Rover 75 1.8T RANGE
Max Power Readers Look Away, This Is One Turbo Thats Refined Rather Than A Reprobate. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The
Rover 75 1.8 Turbo Range.
To some, the Rover 75 1.8 Turbo range may seem like brand management gone haywire. What is the point of a turbocharged 75 when there are
MG ZT models to cater for those who want a 75 thats hairier of palm? After all, the 75 is a car built on brand values that major on refinement, luxury and a certain olde world charm values that hardly make it an ideal candidate for a go faster special.
That would be to miss the point by a huge margin. The 75 1.8T isnt concerned with outright power or performance. Instead its about offering the sort of car that makes sense in the here and now, that offers a blend of power, economy, driveability and acceptable CO2 emissions.
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This is tactical product planning on a more intelligent level. Forced induction K-series engines arent new. It seems that almost every after market tuner has at one time or another tried their hand at producing one, often in response to the demands of trackday fiends with Elises and a hefty slug of disposable income. This installation is different.
Its a little known fact that many turbochargers found on petrol-engined cars were originally designed for the larger pool of turbo diesel vehicles and werent optimised for the wider and higher speed bands of petrol cars. The 75 1.8T uses a turbocharger thats quite different. The Garrett GT20 turbo has been fitted with their new T100 turbine wheel which is optimised for small petrol engines.
"In the 75 1.8T theres now an engine that dukes it out with the best that
Ford and
Vauxhall can muster."
Its not just a case of bolt on and go either. Engine performance and economy were completely mapped beforehand using Rovers state of the art virtual engineering technology, enabling engineers to optimise inlet, exhaust and turbocharger geometry and performance before committing to the manufacture of production tooling. All of which probably explains why the 75 1.8T turns in such good figures and yet represents aggressive value for money.
Packing 149bhp, the turbocharged
Rover is good for a sprint to 60mph in 9.1 seconds, although a more impressive figure is the mid range acceleration 30-50mph in fourth gear takes 7.1 seconds and top speed is rated at 130mph.
MG Rovers engineers could have specified a more aggressive turbocharger set up but wanted the emphasis on smoothness and response rather than outright speed.
This light-pressure turbocharging philosophy means that the compression ratio could be kept quite high, ensuring that you dont get that inefficient, mushy feel that many turbocharged cars suffer from when you catch them off-boost. Hot weather testing in Australia and the USA and cold climate tests in Canada have shown the 75 1.8T to be resolutely durable. Priced from £20,595 in Connoisseur trim, its also affordable.
If youve owned a 75 before, youll notice the facelift applied to the latest models. The changes arent especially fundemental, the latest design embracing a sharper-edged front and rear exterior appearance, a larger integrated radiator grille, halogen projector headlamps and three distinct trim identities. Theres always been a justified school of thought that states that the 1.8-litre 75s were always the best buy given that they bought a touch of luxury to the Mondeo/Vectra price bracket.
In the 75 1.8T theres now an engine that dukes it out with the best that Ford and Vauxhall can muster. Set a 75 alongside either of these and it seems a classier proposition altogether. In addition of course, you still get the steam engine binnacle dials that look like theyve been lifted from one of HG Wells time machines.
Plus the other lovely detail touches that take you back: the chrome-plated door pulls, the satisfying clunk as the doors shut even the wood fascia, designed into the cabin rather than added on as an afterthought. It isnt really wood of course, but who cares? Its the ambience that matters and ambience is something every 75 has in abundance. Accommodation is one area where those glorious junior
Bentley looks flatter to deceive. The 75 may be somewhere between a 3 and a 5 Series in exterior length but inside, theres no more room than youd find in the smaller Three.
This is surprising when you consider the natural packaging advantages that the front wheel drive Rover enjoys over its rear wheel drive German counterparts. In compensation, the boot is a reasonable size though you have to pay extra for a folding rear
seat. Still, if you want extra space, theres always the stylish Tourer version to consider at a premium of around £950 over the saloon. This should swallow a little more luggage, thanks to boxy dimensions that disguise a slightly smaller 1,222-litre capacity with the seats folded down.
Dont go expecting to transport a grandfather clock mind you: theres only 45mm of extra rear overhang which means that the load bay is restricted to 2060mm in length. Standard equipment levels really depend upon the size of your chequebook and your choice between three main trim levels Connoisseur and Contemporary, both with SE options. Either way, however, expect to find ABS, powered windows and mirrors, numerous airbags, a six-speaker stereo, leather gearknob and an alarm fitted across the range. The Rover 75 is an old school car and the turbo installation is an old school solution to a gap in the model range.
Compared to high tech solutions like Audis FSI system it appears a little parochial but the results speak for themselves. With aggressive pricing and a compelling set of figures, the 1.8T range shows the 75 to be in its rudest health yet.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Rover 75 1.8T range
PRICES: £20,595-£23,895 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 193g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.1s / Max Speed 130mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 25mpg / (extra urban) 46.3mpg / (combined) 35.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4745/1970/1427
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