Brawn Again Vitesse Faces Storm
After 18 years away, the legendary Rover V8 is back! And
it has driven straight into controversy. The car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show by triple Olympic gold medal-winning rower Matthew Pinsent, and marks the firm's return to producing eight-cylinder luxury saloons after the 3.5-litre Vitesse was axed in 1986.
But its new-look grille could well upset rival Audi.
As these pictures show, the 75's front has been completely redesigned to give
it a bolder and more upmarket style. A spokesman for the Longbridge company admitted: "
The grille is not dissimilar to the one on the new A6, but in our opinion the Rover's is better looking. The shape blends well with the aggressive front, and gives the car a very characterful face." (I tedeschi adesso s'ica%%%%ano
n.d.r.)
The spokesman claimed any similarity was purely coincidental, and that the 75's designers had been working on the style for some time. He added: "Anyway, Rover started the large grille look back in 1967 with the P5B."
Alongside its all-new front end, the exterior of the 75 V8 is distinguished from lesser models by its unique badging, four exhaust pipes, 18-inch alloy wheels and side skirts. The spokesman continued: "This is a landmark car for us, and helps to strengthen our product range. Having a V8 model is im-portant to the brand, and although the V6 800 offered the same performance as the 3.5-litre Vitesse
it replaced, a true Rover flagship should have those two extra cylinders."
The newcomer is based on the standard 75 saloon, but - as with the MG ZT 260 - has been converted to rear-wheel drive and features a longitudinally mounted 260bhp 4.6-litre Ford-derived V8 under its bonnet. However, unlike the MG, which is a manual, the Rover only comes with a four-speed automatic box. This, plus a remapped engine management system and modified exhaust, will make the car more civilised than its sporty cousin.
However, the firm insists the noise from the tailpipe will still be enough to get driving enthusiasts excited. All the changes mean the 75 V8 is capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in less than seven seconds, and goes on to a top speed of more than 150mph. To cope with the extra power and weight of the bigger engine, the car uses the same large diameter brakes and beefed-up suspension as the MG ZT 260. However, the springs and damper settings have been adjusted to offer a smoother ride and more sedate handling.
As you would expect with a flagship vehicle, the car comes with a very high level of kit as standard. In-side, leather and light oak trim is used throughout to create a luxurious feel, while the front seats are electrically operated for added comfort.
Other features include extra thick carpets, sat-nav with a motorised TV and Teletext screen, a DVD player and a top-of-the-range audio system. The 75 V8 is available to order now, and is expected to cost £35,000. Meanwhile, the firm said
it will unveil a supercharged
MG ZT V8 - which will in-crease power to around 385bhp - at the British Motor Show in May. (caspiterina solo una quindicina meno di Jaguar S type R e BMW M5
n.d.r.)
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Originariamente Scritto da duetto80 
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