The MG ZS is a sports family car that was built by MG Rover from 2001 until 2005. The ZS is essentially a tuned version of the Rover 45 (which was launched in 1999). The 45 in turn is a facelifted version of the Rover 400 which was launched in hatchback form in 1995 and saloon form in 1996, which in turn was derived from the Honda Domani.

Development

The model was rapidly created from the Rover 45 after BMW sold off Rover in April 2000. Development of the model was greatly accelerated by the fact that Rover had already created 400 Series prototypes of the car using V6 engines and sporting suspension setups. In fact, MG Rover developed MG versions of all three Rover cars on sale at the time.

The Rover 45 donor car did not have a reputation for being a driver's car, but in fact it was the most suitable car in the Rover range for making into the MG ZS, its Honda heritage providing double wishbone front suspension and fully independent multi link rear suspension.

As a Rover, the 45 was optimised for comfort rather than handling – however, as an MG the opposite was the case. The ZS 180, offering from the 2.5 L V6 engine and acceleration to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, received favourable reviews in the press, with particular praise for its steering, handling and suspension.

Setting the ZS apart from most rivals was the V6 configuration, when most of its rivals were using turbocharged engines.Evo magazine March 2002

Variants and updates

The non-appearance of RD/X60 meant that in the first few months the MGZS was facelifted with the help of the car designer Peter Stevens (together with the rest of the MG Rover range) which introduced a new clear one-piece headlight, new bumpers and a flush tailgate/boot lid with the number plate relocated to the rear bumper together with new wheel designs, colours and a revised interior with climate control using parts from Zonda and Lamborghini, and with all ZS models an optional body kit which was derived from the MG XPower SV was fitted as standard on the ranging topping ZS180.

The retro design cues adopted when the 400 became the 45 were dropped, for the first time the Rover 45 and MG ZS became noticeably different looking cars.

The first attempt at launching the MG 5 name in the sedan model firstly came in April 2005 at the bankruptcy of Rover. Due to Honda owning the rights to the Rover 45's design and platform at the time along with eventual joint talks between Nanjing Auto and MG to purchase the MG brand, Honda stopped their licensing agreement with MG in response and the Rover 45-based MG 5 in its hatchback form never saw production in China. Despite Nanjing Auto's attempt to work out a deal with Honda to establish a joint venture, this would've raised competition concerns as Honda already had joint ventures with GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda at the time. In 2009 at the Shanghai Auto Show, Nanjing Auto tried again with the MG5 name. This time, the car was based on the 2004 facelifted MG ZS. The MG ZS-based MG 5 project was then cancelled entirely. The MG 5 name however would later be produced by SAIC Motor as a completely new model from 2012 onwards.

Performance Performance data for the MG ZS range: ModelEnginePowerTorque0–60 mph (0–97 km/h)Top speedZS105 (Republic of Ireland and Portugal only) 1.4 L K-Series at 6000 rpm 138 N·m (91 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm 10.1 sec 110 mph (177 km/h)ZS110 1.6 L K-Series at 6000 rpm 138 N·m (101 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm 9.8 sec 119 mph (192 km/h)ZS120 1.8 L K-Series at 5500 rpm 160 N·m (118 ft·lbf) at 2750 rpm 9.0 sec 122 mph (196 km/h)ZS120 Auto 9.9 sec 115 mph (185 km/h)ZS180 2.5 L KV6 at 6500 rpm 240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) at 4000 rpm 7.3 sec 139 mph (224 km/h)ZS TD 2.0 L L-Series at 4200 rpm 240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) at 2000 rpm 10.3 sec 116 mphZS TD 115 at 4200 rpm 260 N·m (191 ft·lbf) at 2000 rpm 9.5 sec 120 mph (193 km/h)

ZS 180

The MG ZS 180 was the flagship car of the ZS range. It was available as a five-door hatch or a four-door saloon. The 180 included a number of changes over the standard ZS, as well as incorporating all of the features of the ZS+ models, the ZS 180 was equipped with a lightweight all alloy 2.5-litre Rover KV6 Engine, with quad cams and twenty four valves.

The 180 features uprated front and rear brakes, with front discs (up from ) and rear discs (up from ) as well as ABS and EBD,Mg Rover technical bulletin TB0027 lowered sports suspension with uprated springs and dampers, uprated bushes fitted to front upper and rear trailing arms, 17-inch sports alloy wheels with 205/45 R17 tyres.

Externally, the 180 can be identified with deep front bumper, with front bib spoiler and fog lamps and sculptured side sills. A large rear spoiler could be substituted for a standard size as a no cost option. The 180 was facelifted in 2004, along with the rest of the range, and gained a bodykit inspired by the MG Xpower SV.

The kit incorporated wheel arch extensions with front wing vents, bumper spats and side skirts. The large 'Extreme' rear spoiler became optional, with a subtle lip boot spoiler fitted as standard. Complementing the new bodykit were the new 17-inch 'eleven spokes' alloy wheels. Both the wheels and bodykit were available as cost options on the rest of the range.

The MG ZS 180's 2.5-litre (2497 cc) V6 engine produces at 6,500 rpm and at 4,000 rpm, giving a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.3 seconds, and a top speed of , with a combined fuel economy reading of 29 mpg.

Racing

The MGZS was raced in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) from 2001 to 2008. The West Surrey Racing (WSR) team enjoyed 'works' status for several years and initially ran cars with a two-litre version of the Rover KV6 engine, later switching to four cylinder JUDD engine which was heavy modified K-Series which had a capacity of 2.0 Litres (the largest production K series engine was 1.8 Litres).

Ex WSR V6 cars have appeared in other hands, and a 'junior team' was run in during 2002.

MG BTCC drivers to date have been: YearTeamDrivers2001 (partial season)MG Sport and Racing (WSR)Anthony Reid (2), Warren Hughes (20)2002MG Sport and Racing (WSR)Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes2002Team Atomic Kitten (semi-works junior team)Colin Turkington, Gareth Howell2003MG Sport and Racing (WSR)Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Colin Turkington2004West Surrey RacingAnthony Reid, Colin Turkington2004Kartworld RacingJason Hughes2005West Surrey RacingRob Collard2005 (Partial Season)Kartworld RacingJason Hughes2006Team RAC (WSR)Rob Collard, Colin Turkington2006Kartworld RacingJason Hughes2007Kartworld RacingJason Hughes, Fiona Leggate2008KW Racing (Kartworld Racing renamed)Jason Hughes

What the press said Reviewers generally praised the handling and performance of the ZS, particularly the ZS 180, but criticized the interior quality.

"Drive a ZS180 back to back with a Golf V5, probably the sportiest of the line, and the Rover (based car) stomps all over the Volkswagen, its steering, chassis and engine beating the German into submission over the sort of lumpen road surfaces that make up the British B road"

"Of all the cars transformed by Rover's engineers, this motor is perhaps the most remarkable, as it turned the originally rather dowdy 45 into a fire breathing super saloon"

"When young lads start lusting after what's basically a rebodied and reengineered Rover 45, it's obviously something special. It is no exaggeration to claim that the MG ZS 180 was the biggest surprise of the lot when the new range was launched in summer 2001."

"At first glance it might appear to be a simple case of badge engineering, but the transformation from ageing Rover 45 to exciting MG ZS is a lot more than simply swapping metal monikers. Beneath the wire-meshed MG nose and bespoilered tail lies a lot of skilful engineering by Longbridge’s finest."

References

External links Head Tec The first ZS club in the world for the MG ZS. Rover400-45.info - Online community for owners of post-1995 Rover 400/45s and MG ZS theMGZS.co.uk - Online Forum dedicated to the MG ZS.

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