Rover Streetwise

Rover Streetwise
Overview
Manufacturer	Rover Group / MG Rover
Production	2003–2005
Assembly	Longbridge
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Related	Rover 25 MG 3 SW
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 L K-Series Straight-4 1.6 L K-Series Straight-4 1.8 L K-Series Straight-4 2.0 L L-Series Straight-4
Chronology
Successor	MG 3 SW

Rover Streetwise, rear view

The Rover Streetwise was a small British car made by MG Rover. It was based on the Rover 25, but had an increased ride height and chunkier bumpers. The car was marketed by Rover as an 'urban on-roader'.

Production ended in April 2005, due to the bankruptcy of MG Rover, but reappeared in 2008 in China as the MG 3 SW, following the purchase of MG Rover's assets by Nanjing Automobile Group.

History

The Rover Streetwise was an attempt by Rover to appeal to younger drivers. Rover had modernised the existing models in 1999 with a facelift for the 25, 45 and the Rover-designed 75 models but Rover was suffering falling sales and a tarnished brand after the sale of Rover to the Phoenix consortium in 2000 by BMW. Although new models were in the planning stages, the 25 and 45 models would be at least 10 years old before the new models were launched. Phoenix owned the rights to the MG brand, and had marketed the ZR, ZS & ZT with reasonable success, restyling the existing 25, 45 and 75 models. This included tweaked suspension, new wheels, altered dashboard inserts, different seats, and bodykits.

With the MG brand proving popular, MG Rover Group turned their attention to the Rover brand. The Rover-badged cars had a rather staid image, and were commonly associated with elderly motorists. Thus, MG Rover attempted to appeal to a younger market. MG Rover decided to design a car for a niche market, and chose the ‘Urban on-roader’ look, similar to the Audi A6 Allroad, Škoda Octavia Scout, Volvo XC70 & Volkswagen Polo Fun/CrossPolo.

The Streetwise ceased production in April 2005, when Rover ceased trading and went into administration.

Design

The tough-looking Streetwise was designed as a two-wheel drive urban car with 4x4 looks. The streetwise had a higher ride height than the basic 25, and although it shared many of the common characteristics of the 25, it was visually different with large impact absorbing grey or black plastic bumpers. Unlike the rest of the Rover and MG range, the Streetwise bumpers were not colour-coded. The front indicator and fog lights were redesigned to complement the circular headlamps, and most models came with chunky 16-inch wheels as standard. To extend the load space, the Streetwise was fitted with multi-purpose roof bars, which also served to distinguish the Streetwise from ZR & 25.

The Streetwise offered a choice of sporty interiors, available in four or five seats (optional). The standard four seats had two separate rear seats and a separating centre console, and were half leather body-hugging seats. All models came with standard front electric windows, driver's airbag, PAS, and ABS. The S & SE models came with leather steering wheel, gear knob and air conditioning. The electric window switch had been relocated next to the handbrake, with new-style rocker switch, in a circular design with chrome effect plastic in the middle. Other subtle changes included a riveted chrome effect plastic loop round the base of the gear lever, and a restyled blue dash dials. All Streetwises came with trafficmaster, an early warning device to warn the drivers of congested routes, and CD player as standard. The Streetwise also came with rear parking sensors, as an option or as standard on higher models.

Engines

The Streetwise engines were available as 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 stepspeed (Automatic), and a 2.0 TD. The 1.6 & 1.8 were less common.

MG3 SW

In 2008, the Streetwise, rebadged as the MG3 SW, was relaunched in China by Nanjing Automobile Group.^[1]

References

External links

• The Unofficial Austin Rover Website (Under MG ZR Development Story)
• MG Rover Group Website