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 Barely days after
its European debut, MG Rover South Africa has announced the availability
of a station wagon version of its popular 75 sedan. Dubbed a Tourer, it
will take on the BMW 5-Series Touring models, the Merc E-Class Estates,
Saab 9-5 and Volvo V70 while attractively catering to the ever growing
lifestyle market.
According to an MG Rover SA release, the 75 Tourer is the first all-new
product from the new MG Rover Group. Derived from the 75 sedan, MG Rover
says the 75 Tourer reaffirms the ability of the Rover brand for producing
distinctive and stylish cars of great originality. The 75 has won numerous
awards, including being the only European brand car amongst the Top 5 in
the 2001 JD Power customer satisfaction survey.
South African buyers will have a choice of one model only, it being the
top of the range Connoisseur SE model with standard specification that
include four airbags, ABS brakes, electric seats with heating (driver's
also with memory function),
 high-class Harmon
Kardon sound system, alarm/immobiliser with remote central locking, cruise
control, adjustable headlamp, parking distance control, multi-function
steering wheel, electric windows, fog lamps, rain sensor, fold-down rear
seats, heated electric mirrors, and on-board computer.
The same 130 kW/240 Nm 2,5-litre V6 engine powering the 75 sedan is also
used in the Tourer, and like in the sedan, buyers have a choice of a
five-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
According to MG Rover SA, the 75 Tourer is the first production Rover
estate car in the upper-medium segment of the market. It has a carrying
capacity of more than 1200 litres, but above all it is flexible to provide
owners with a large measure of functionality for their daily business and
leisure.
The tailgate width is 1.1 metres, while the hatch door itself incorporates
a separate opening rear window for extra convenience and easy access for
smaller loads - up to a metre in
 width and 250 mm
in height. Additional stowage compartments are built into the sides and
under the floor, accessed by an assisted hinged floor panel. Four robust
chrome-lashing points are sited in the floor behind the back seat, with
each side of the load space including a retractable push-push hook, for
added stowage and security.
The standard roller blind load space cover has an innovative integrated
load restraint net. Where the net sits behind the top of the rear seat
backrest and can be lifted and latched into sockets located in the roof
(two positions behind the rear seats or when folded behind the front
seats).
Boot space is recorded at 400 litres (680 litres if filled to the roof).
Maximum capacity with seats folded is 1222-litres.
The 75 comes with a 3 year/100 000 km maintenance plan, 24-hour AA-on-call
and 20 000 km service intervals.
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