The Austin Montego is a British family car manufactured by British Leyland from 1984 to 1988, and later by the Rover Group from 1988 to 1995. Montego is a replacement for Morris behind the Ital-wheel-drive and the front- wheel-drive Austin Ambassador revolves around giving Leyland all new competitors to Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier.
At its launch, it was sold as Austin and also MG, and was the last new car to be launched with the use of the Austin marque. From 1988, it was sold without a marque after gradually out of the name Austin.
Video Austin Montego
Design and development
The Montego started life as a four-door notchback variant of the LC10 project. The development of a new model, which was intended to succeed both Morris Marina and Princess revolving around the turn of the 1980s, had begun in 1977 but the new car finally was not launched until seven years after construction began; meanwhile, Marina has been renewed and rejuvenated as Morris Ital from 1980, while the Princess has been renewed as the Austin Ambassador in 1982. Honda's Triumph award was also introduced in 1981 largely as a gap to keep potential buyers interested in BL to Montego and Rover 200-series products were launched in 1984.
The Austin Maestro emerged as a five-door hatchback variant. When the design deviates, Montego becomes the LM11 project (the Maestro being LM10), and remains based on an extended version of the Volkswagen Golf Style LC10s front MacPherson strut/rear chassis twist beam. Montego received different front and rear styles after the replacement of designer David Bache with Roy Ax. It also features a body-colored bumper (like the Maestro ), and a front wiper that hides itself under the hood when parked.
The Montego offers many improvements over the Maestro, many of which are then incorporated into the latter, such as the new SOHC engine (S-Series), and a stronger dashboard. Like Maestro, there is a high-performing MG version which again uses solid-state instrument clusters, travel computers, and synthesized sounds for information and warning systems. Montego-mounted dashboards are superior to those originally designed for Maestro and feature rally-style tachometers, service indicators and car representations showing open doors, remaining lights, etc.
An estate variant, with a larger luggage capacity than its competitors, two additional back-facing children's seats and a self-leveling suspension, also laid out by Roy Ax, was soon followed and received instant recognition, winning the Design Council award.
Initially there was a plan to name it the Rover 400 Series, and the pre-production car in Warwickshire was seen carrying the "ROVER" badge, and was given a badge as 413i, 416i, 420 and 420i. From 1995, a decade after Montego was introduced, the names 416i and 420i will be used, but on an unrelated Rover 400 Series.
Maps Austin Montego
To market
The Montego was launched on April 25, 1984. It was initially available as a four-door sedan only, filling the gap in the range left by the stop of Morris Ital's saloon two months earlier. However, it will be produced beside the Ital plantation until the model was fired in August 1984.
The estate variant was launched at the British International Motor Show in October of that year. The 150 bhp (112Ã, kW) MG turbocharged variant was released in early 1985 as MG's fastest production ever with a 0-60 mph time of 7.3 seconds, and a top speed of 126 mph (203Ã, km/h). Vanden Plas version, and featuring leather upholstery, walnut veneer and features such as electric windows, central locking and electric door mirrors.
Like Maestro, Montego suffers from an over-extended development phase, which began in 1975 and is hampered by the industrial turmoil that hit Britain's Leyland and the Austin Rover Group during this period. The Ryder report has recommended costly modernization both from the Longbridge and Cowley factories, and since Longbridge will start its first operation - Metro Austin is included in its first production, although its design has started after Maestro/Montego. As a direct result of this delay, the two cars are now out of step, which has been laid out by several different designers - Ian Beech, David Bache, Roger Tucker and finally, Roy Ax, all contributing to the Montego style. In a way, both Maestro and Montego have been compromised by the reuse of a single platform, door and wheelbase to bridge the two size classes - errors that BMC/BL had previously created with Austin 1800 and Austin Maxi in the 1960s. Indeed, Roy Ax, when installed as Austin Rover design director in 1982 was so horrified by the designs of Maestro and Montego when he first saw them in prototypes suggesting that they be eliminated and the entire rehearsal of the rehearsal.
