9/25/2023 0 Comments Mini metro gti![]() ![]() The luxury fittings marking out the Metro Vanden Plas took the form of a radio-cassette player, electric front windows, an improved instrument panel with tachometer, and a variety of optional extras such as trip computer, leather trim, remote boot release, and front fog lamps. The Vanden Plas variant received the same MG engine from 1984 onwards (with the exception of the VP Automatic, which retained the 63bhp (47kW) 1275 cc unit). The Vanden Plas featured higher levels of luxury and equipment, while the slightly more powerful MG Metro 1.3 sold as a sports model (0-60 mph in 10.1 seconds, top speed 105 mph). The Metro range was expanded in 1982 to include the Vanden Plas and MG versions. The advert also featured the similar-sized Fiat 127, Renault 5, Volkswagen Polo and Datsun Cherry as "foreign invaders" and the voiceover spoke of the Metro's ability to "send the foreigners back where they belong". Its updated A+ series 1.0 and 1.3L OHV engines hardly represented the cutting edge in performance, but they were strong on economy.Ī major TV advertising campaign was created by the London agency, Leo Burnett which came up with the headline "a British car to beat the world". Its clever interior design made it spacious considering its dimensions, and Hydragas compensation gave surprisingly good ride and handling. The Metro quickly proved popular with buyers, and during the early part of its production life it was the best selling mini-car in the UK, before being eclipsed by the updated Ford Fiesta. It was finally revealed to the public on the press day of the British Motor Show with the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher in attendance. The news broke in the national newspapers a full year ahead of the public launch with The Sun, among others, carrying the story. The company chose to stage the launch presentations for dealers and major company car buyers on board a cruise ship, the MS Vistafjord. One of the consequences was that there was enormous public interest in the car from well before its launch. The Austin Allegro was seven years old and the Morris Ital was also launched in 1980 but was effectively a reworked version of the nine-year-old Morris Marina, and BL's latest all-new car was the 1976 Rover SD1. The Mini, for example, had been in production for 21 years by the time of the Metro's launch. British Leyland's troubles were largely attributed to out-of-date technology and design of most of its model range. The issue was resolved by BL promising to advertise the car only as the miniMetro.Īt the time of its launch, the Metro was hailed as British Leyland's saviour, as the company was facing a serious financial crisis and there were fears that it could go out of business. ![]() ![]() Once the result was announced, the manufacturer of trains and buses, Metro Cammell, objected to the use of the Metro name by BL. They were offered a choice of three names, Match, Maestro or Metro. The name was chosen through a ballot of BL employees. Initially, the Metro was sold as a three-door hatchback. The hatchback body shell was one of the most spacious of its time and this was a significant factor in its popularity. The Metro used the Hydragas suspension system found on the Allegro but without front to rear interconnection. Some of the Mini's underpinnings were carried over into the Metro, namely the 998 cc and 1275 cc A-Series engines, much of the front-wheel drivetrain and four-speed manual gearbox, and suspension subframes. It was intended as a big brother, rather than as a replacement, for the Mini, the earlier Mini replacement project, ADO88, having been replaced in late 1977 by a new project, LC8, for the development of a larger car which could compete more effectively with the successful superminis, such as the Ford Fiesta. On 8 October 1980, BL introduced the Austin miniMetro. The Rover 100 was finally cancelled in 1998, ironically being out-lived (by two years) by the original Mini it was meant to replace. A direct replacement in the supermini class did not arrive until 2004 with the CityRover. From 1990 until its demise in 1994, the Metro was sold only as a Rover.Īlthough the new Rover 200 (introduced in 1995 and smaller than previous 200 models) had originally been designed as a replacement for the Metro, it was not marketed as such after its launch. There were also van versions known as the Morris Metro and later, Metrovan.Īt the time of its launch, the Metro was sold as an Austin. It was re-badged as the Rover 100 series in 1994. It was intended to complement the Mini, and was developed under the codename LC8.ĭuring its 18-year lifespan, the Metro wore many names: Austin Metro, MG Metro and Rover Metro. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin Mini Metro. The Metro is a supermini car that was produced by the Austin Rover Group division of British Leyland and its successors. ![]()
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