Rover Streetwise

Rover Streetwise

Overview
Manufacturer	Rover Group / MG Rover
Production	2003–2005
Assembly	Longbridge, Cowley & Gaydon, United Kingdom
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 I-4 1.6 L K-Series I-4 1.8 L K-Series I-4 2.0 L L-Series I-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.

Years	Model & Transmission	Engine	Power	Torque	Top Speed	0–100 km/h	Economy (MPG imp)	Emissions (CO₂)
Petrol							Economy (MPG imp)	Emissions (CO₂)
2003–2005	1.4 16v 84 Manual	1.4 L, 4 in-L	84 PS (62 kW; 83 hp)	110 N·m (81 lb·ft)	169 km/h (105 mph)	11.8 secs	41.3 mpg	164 g/km
2003–2005	1.4 16v 103 Manual	1.4 L, 4 in-L	103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp)	123 N·m (91 lb·ft)	180 km/h (112 mph)	10.2 secs	41.3 mpg	164 g/km
2003–2005	1.6 16v Manual	1.6 L, 4 in-L	111 PS (82 kW; 109 hp)	145 N·m (107 lb·ft)	190 km/h (118 mph)	9.3 secs	37.0 mpg	179 g/km
2003–2005	1.8 16v Stepspeed	1.8 L, 4 in-L	117 PS (86 kW; 115 hp)	160 N·m (118 lb·ft)	185 km/h (115 mph)	9.5 secs	34.7 mpg	194 g/km
Diesel
2003–2005	2.0 TD 101 Manual	2.0 L, 4 in-L	101 PS (74 kW; 100 hp)	240 N·m (177 lb·ft)	182 km/h (113 mph)	9.9 secs	53.8 mpg	150 g/km

MG3 SW

Main article: MG 3

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

References

↑ "MG3 SW - 80,000rmb to 120,000rmb - actually might be worth it". www.chinacartimes.com. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2009-03-13.

External links

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

Rover

Divisions	Bicycles (1904–1925) Motorcycles (1904–1925) Automobiles (1905–2005)

Owners	Rover Company (1904–1967) Leyland Motor Corporation (1967–1968) British Leyland Motor Corporation (1968–1975) British Leyland (1975–1978) BL Ltd/plc (1978–1986) Rover Group (1986–1988) British Aerospace (1988–1994) BMW (1994–2006) Licence for use by the MG Rover Group (2000–2005) Ford Motor Company (2006–2008) Tata Motors (2008–present)

Cars manufactured by BL Austin Rover, BL Land Rover, Rover Group, MG Rover, NAC MG and MG Motor from 1980 onwards
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s
Type	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
Ownership	BL plc / Rover Group								British Aerospace						BMW						Phoenix Venture Holdings						Nanjing Auto / SAIC
Group name	BL Cars		Austin Rover Group / Land Rover Group				Rover Group														MG Rover Group						NAC MG / MG Motor
City car	Mini
Supermini	Austin Metro										Rover Metro					Rover 100								CityRover					MG 3 SW			MG 3
Supermini	Austin Allegro			Austin Maestro
Compact		Triumph Acclaim			Rover 200 (SD3)					Rover 200 (R8)						Rover 200 (R3)					Rover 25 / MG ZR												MG 5
Compact	Austin Maxi										Rover 400 (R8)					Rover 400 (HH-R)					Rover 45 / MG ZS										MG 6
Mid-size	Morris Ital				Austin Montego
Mid-size	Princess		Austin Ambassador											Rover 600						Rover 75 / MG ZT								MG 7
Executive	Rover SD1						Rover 800 (XX)							Rover 800 (R17)
Coupé													Rover 200 Coupé
Sports car	Triumph TR7													MG RV8		MG F							MG TF						MG TF
Sports car																								MG SV
Off-road and SUV	Land Rover SIII			Land Rover 90/110							Land Rover Defender										Land Rover acquired by Ford in 2000
	Range Rover
										Land Rover Discovery
																	Land Rover Freelander

British Motor Corporation cars, 1952–1966

Austin Austin-Healey MG Morris Princess Riley Vanden Plas Wolseley

Austin	Sheerline Princess A40 A70 Hereford Cambridge Westminster A30 A35 Metropolitan Gipsy A40 Farina Seven Mini Mini Moke 1100 1800 Lancer Freeway

Austin-Healey	100 3000 Sprite

MG	YB Magnette TD & TF Midget MGA MGB Midget 1100

Morris	Minor Morris Oxford MO Morris Oxford series II Morris Oxford series III Morris Oxford Farina Cowley Six MS Isis Mini 850 Mini Moke 1100 1800 Marshal Major

Princess	Limousine IV 3-litre

Riley	1½ Litre 2½ Litre Pathfinder 2.6 1.5 4/68 and 4/72 Elf Kestrel

Vanden Plas	Princess Limousine Princess 3-litre Princess 4-litre "R" Princess 1100

Wolseley	4/50 6/80 4/44 6/90 15/50 15/60 1500 16/60 6/99 6/110 Hornet 1100 18/85 24/80

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