THE Z CARS

ZR

Four versions - the entry level 105, the 120, the 160 and a diesel TD.

MGZR105 - 1.4litre - 103bhp - 0-60 in 10secs - top speed 111mph

MGZR120 - 1.8litre - 117bhp - 0-60 in 8.6secs - top speed 119mph  - also available with selespeed gearbox

MGZR160 - 1.8litre VVC - 160bhp - 0-60 in 7.4secs - top speed 131mph

MGZRTD - 2.0litre turbo diesel - 101bhp - 0-60 in 9.7secs - top speed 114mph

There are three and five door options

Prices rangfe from £9,995 to £14,845

 

2001 sees more excitement within the MG clan. Now the MG car company has announced a new range of MG sport saloon based on the 75, 45, and 25 Rovers. Initially known as the X10, X20 & X30 the cars have now imaginatively been renamed the ZR, ZS & ZT. The ZS & VT come with an option of the 2.5litre KV6 engine  which produces a power output of some 180bhp in the ZS and 190bhp in the ZT !!!  These powerful MG saloons are now on the road along with a ZT-T estate version.  All these cars have been extensively modified and re styled from their donor Rover 25,45 and 75 versions - the ZT perhaps the most impressively with completely new interior and dashboard whilst the other two remain fairly similar in their instrumentation to the original cars. The dealers tell me that the ZS 2.5 KV6 is the best option and most "meaty" of the range but personally I'd go for the ZT. The best thing is you can buy them now......

 

ZS

Two versions - the entry model 120 and the more powerful 180.

MGZS120 - 1.8litre - 117bhp - 0-60 in 9.0secs - top speed 122mph

MGZS180 - 25litre V6 - 177bhp - 0-60 in 7.3secs - top speed 139mph

There are four and five door options

Prices range from £12,495 f to £16,395

ZT & ZT-T

The ZT comes in two varieties , the 160 and 190. The range has just been boosted by the addition of a sports estate, the ZT-T again in the same two varieties but with slightly lower performance.  This vehicle cost £750 million to develop and is the most radically altered of the whole range as befits the amount of money spent on it.

MGZT160 - 2.5litre V6 - 160bhp - 0-60 in 9.3secs - top speed 129mph

MGZT190 - 2.5litre - 190bhp - 0-60 in 8.2secs - top speed 137mph

Prices range from £18,595 to £21,095 for the ZT

and £19,545 to £22,045 for the ZT-T

The 2.5litre KV6 squeezed under the bonnet of a ZT

OK ...now we've all seen the new cars you can already hear the question being asked .....

......but they're not real MG's are they ?

As usual this is going to be a matter of your own opinion - we heard the same question when the MGA was introduced  with it's sleek wingless new look...and again with the Metro era...and again even with the F ! There can be no doubt that the A is a classic car despite the cynical beating it took all those years ago, the F as well despite initial cynicism has proved in it's six short years to be a classic with many enthusiasts now driving them ....the Metro, Montego, Maestro ...well the jury is still out on that one. They are probably the closest ancestors to this latest range of re vamped standard body shells. The MMM's did not really have enough development or enhancements on them to make them that much more radical than their BL/Austin counterpoints. These cars though have had money spent - a whopping £750 million in the case of the ZT and it does show in that car. The ZR and ZS although performance is enhanced remain too close to the original cars for comfort in my opinion.

There is no doubt however that these cars are extremely important for the future of MG Rover - if these fail we are unlikely to see the next generation of completely new  MG's designed from a blank sheet of paper. The omens at the moment are, thankfully, good.

 

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