Royaume-Uni
Rover
Rover is one of the oldest British automobile brands. The company was born in Coventry, England, founded in 1878 by John Kemp Starley and William Sutton as a bicycle manufacturer. In 1885, Starley designed the "Rover Safety Bicycle," a chain-driven bicycle with equal-sized wheels that set the standard for the modern bicycle. After Starley's death in 1901, the firm turned to the automobile: car production began in 1904 with the Rover Eight, designed by Edmund Lewis. Over the course of the 20th century, Rover built a reputation for well-finished, genteel saloons aimed at an affluent clientele. In 1948 came the Land Rover off-roader, then in 1970 the Range Rover, which would become the company's most profitable products. Rover lost its independence in 1967 when it was absorbed by Leyland Motors, then folded into the British Leyland conglomerate in 1968. In the 1980s and 1990s, Rover forged a decisive partnership with Honda, which took a stake in the group and shared platforms and powertrains; the Rovers of this period were seen as classier alternatives to Fords and Vauxhalls. The group passed under the control of British Aerospace in 1988, then was sold to German manufacturer BMW in 1994. BMW was unable to make the whole operation profitable and broke up the group in 2000: Ford bought the Land Rover division, while the Rover and MG brands continued within the much smaller MG Rover Group, sold for a symbolic one pound to the Phoenix consortium. After the failure of talks with China's SAIC, MG Rover went bankrupt and ceased all production on April 15, 2005, at its Longbridge plant, resulting in more than 6,000 job losses. The Rover brand had only a limited North American presence: the Rover 800 saloon was exported there from 1987 to 1991 under the Sterling name. Today, the Rover name belongs to Jaguar Land Rover, a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors, but the brand is dormant and no Rover cars are produced.
Historique / disparueÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireEuropéennes
History
History of Rover
Rover is one of the oldest British automobile brands. The company was born in Coventry, England, founded in 1878 by John Kemp Starley and William Sutton as a bicycle manufacturer. In 1885, Starley designed the "Rover Safety Bicycle," a chain-driven bicycle with equal-sized wheels that set the standard for the modern bicycle. After Starley's death in 1901, the firm turned to the automobile: car production began in 1904 with the Rover Eight, designed by Edmund Lewis. Over the course of the 20th century, Rover built a reputation for well-finished, genteel saloons aimed at an affluent clientele. In 1948 came the Land Rover off-roader, then in 1970 the Range Rover, which would become the company's most profitable products. Rover lost its independence in 1967 when it was absorbed by Leyland Motors, then folded into the British Leyland conglomerate in 1968. In the 1980s and 1990s, Rover forged a decisive partnership with Honda, which took a stake in the group and shared platforms and powertrains; the Rovers of this period were seen as classier alternatives to Fords and Vauxhalls. The group passed under the control of British Aerospace in 1988, then was sold to German manufacturer BMW in 1994. BMW was unable to make the whole operation profitable and broke up the group in 2000: Ford bought the Land Rover division, while the Rover and MG brands continued within the much smaller MG Rover Group, sold for a symbolic one pound to the Phoenix consortium. After the failure of talks with China's SAIC, MG Rover went bankrupt and ceased all production on April 15, 2005, at its Longbridge plant, resulting in more than 6,000 job losses. The Rover brand had only a limited North American presence: the Rover 800 saloon was exported there from 1987 to 1991 under the Sterling name. Today, the Rover name belongs to Jaguar Land Rover, a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors, but the brand is dormant and no Rover cars are produced.
Public founding or origin of Rover.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
During its final decades, Rover relied heavily on cooperation with Honda: several models (the 200, 400, 600 and 800 series) were based on co-produced Japanese platforms and engines, a guarantee of mechanical reliability. Rover also developed its own engines, including the well-known K-Series family of gasoline engines and the V8s derived from a Buick design, as well as modern diesels late in its run. The powertrains were conventional: four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, plus a few V6s, in front-wheel drive for the saloons. The brand favored comfort, sound insulation and refined finishes (wood, leather) over sportiness or cutting-edge innovation. Because Rover disappeared in 2005, it never offered a production hybrid or electric vehicle; its safety technologies remained those of its era (ABS, airbags, traction control depending on the version). All-wheel drive, reinforced chassis and, on the more recent generations (under Land Rover), turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines, air suspension and off-road assistance systems. The historic Rover versions remained more rudimentary, focused on mechanical robustness. Front-wheel-drive architecture, four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines (including the K-Series family) and a few V6s, with several platforms shared with Honda. Period safety equipment: ABS, airbags and traction control depending on the trim. No electric or hybrid powertrain was ever produced by Rover. The range was limited to internal-combustion gasoline and diesel engines until the brand ceased operations in 2005.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
Historic British brand of comfortable saloons, now defunct, with the charm of an affordable classic.
Reputation
Rover enjoyed a traditional, genteel brand image, associated with British comfort more than with performance. The models born from the collaboration with Honda earned a good reputation for reliability, but others (such as the SD1 at its launch, or the CityRover derived from the Tata Indica) suffered from build-quality issues and harsh criticism. The 2005 bankruptcy permanently tarnished the brand. Now dormant, Rover has low resale value and the status of an older or collector vehicle; parts can be harder to find, which weighs on maintenance.
Strengths
A brand with a rich, recognizable heritage, Rover offered comfortable, well-insulated saloons with refined finishes at prices often lower than the German premiums. The cooperation with Honda gave several models proven, durable mechanicals. For the enthusiast, certain Rovers make for affordable classics with typically British charm.
Points to watch
A brand gone since 2005, Rover has no active dealer network, and parts availability is becoming scarcer, especially in North America, where it was nearly absent. Several models, particularly the last ones such as the CityRover, suffered from uneven build quality and an aging image. Resale value is low, and maintenance can prove complicated outside the United Kingdom.
Models
Rover models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Rover's historic industrial heart was in the United Kingdom: the Longbridge plant, near Birmingham, was the emblematic site for the assembly of Rover and MG saloons until MG Rover closed in 2005, along with the Solihull site (which became primarily the home of Land Rover/Range Rover). Rover never had a production plant in North America. Its presence on this continent was limited to importing the Rover 800, sold in the United States under the Sterling brand between 1987 and 1991, before withdrawing from the market. Vehicles that carry a Rover heritage today fall under Jaguar Land Rover (Tata Motors).
Tires and wheels
The more recent Rovers (the 25, 45 and 75 series) are mid-size saloons and compacts, generally fitted with 15- to 17-inch wheels; the Rover 75 uses a 5x100 bolt pattern, while smaller models often use a 4x100. Tire sizes fall within the common ranges for European saloons (around 195 to 205 in width depending on the version). Since these are older and, here, rare vehicles, always verify the exact bolt pattern, center bore and offset before any wheel purchase. In Quebec, approved winter tires are mandatory: plan for a winter setup suited to the original size.