Like many previous BL cars, early Montegos suffered from the problem of building quality and reliability that greatly damaged the car's reputation among the public. In some ways, the technology is more advanced than its time, especially solid state instrumentation and engine management systems, but the "talking" dashboard fitted to high-end models (and originally used to promote Montego as high-tech advanced offerings) tends to disrupt errors and is perceived as something embarrassing by the BL and the British press. This feature is stopped after a while. There is also a problem with the initial set of body-colored bumpers that tend to crack in cold weather with little impact.
The Montego relies heavily on the UK market of origin for sales, and particularly the lucrative fleet sector where it competes directly with Ford Vauxhall Cavalier Ford Sierra and General Motors. Based on their rich American parent company, and their deeper market penetration into the continent of Europe compared to the BL, both Ford and Vauxhall were able to offer substantial discounts to the fleet to increase sales and market share. This practice severely damaged Montego's sales, and his smaller brother Maestro, and only complicated the initial problem by building quality and reliability.
Next development
Development on Montego continues. The replacement was proposed by Roy Ax in 1986, which will be Montego's existing core structure with new outer panels to mimic the design language defined by the newly launched Rover 800-series, and will be designated as a 400-series Rover. This concept, designed AR16 and planned to be produced around 1989, will also spawn a five-door hatchback version (designated AR17) to increase Rover's choice in competition with Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier.
However, the AR16/17 concept was abandoned in November 1988 due to lack of funding, and the facelift to an existing car (AR9 designated) released in 1988 enhanced its appeal, supported by both Perkins-engined Diesel models, and seven versions -seater from real "Countryman". The 2-liter turbodiesel (often known as Perkinannya 'Prima') is the development of the O-Series gasoline engine already in use. The diesel saloon won a "giant test" of CAR magazine against CitroÃÆ' Â «n BX (1.8 XUDT), new turbo Peugeot 405 (1.8 XUDT) and Audi 80 (1.6). They rated the best 405 cars, followed by BX and then Montego, with Audi coming last. "But if people buy diesels, and turbo diesel for their economies, the winner must be Montego.... its engine - even when flooded unanimously - is more than 10% more economical than others For the isolated moments when Cost Control is not the core , Montego is a car you can enjoy too.. Steering and driving positions are pretty good.... suspension as 'very smooth' It is silent on a rough, calm and muffled mound. "
Turbo diesel became a favorite of RAF for the transport of officers. Car Mechanics Magazine runs a RAF officer carrying the purchased Montego purchased from the Defense Department auction in 1996.
Facelift also sees the phase out of the Austin name. This late 1980s model had a badge that resembled the Viking Longship Rover, but it was not identical, so was the word "Rover" that had appeared in the car.
Although the car failed to match its competitors, such as the Volkswagen Passat, the car was sold well to the likes of Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier.
In the early 1990s, Montego was aged and its popularity diminished, although this was offset by the popularity of new cars like the second generation Rover 200 Series, and the saloon equivalent, Rover 400 Series. Saloon production was completed in early 1993 at the launch of the Rover 600 Series. The plantation continued until December 1994, almost a year after the takeover of Rover by BMW. The second generation Rover 400 Series was launched shortly thereafter as hatchbacks and sedans, increasingly filling in the void in the Rover range left by Montego's stoppage.
In the final year, What's a Car? magazine says "Austin Rover's great white hope is once, Montego matures into a very decent car - but no one notices". The development of the chassis for the rear suspension of Montego and Maestro was used as the basis for the next Rover car, and was considered good.
Montegos continued to be built in small quantities in the form of CKD at the Cowley plant in Oxford until 1994, when production finally ended. The last car was signed by all who worked on it, and is now on display at the British Heritage Motor Center in Gaydon, Warwickshire. A total of 546,000 Austin/Montegos Rovers and 23,000 MG Montegos were produced, with the UK by far the largest market for cars.
