Rover 400 Series Rover 45
1993 Rover 414 SLi (first generation)
Overview
Manufacturer	Rover
Production	1990–2005
Assembly	United Kingdom:Longbridge,Birmingham
Designer	Peter Stevens
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Rover 200 MkI (for R8) Rover 200 MkII (for HH-R) Austin Montego (for the saloon and estate/tourer) Austin Maestro (for hatchback)
Successor	MG 6

TheRover 400 Series, and later theRover 45, are a series ofsmall family cars that were produced by the British manufacturerRover from 1990 to 2005. The cars were co-developed as part of Rover's collaboration withHonda. The first-generation 400 was based on theHonda Concerto, and the Mark II 400 (later the Rover 45) was based on theHonda Domani/Civic.

Honda petrol engines were used in some Rover models, while the market competitiveRover L-series diesel engine was used from the mid-1990s in Hondas, before they designed their own diesel engine.^[1]

Rover 400 (R8)
Overview
Production	1990–1995 (saloon) 1994–1998 (Tourer)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-doorsaloon 5-doorTourer (estate)
Related	Honda Concerto Rover 200 (R8)
Powertrain
Engine	petrol: 1.4 LK-seriesI4 1.6 LHonda D16 I4 2.0 LM-series I4 2.0 LT-Seriesturbo I4 diesel: 1.8 LPSA XUD7Tturbo I4 1.9 LPSA XUD9 I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,550 mm (100.4 in)
Length	4,370 mm (172.0 in)
Width	1,680 mm (66.1 in)
Height	1,400 mm (55.1 in)

The original 400 Series, launched in 1990 as a four-doorsaloon, was a saloon version of the second-generationRover 200 Serieshatchback, both sharing the codename R8 during development. The 200 Series had been launched six months earlier. Like the 200, the model was designed in collaboration withHonda (who produced the corresponding designed for EuropeConcerto model) and both models would share production lines at Rover's Longbridge facility. It used the same core structure and mechanicals as the Honda, but the rear-end redesign of the glasshouse and body were unique to Rover. Interior trim and electrical architecture were all shared with the R8 Rover 200.

An estate — or station wagon — version was subsequently developed by Rover Special Products and introduced in the summer of 1994.^[2] Badged as the Rover 400 Tourer, this remained in production alongside the second-generation 400 until 1998, as no estate version of the latter car was built. Many of the 400 Tourers were exported to Japan.

The R8 Rover 200 and 400 were the first applications of Rover'sK-series family of engines (appearing in 1.4 L (1,396 cc)twin-cam16-valve form).

The 1.6 L (1,590 cc) version used either aHonda D16A6 and D16Z2 SOHC or D16A8 DOHC powerplant, while the 2.0 LM-series unit from the800 Series followed soon afterwards (1991) in the sportier versions.

The Rover-engined models drove the front wheels via jointly developedPeugeot/Rover R65 gearboxes (1.4 litre) andRover PG1 for the 1.6- and 2.0-litre versions. The Rover 420 GSI turbo and GSI Sport turbo, produced in limited numbers, were equipped with theturbocharged 197 bhp (147 kW)Rover T-series engine. Also available were twoPSA (non-electronically controlled Lucas CAV injection pumps)Indirect injectiondiesel engines, with the choice ofnaturally aspirated 1.9-litre XUD9 orturbocharged 1.8 XUD7T engines. The Tourer eschewed the 1.4, naturally aspirated diesel, and the turbocharged petrol-engined options.

These engines were installed instead of the non-electronically controlled Bosch HPVEDirect Injection Rover MDi / Perkins Prima used in theAustin Maestro andMontego, as that engine, with its noisy combustion but lower fuel consumption, was deemed too unrefined for the new models.

A mid-life facelift in September 1993 (also applied to the Rover 200) saw the reintroduction of the Rover grille, which first reappeared on the R17 facelift of theRover 800. This change was achieved without significant change to the remaining structure, but provided a more distinctive Rover "family look" and established a certain distance from theHonda Concerto.

Rover 400 (HH-R)
Overview
Production	1995–1999
Body and chassis
Body style	4-doorsaloon 5-doorhatchback
Related	Honda Domani Rover 200 (R3)
Powertrain
Engine	petrol: 1.4 LK-seriesI4 1.6 LK-series I4 1.6 LHonda D16 I4 2.0 LT-Series I4 diesel: 2.0 LL-seriesturbo I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,620 mm (103.1 in)
Length	4,320 mm (170.1 in)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1,390 mm (54.7 in)

The second-generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in 1995 as a hatchback and later as a saloon. It was based on theHonda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the EuropeanHonda Civic range in five-door hatchback form. It was no longer as closely related to the 200 Series, which was revised independently by Rover but still shared many components with the 400. It would prove to be the final collaborative model between Rover and Honda, ending a partnership that had begun with theTriumph Acclaim in 1981.

Power came from 1.4- and 1.6-litreK-series, 1.6-litre Honda D-series SOHC (automatic gearbox only), and 2.0-litre Rover T-seriespetrol engines, as well as a 2.0-litreL-seriesturbodiesel borrowed from the larger600 Series.

The Rover 400 might have been marketed as a small family car, as it compared closely in size and engine range with contemporary models such as theFord Escort andVauxhall Astra. Instead, Rover priced the car to compete with vehicles like theFord Mondeo andVauxhall Vectra. This was because Rover's only offering in theC/D segment at the time was the ageingMontego, and this gap in the company's line-up needed to be filled. A saloon version was later introduced for the 400.

The relatedHonda Civic was not sold as a saloon in the UK, although a four-door version was available in other markets. This helped to expand the appeal of the Rover model into the executive car segment, and to better differentiate the two cars.

