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Rover to return in 2009

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33K views 306 replies 55 participants last post by  streetrover  
B
#1 ·
I am not at liberty to give any details, but there is potentially some good news for Rover enthusiasts.

There is a very high chance that the Rover brand will return to Europe in 2009 with a new range of cars. The cars are British designed and the first model - a car that is similar in size to a Rover 25 - is currently at a very advanced stage in development: development mules have been running for around eighteen months and pressings have already been ordered.

The product range will include hybrid petrol-electric and diesel-electric cars and an all-electric family hatchback. Sales targets for Europe in 2009 are 30,000 units.

In the UK, the cars will be sold through a planned 120-150 strong dealer network and pre-launch advertising and promotions are scheduled to start at the end of 2008.

So if anyone wants an 09 registered Rover, they could well be in luck.

Of course, this depends on whether the planned deal with Ford goes through. If it doesn't, the cars will appear in Europe, but they won't be badged as Rover.

That is all I can tell you for now. You can ask as many questions as you like, but I cannot say any more for the time being.
 
R
#2 ·
boxwellm said:
I am not at liberty to give any details, but there is potentially some good news for Rover enthusiasts.

There is a very high chance that the Rover brand will return to Europe in 2009 with a new range of cars. The cars are British designed and the first model - a car that is similar in size to a Rover 25 - is currently at a very advanced stage in development: development mules have been running for around eighteen months and pressings have already been ordered.

The product range will include hybrid petrol-electric and diesel-electric cars and an all-electric family hatchback. Sales targets for Europe in 2009 are 30,000 units.

In the UK, the cars will be sold through a planned 120-150 strong dealer network and pre-launch advertising and promotions are scheduled to start at the end of 2008.

So if anyone wants an 09 registered Rover, they could well be in luck.

Of course, this depends on whether the planned deal with Ford goes through. If it doesn't, the cars will appear in Europe, but they won't be badged as Rover.

That is all I can tell you for now. You can ask as many questions as you like, but I cannot say any more for the time being.
Click to expand...
Is this an April fool in November?? But it will help the new owner of JLR to bring the average CO2 levels down to the new threshold
 
S
#3 ·
Sounds like another MGrovernut joke.

If it does I will be the first to place an order as I need two new cars and at the min my StreetWise and 45 are going to get the chop.

The 45 after Christmas will be going as I need a new family hack. The StreetWise will be for the chop in March 08,
 
M
#9 ·
If this isn't a wind up then can I have another told you so moment? Last time I got laughed at was when I suggest making a car not unlike the Dacia Logan. Renault, VW and Toyota have or are now all copying my inspired thinking.

Sometimes I admit to having wacky moments but I am a person who thinks outside the box, that's what I'm good at. Now BMW will mark my words, relaunch Triumph......once they start struggling to grow.....
 
Z
#15 ·
Mike told us that the cars are British designed, and will be sold in Europe. They might be called Rovers, if the deal with Ford goes through.

So who has been designing a range of cars in Britain for a year or two? Who might get ownership of the Rover brand?

As Serge said, it must be Tata.

Thanks Mike :cool:
 
B
#37 ·
I know. Fun, isn't it?

Liam Olf said:
Well I'm not excited in the slightest because electric-powered cars in my eyes are not what Rover is about.
Click to expand...
Electric cars are torquey, very easy to drive and exceptionally quiet. The models for sale in the UK right now may not be the most exciting, but that doesn't mean they can't be in the future.

Performance wise, they can be built to be as fast as you want - see http://www.lightningcarcompany.com/ to give you some idea of what is in development at the moment. A quick look on YouTube and searching for electric car will pick up the Wrightspeed X1 which will outdrag almost anything else around. And on Monday I'm off to do some filming with my electric car. No names, no pack drill but I'll let you know when it'll be aired on TV.

Range wise, electric cars can have as long a range as you want - it all comes down to cost - but 100 mile plus ranges with a recharge time of minutes are now possible. There are companies rolling out recharging points across the UK right now: driving somewhere, charging up and then driving back again is already a reality in many parts of the country and these facilities are only going to expand over the next few years.

And for Rover to make an impact on its return, they are going to have to do something very different. So an electric version could be just what is needed to get some interest.

Sunbeam Man said:
Im sorry but the Rover name on a small car just doesn't go. If they were to create a Rover derivative of the Jag XF built in one of JLR factories then they would be on to a winner, but if its just some "designed in the UK" thing made in India with no true British presence forget it.
Click to expand...
Well the first car will be small, but the range will expand into medium and larger segment cars as well, with saloon, hatchbacks and estates planned. As for UK manufacturing, the chances are it'll happen - just not from day one.
 
L
#22 ·
Well I'm not excited in the slightest because electric-powered cars in my eyes are not what Rover is about.

And yes I know, neither are imported, badly made, overpriced Indian superminis but at least Rover had the excuse of being strapped of cash at the time, I don't think Ford can really say that...
 
M
#26 ·
Great news. Im not going to get excited though, just yet...
I plan to part with my ZS in 2009 so by then I could/should have a good choice of Rover or MG badged cars! Thing is, will they be made here? That would be 50% of the reason for me buying the car.
Wouldn't it be great though to see fantastic showrooms full of Range Rover Sports, Jaguar XF's and Rover 25's!
Calm down, calm down..........
 
J
#33 ·
The only thing is though, as we susbsequently found out... the image depicted as RDX60 in that photograph wasn't actually RDX60 and according to some sources on the web - was leaked by some at MGR in the hope it would give others at the company a serious kick up the backside. Besides, to my mind the car on test on Hainan looks suspiciously GM in origin.

Still not sure what all of this has to do with Rover :err:

Regards

John
 
S
#36 ·
Im sorry but the Rover name on a small car just doesn't go. If they were to create a Rover derivative of the Jag XF built in one of JLR factories then they would be on to a winner, but if its just some "designed in the UK" thing made in India with no true British presence forget it.
 
Z
#39 ·
Ok, so it's not Tata.

But it is petrol-electric hybrid, or diesel-electric hybrid, or pure electric. And being so-near-yet-so-far it could be Indian. So it could be REVA (the makers of the G-Wiz electric car). Mike knows a thing or two about them ;)

But how could it end up wearing a Rover badge? Does REVA have a tie-up with Tata? Tata could license the name to REVA...
 
A
#42 ·
Tata is the obvious name but what about One Equity if they buy JLR.

Jaques Nasser and Wolfgang Ritzle (if he really is involved) know a lot about cars and with their contacts - not least with Ford - they could make this happen. They could easily use Fords as the basis for this and effectively act as a series production test bed before Ford start churning them out in huge volume.

Of course it could be BMW.........








....................if that isn't lobbing a grenade I don't know what is!!!!!:devil:
 
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