Overall, 436,000 Montegos were sold in the UK between 1984 and 1995. In August 2006, a survey by Auto Express revealed that Montego was the eighth most-eliminated car in Britain over the last 30 years, with only 8,988 is still in working order. Contribute to this, the area of ​​bodywork that will be covered by plastic trim (such as front and rear bumpers) is left unpainted and thus unprotected. In addition, pre-1989 models equipped with A and S-series engines can not run without gasoline without a modified cylinder head or require fuel additives. This caused many owners to just dump cars, as leaded gasoline was removed from sales in the UK after 1999, and by 2003 most gas stations had stopped selling LRPs because of falling demand as the number of cars that needed them decreased.
Austin Montego, like many other Austin Rover cars at the time, offers a high luxury model. Sale opposite MG, Montego Vanden Plas is a luxurious alternative. The Vanden Plas features leather seats and door cards (velor in the estate version), powered windows, mirrors, door locks and sunroof. Alloy wheels are offered and then become standard on all cars. An auto gearbox is also offered. It is available in both bodystyles saloon and estate. All Vanden Plas Montegos is 2.0 liter, either EFi (electronic fuel injection) or standard carburetor engine.
International markets
Europe
The Montego is sold in some continental European markets. In France, Plantations are very popular.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, Austin Montego was launched in 1984. The only model available is the 2.0 liter HLS or Mayfair version, and only in the form of an estate. The sedan version is not offered in New Zealand due to concerns that it will compete directly with the Honda Accord, which is assembled locally by New Zealand Motor Corporation, which has changed from assembling the BL model to Honda. Also available from 1987, the Montego sedan is sold in the Vanden Plas range with a 2.0 liter injected-fuel motor.
From about 1989 onwards, wider models were imported by the new company, Rover New Zealand; this includes the sedan version for the first time. Also new is the MG 2.0 range (identical to MG Montego sold in the UK), and all wearing the official MG badge. Auckland primary dealers develop air conditioning systems as an option for this model along with local specialists.
China
The Austin Maestro version with the front end of Montego was built briefly in China by FAW, as Lubao CA 6410 and as Jiefang CA 6440 UA Van. This is after the rights to Montego and Maestro have been sold by Etsong in 2003, which has produced variants of the previous Maestro.
India
The Montego is sold in India as the Montego Rover in collaboration with Sipani Automobiles - (a company that tries and fails to market Reliant Kitten in India - a version of Robin with four wheels and a Triumph-inspired front suspension - as a Dolphin Sipani). The car was not successful, selling in limited quantities before it was stopped.
Taiwan
From the mid-1980s to early 1990s, local importers sold Montego along with Mini and Maestro under Austin, then Rover badge.
Trinidad and Tobago
From 1997-2000, a private importer sold Montego in this Caribbean country under the Rover badge. Build poor quality and the company immediately folded.
Machine
- 1984-89 - 1275Ã, cc A-Plus I4, 68Ã, hp (51Ã, kW) at 5600 rpm and 75Ã, lbÃ, Â · ft (102Ã, Nm) on 3500Ã, rpm
- 1984-93 - 1598 cc S-series, 86 bhp (64 kW, 87 PS)
- 1984-93 - 1994 cc O-Series 104 bhp (carburetor), 115 bph (fuel injection), and 150 bhp (turbo)
- 1988-95 - 1994 cc Austin/Rover MDi - Perkins Prima TD I4, 81 hp (60 kW) and 116Ã, lb? ft (157Ã, N? m)
In popular culture
- Adrian Mole moves Austin Montego in 1999 Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
- Bobby Grant drove Austin Montego at Brookside in the 1980s; it became a substitute for the previous Princess who was very prominent.
References
External links
The AA Montego Review PDFs
- ROVER MONTEGO 2.0L DLX TURBO
- AUSTIN ROVER MONTEGO 2.0L
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments