MG ZS

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MG
MG ZS180 station wagon (2001-2004)
MG ZS180 station wagon (2001-2004)
ZS
Production period: 2001-2005;
( China : 2007-2008)
Class : Compact class
Body versions : Limousine , station wagon
Engines: Otto engines :
1.4–2.5 liters
(76–130 kW)
Diesel engines :
2.0 liters
(73–82 kW)
Length: 4532 mm
Width: 1696 mm
Height: 1386 mm
Wheelbase : 2620 mm
Empty weight : 1335 kg
Previous model MG Maestro
successor MG 5 & MG 6

The MG ZS is a sporty sedan or station wagon that MG (a brand of MG Rover ) manufactured between mid-2001 and spring 2005. In the People's Republic of China, the vehicle was offered as the MG 5 between 2007 and 2008 .

history

Rear view

The ZS is basically a sportier version of the Rover 45 , which was launched back in the fall of 1999. The 45, in turn, is a revised version of the Rover 400 , which was presented in mid-1995 as a hatchback and notchback. This 400 had many similarities to the 1995-1999 Honda Civic , as during its development Rover and Honda worked in partnership to develop cars for the Japanese and European markets together.

The MG ZS was developed from the Rover 45 when BMW sold Rover in the spring of 2000. The development of the model was accelerated above all by the fact that Rover had already created a prototype with a V6 engine and sporty chassis of the predecessor type 400. In fact, MG Rover developed MG versions of all three models on the market: the Rover 25 was accompanied by the MG ZR , the Rover 75 by the MG ZT and the Rover 45 by the MG ZS.

The Rover 45 actually had no reputation as a driver's car, but in fact it was the most suitable model of the Rover range for a transformation into an MG, as it was equipped as a Honda legacy with a front suspension with double wishbones and a multi-link rear axle.

As a rover, the car was always optimized for comfort rather than handling, as a MG it was exactly the other way around.

Although its external appearance was admittedly not as elegant as that of the MG ZR or MG ZT, the ZS was the best driver's car of the trio, as the V6 provided a lot of power and the sleek chassis provided excellent handling.

Facelift

MG ZS180 notchback (2004-2005)

At the beginning of 2004 the ZS was revised together with the rest of the MG Rover model range. The retro design details that were added to the vehicle when it went from 400 to 45 largely disappeared. For the first time, the Rover 45 and the MG ZS became vehicles with different looks, at least as far as the top model ZS180, which appeared in autumn 2003, was concerned. Widened wheel arches and ventilation grilles in the fenders, as well as other accents, clearly set the new ZS apart from its sister model.

The ZS also got a new interior with new upholstery materials and a newly styled dashboard, which on some models also had controls for the air conditioning.

The production of the MG ZS was stopped in April 2005 after the bankruptcy of MG Rover and the manufacturing rights went back to Honda , from which the plans for the original vehicle from 1995 came.

Technical specifications

Performance data for the MG-ZS model range:

model engine power Torque Acceleration 0-100 km / h Top speed
ZS105 1.4L R4 Rover K series 103 hp (76 kW) at 6000 min -1 123 Nm at 4500 min -1 10.8 s 184 km / h
ZS110 1.6L R4 Rover K series 107 hp (79 kW) at 6000 min -1 138 Nm at 4500 min -1 9.8 s 191 km / h
ZS120 1.8L R4 Rover K series 115 hp (85 kW) at 5500 min -1 160 Nm at 2,750 min -1 9.0 s 195 km / h
ZS120 Automatic 1.8L R4 Rover K series 115 hp (85 kW) at 5500 min -1 160 Nm at 2,750 min -1 9.9 s 184 km / h
ZS180 2.5L V6 Rover KV series 177 hp (130 kW) at 6500 min -1 240 Nm at 4000 min -1 7.3 s 224 km / h
ZS TD (discontinued) 2.0 l R4 turbodiesel Rover L series 99 hp (73 kW) at 4200 min -1
ZS TD 115 2.0 l R4 turbodiesel Rover L series 111 hp (82 kW) at 4200 min -1 260 Nm at 2000 min -1 9.5 s 192 km / h

Offer in Germany

Initially, only the ZS180 was offered in Germany. The standard equipment of the ZS180 includes electric windows, air conditioning, partial leather seats, 4 airbags, 17 "aluminum rims, power steering, ABS and fog lights. The chassis is based on the racing version of the MG. Due to this configuration, there is no electric driving aid.

Races

Rob Collards MG ZS (2006)

The ZS has been reported in the British Touring Car Championship since 2001. The West Surrey Racing Team (WSR) had factory racing status for many years and initially used cars with a 2.0 liter version of Rover's KV6 engine. Later one turned to the four-cylinder engines of the Rover K series. Former “WSR” cars fell into different hands and in 2002 there was a “junior team”.

The drivers of the MG BTCC were:

year team driver
2001 (shortened season) MG Sport and Racing (WSR) Anthony Reid (2), Warren Hughes (20)
2002 MG Sport and Racing (WSR) Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes
2002 Team Atomic Kitten (Junior Team) Colin Turkington, Gareth Howell
2003 MG Sport and Racing (WSR) Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Colin Turkington
2004 West Surrey Racing Anthony Reid, Colin Turkington
2004 Kartworld Racing Jason Hughes
2005 West Surrey Racing Rob Collard
2006 Team RAC (WSR) Rob Collard, Colin Turkington
2006 Kartworld Racing Jason Hughes
2007 Kartworld Racing Jason Hughes, Fiona Leggate
2008 KW Racing (renamed 'Kartworld Racing') Jason Hughes (until he bought a Honda)

successor

A successor to the Rover 45 / MG ZS (initially called the RDX60 ) was in development. It was based on the shortened floor pan of the Rover 75 and was to appear as a station wagon, sedan and station wagon ("Tourer"). Chassis development was done by Tom Walkingshaw Racing , but stopped when that company collapsed.

The fact that the RDX60 didn't show up meant that the ZS was revised and kept in the model range until the end of MG Rover.

Web links

Commons : MG ZS  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The MG5 - On show at the Shanghai Auto Show ( Memento from July 17, 2007 in the Internet Archive )