tony Pond sat on the famous Isle of Man Tourist Trophy course with a slightly modified Rover 827 Vitesse with a cut of the first time over 100 mph (160 km / h) set a new course record for automobiles on, the first in June was defeated in 2011.

Buyer

Known purchasers were Neil Hamilton, Peter Mandelson, Clement Freud, Max Bygraves and Michael Parkinson. The model was part of the UK government vehicle fleet, which traditionally consists of native Rover and Jaguar models throughout its construction period. Also in the fleet of the Royal Family Rover 800 were used. So you could see more often in the news or reports of the 1980s and early 1990s, for example, that Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and other members of the Royals were chauffeured to various events in the Rover 800.

The car was also often ordered by the police, especially as a patrol car for highways, since the turbo engines of the Series II reached high speeds. Alan Partridge (played by Steve Coogan ) drove in the comedy series Knowing Me, Knowing You ... as well as in the first episode of the series I'm Alan Partridge, a Rover 800 Another appearance was the Rover 800 in the world to be seen TV series Dallas. In the final season, which aired in 1990, the actress Kimberley Foster drove in the role of " JR Ewing " daughter " Michelle Stevens " a white sterling. In recent years one could Rover 800 as patrol car of the English police in crime series such as Cracker, Inspector Barnaby, court Silent Witness, among others repeatedly. seen

Production figures

Model data

Unlike other manufacturers who use digits for their model names, there has never been at Rover consistent logic in the type designations. During incurred in cooperation with Honda cars (1989-1995) the model types like BMW and Volvo were first named with a general model number first, and then with an indication for the displacement.

In the case of the Rover 800, the 8 stands for 8-series and the following figures represent the cubic capacity. Thus, a Rover 820 had thus 2 liters.

• 820-4 cylinder 8- valve models with carburetor
• 820 e - 4- cylinder 16-valve models with central injection
• 820 i - 4- cylinder 16-valve models with multi-point injection
• 825 i - 6- cylinder models before 1989
• 827 i - 6- cylinder models after 1989 and U.S. models

After the facelift in 1991 the name was simplified:

• 820 i - 4- cylinder 16-valve models with multi-point injection
• 825 D - 4- cylinder diesel models
• 827 i - 6- cylinder models (Honda engine )

After 1996 there were no more names Displacement and all models were called " Rover 800".

These designations did not include any additional letters that described the equipment variant, such as the previous combinations with "S" and "L": eg " 825 SD" or later " 825 SDi ".