MG ZR / ZS / ZT History

When BMW broke up Rover in 2000, the new MG Rover Group revived MG as a sporting sub-brand with a trio of Z-cars for 2001: the ZR hot hatch (based on the Rover 25), the ZS (Rover 45), and the ZT executive saloon and ZT-T estate (Rover 75). All gained firmer suspension, sharper steering, and bolder styling.

The ZR became MG Rover's best-selling car by 2004, and the flagship ZT 260 swapped to a Ford 4.6-litre V8 and rear-wheel drive. Production of all three ended in April 2005 when MG Rover collapsed into administration, the last cars built at Longbridge before the brand passed to Chinese ownership.