MG ZR / ZS / ZT History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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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.
Body styles
- Hatchback
- Saloon
- Estate
Notable special editions & performance variants
ZT 260 / ZT-T 260
Rear-wheel-drive, Ford 4.6-litre V8 conversion of the front-drive ZT — a rare, engineered-in V8 muscle saloon/estate.
Related models
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