The second-generation 400 was initially popular, being one of Britain's best-selling cars between 1995 and 1997. However, within three years it was being outsold by traditionally poorer-selling cars, such as theVolkswagen Passat andRenault Laguna.

Rover 45
Overview
Production	1999–2005
Designer	Peter Stevens
Body and chassis
Body style	4-doorsaloon 5-doorhatchback
Related	Honda Domani Rover 25 MG ZS
Powertrain
Engine	petrol: 1.4 LK-seriesI4 1.6 LK-series I4 1.6 LHonda D16Y3 I4 1.8 LK-series I4 2.0 LKV6V6 diesel: 2.0 LL-seriesturbo I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,620 mm (103.1 in)
Length	4,360 mm (171.7 in) (1999–2004 hatchback) 4,520 mm (178.0 in) (1999–2004 saloon) 4,386 mm (172.7 in) (2004–2005 hatchback) 4,540 mm (178.7 in) (2004–2005 saloon)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in) (1999–2004) 1,678 mm (66.1 in) (2004–2005)
Height	1,390 mm (54.7 in) (1999–2004) 1,386 mm (54.6 in) (2004–2005)

The Rover 400 was given a facelift in 1999, becoming the Rover 45. It was repositioned and priced to compete with theFord Focus andVauxhall Astra, rather than larger cars like theFord Mondeo andVauxhall Vectra. From 2001, a re-engineeredhot hatch version of the Rover 45 was launched and sold as theMG ZS.

The 1.4- and 1.6-litre K series petrol and 2.0-litre L series diesel engines were carried over from the 400 Series, along with the introduction of a 1.8 K series and a 2.0-litre V6 from the largerRover 75 (replacing the 2.0 T series four-cylinder petrol unit) – although this power unit was only available on saloon versions. The 45 came equipped with the better seating of the 75 and whilst the 400 models handled very well, the suspension was tuned to give much better controlled ride characteristics with quicker steering.

The 45 was available withcontinuously variable transmission (CVT) supplied by the German manufacturerZF Sachs which had previously been used in the MGF. This particular design of CVT consists of an oil cooled laminated steel belt (with external oil cooler) running on variable pulleys. The revised model boasted improved equipment levels, comfortable interior and reduced prices, compared with the preceding 400-badged models. While the asking price was now in line with othersmall family cars, the Rover 45 began to lose market share, its chances of success not helped by its aged design. Therefore, the 45 was never able to seriously compete with more modern designs, such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra in terms of popularity. It was also outsold by the likes of thePeugeot 307,Fiat Stilo,Volkswagen Golf andRenault Mégane.

A 2004 facelift was MG Rover's last effort to boost sales of the Rover 45, with a new front and rear-end styling, a redesigned interior with refreshed dash, centre console and new switchgear, revised suspension settings, improved equipment and lower prices. Some of these changes were necessitated by the end of Domani production in Japan, as Honda refused to continue the supply of certain parts.

Production of the car stopped in April 2005, due to MG Rover's bankruptcy. Honda swiftly terminated the licensing agreement with MG Rover - (thus ending the last vestiges of the alliance between the two companies that had begun in 1980 with theTriumph Acclaim) and removed the remaining tooling and assembly lines for the car from Longbridge prior to its sale to Nanjing Automotive, which meant that no versions of the Rover 45/MG ZS were ever produced by Nanjing Automotive.

Rover 45 models were tested on three occasions by Thatcham's New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) organisation, and achieved the following ratings:^[3]

01/00–12/02	Rating
Theft of car:
Theft from car:

01/03–03/04	Rating
Theft of car:
Theft from car:

04/04–05/05	Rating
Theft of car:
Theft from car:

These were the engines available for the Rover 400 (1995–1999) and Rover 45 (2000–2005):^[4][5]

During the end of the 1990s, replacements for theRover 25 and 45 models were developed by Rover Group under the codenameR30. Intended for launch in 2003 as the Rover 35 and 55, these would have been based on an all new platform. At launch, these would have used K-series engines, but newValvetronic engines were anticipated to be introduced by 2006. The R30 Project was cancelled, whenBMW divested its ownership of Rover Group in March 2000.

It is possible that some of the development work may eventually have benefited theBMW 1 Series.^[7]

Following the termination of the R30 Project, from 2001,MG Rover planned to replace the 45 with a model range based on theRover 75 platform. Collectively referred to as theRD/X60 project (sometimes also writtenRDX60), the range was intended to comprise the following variants:

• RD60: Rover hatchback
• X60: MG hatchback
• RD61: Rover saloon
• RD62: Rover "tourer" estate

A preview of how the RD62 "Tourer" might appear was given at the2002 Geneva Motor Show in the form of the Rover TCV (Tourer Concept Vehicle)concept car.^[8]

During the design process, MG Rover's design partnerTom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) went into administration. MG Rover lost access to most of the computer aided design work for their new vehicle. Efforts were made to reclaim these from the administrators, however, the resulting uncertainty and delays made it impossible to progress with the project.

The abortiveSAIC Deal of August 2004 was to have included bringing a replacement for the ageing 45 to market, and the RD/X60 was a likely candidate for this. Ultimately, no such joint venture was entered into. After MG Rover's collapse, SAIC bought some of the company'sintellectual property, and released a concept called theRoewe W2. Like the RD/X60, this was partly based on the platform of the Rover 75. The W2 entered production in April 2008, as theRoewe 550.

A hatchback derivative of the 550 was announced in November 2009, as theMG6.

Media related toRover 400 andRover 45 at Wikimedia Commons

• Rover vehicles
• Compact cars
• Front-wheel-drive vehicles
• Hatchbacks
• Sedans
• Station wagons
• 2000s cars
• Cars introduced in 1990
• Cars discontinued in 2005

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