Rover Metro
The development of the replacement for the aging Austin Metro was conceived as far back as 1984, before the project was finally axed in 1987 due to Austin Rover's severe financial crisis. Work then began in earnest on a heavily facelifted model of the existing model. The Rover Metro finally being born in 1990. However although heavily facelifted a more advanced and radical overhaul based around the original Metro shell was developed but again sadly shelved due to the companies less than stable finances. The new model was launched with the long awaited
K Series engine and matching gearbox, allowing the Metro to compete with its rivals and enter the market with a 5 speed gearbox for the first time.
The facelifted car also benefited from reengineered suspension setup giving far greater ride over the Austin Metro's setup.
Following the removal of the manufacturers badge from all Austin Rover models in 1987, the new Metro was to be badged as a Rover, making the Metro Rovers first ever small car, having previously always been associated with bigger, more luxerious cars. The car was badged as the Rover Metro in the UK, as the Metro name was considered a sufficient brand in the UK, however the Rover Metro was badged as a Rover 100 for all overseas markets, due to poor sales and the poor reputation of the Metro in overseas markets.
The 'New' Rover Metro was launched in May 1990 and amazingly received plaudits from several leading motoring publications, including a very favourable in What Car? Magazine when compared with the Fiat Uno, Peugeot 205 and their then car of the year the Ford Fiesta the Rover came out on top. The Rover Metro was named What Car? of the year in 1991, and sales of the new car were initially impressive.
With a creditable 81,000 sold in 1990, 60,000 in 1991 and similar figures reported in 1992, 1993 and 1994 (almost constantly 50% of the Ford Fiesta sales of the time). Before the launch of the Rover 100 in the UK, where sales continued to slide against a revised Ford Fiesta and a car based on an aging design first launched in 1980!
