The Rover 600 Series was a compact executive car range that was produced by the British manufacturer
Rover
Rover may refer to:
People
* Constance Rover (1910–2005), English historian
* Jolanda de Rover (born 1963), Dutch swimmer
* Rover Thomas (c. 1920–1998), Indigenous Australian artist
Places
* Rover, Arkansas, US
* Rover, Missouri, US
* ...
from 1993 to 1999.
The exterior of the Rover 600 was designed by Rover, a reskin of the European
Honda Accord
The , also known as the in Japan and China for certain generations, is a series of cars manufactured by Honda since 1976, best known for its four-door sedan variant, which has been one of the best-selling cars in the United States since 1989. ...
, also built in the United Kingdom by
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
in
Swindon
Swindon () is a town and unitary authority with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Wiltshire, England. As of the 2021 Census, the population of Swindon was 201,669, making it the largest town in the county. The Swindon un ...
. The core structure and vast majority of the engineering content was sourced from Honda but the vehicles were designed at the same time, with a small Rover team on site in Japan. Colour and trim derivatives were also used to help separate the Rover from the Honda in the marketplace.
The 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3 litre
inline-four
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
petrol engines were all provided by
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
. However, the 2.0 litre
turbodiesel
The term turbo-diesel, also written as turbodiesel and turbo diesel, refers to any diesel engine equipped with a turbocharger. As with other engine types, turbocharging a diesel engine can significantly increase its efficiency and power output, ...
Rover L-Series engine and
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
T-Series engines were developed by Rover itself, evolutions of units already available elsewhere in the Rover model range.
The 600's interior included wood and chrome trim, as well as relatively high equipment levels, although rear legroom was criticised by ''Parkers'' as rather constrained.
The interior was similar to the Japanese built
Honda Ascot Innova
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
, except with a few cosmetic changes. Carpet was also not evident along the bottom trim of the dashboard, although it did feature there on the Innova.
The Honda derived chassis was reported to give a comfortable but unsporting ride. Given the Rover's equipment, prices were reasonably competitive in the
large family car
The D-segment is the 4th category of the Euro Car Segment, European segments for passenger cars, and is described as "large cars".
It is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "large family car" size class, and the present-day definition of the mid-size ...
segment, and considerably lower than the price of such
compact executive car
A compact executive car, also known as a compact luxury car, is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car. Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the European car classification.
A ...
s, such as the
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven generations.
The first generation of the 3 Series was only avail ...
and
Audi A4
The Audi A4 is a line of compact executive cars produced since 1994 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.
The A4 has been built in five generations and is based on the Volkswagen Group B platform. The first ...
. Unlike the Montego, there was never an estate version of the 600 Series, with no direct replacement being launched for the estate version of the Montego when it was discontinued at the end of 1994. An estate would eventually resurface with the Rover 75 Tourer when it was launched in the summer of 2001.
History
Launched on 19 April 1993, the 600 Series replaced the Montego saloon in the Rover range, but because the 600 was positioned considerably further upmarket in relation to its predecessor, the entry level Montego models were kept in production primarily for the fleet market.
Production continued until the beginning of 1999, when it was replaced with the retro styled
Rover 75
The Rover 75 is an executive car manufactured initially by the Rover Group and later by MG Rover, under the Rover marque and available over a single generation with front-wheel drive in either saloon/sedan or station wagon/estate configuratio ...
, developed under
BMW's stewardship. The 75 also replaced the larger
800 Series. The 600 had been a popular car in the compact executive sector, with a large percentage of sales being to the fleet market.
In 1984, while in the final stages of developing the
Rover 800 Series
The Rover 800 series is an executive car ( E-segment in Europe) range manufactured by the Austin Rover Group subsidiary of British Leyland, and its successor the Rover Group from 1986 to 1999. It was also marketed as the Sterling in the United S ...
saloon, it was planned to sell the sell the hatchback version from its launch a year later as the Rover 600 Series, but these plans were abandoned and instead the hatchback became part of the 800 Series.
Development
Originally, the
Austin Rover Group
The Austin Rover Group (abbreviated ARG) was a British motor manufacturer. It was created in 1982 as the mass-market car manufacturing subsidiary of British Leyland (BL). Previously, this entity had been known as BL Cars Ltd (formerly Leyland C ...
(ARG) had intended to replace the Montego with the AR16 and AR17 concepts - these were essentially the existing Montego underpinnings and core structure re-skinned with new outer body panels to mimic the design language of the Rover 800 (XX) and would have been called the Rover 400-series. AR16 was a saloon, whilst AR17 was to be a hatchback which would compete directly with the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier. However, shortly after the restructuring of ARG and its parent company British Leyland into the
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the British vehicle manufacturing conglomerate known as "BL plc" until 1986 (formerly British Leyland), which had been a state-owned company since 1975. It initially included the Austin Rover Group car business (comprisi ...
, the plan was cancelled due to a lack of funds, and as a stopgap, a facelifted and revised Montego (Project AR9) was released for the 1989 model year.
In June 1989, Rover reached an agreement with
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
(its partner in a venture which had been running since 1980) to produce a new model which would share its base with the next generation
Honda Accord
The , also known as the in Japan and China for certain generations, is a series of cars manufactured by Honda since 1976, best known for its four-door sedan variant, which has been one of the best-selling cars in the United States since 1989. ...
, but would use Rover's own engines. It would be aimed further upmarket than the Montego, competing more directly with the likes of the
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven generations.
The first generation of the 3 Series was only avail ...
than with the
Ford Mondeo
The Ford Mondeo is a large family car manufactured by Ford since 1993. The first Ford model declared as a "world car", the Mondeo was intended to consolidate several Ford model lines worldwide (the European Sierra, the Telstar in Asia and Austra ...
, which was launched at around the same time.
Having been unveiled to the motoring press towards the end of 1992, the Rover 600 Series finally went on sale on 19 April 1993, two months before the new Accord on which it was based, although it had been well known within the motoring press that both cars were derived from the Japanese market Ascot Innova which had launched in March 1992, therefore the engineering and interior design elements of both the 600 and European-market Accord were essentially already in the public domain almost a year before their European launch.
Its introduction saw the Montego saloon withdrawn from production after nine years, although production of the estate model continued until the end of the following year.
Rover recalled 21,634 600 Series' built between December 1994 and December 1995 in May 1996, to check a potential steering rack fault.
Versions
The 600 was available in the following versions:
* 618i
* 618 Si
* 620i
![ROVER600 side](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/ROVER600_side.jpg)
* 620 Si
* 620 SLi
* 620 GSi
* 623 SLi
* 623 GSi
* 623 i''S''
* 620ti
* 620 SDi
* 620 SLDi
* 620 GSDi
Badging was determined by engine size: 618 models had 1.8 litre engines, 620 had 2.0 engines, 623 had 2.3 litre engines. With the exception of the
T-Series 620ti, all petrol engines were sourced from Honda, and all diesel versions were
L-Series units. The
Rover K-series engine
The Rover K-series engine is a series of internal combustion engines built by Powertrain Ltd, a sister company of MG Rover. The engine was a straight-four cylinder built in two forms, SOHC and DOHC, ranging from .
Design history
The K ser ...
was not used in the 600.
The 600 was available in a number of different trims. All models had
power steering
A power steering is a mechanical device equipped on a motor vehicle that helps drivers steer the vehicle by reducing steering effort needed to turn the steering wheel, making it easier for the vehicle to turn or maneuver at lower speeds.
Hydraul ...
, electric front windows, remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser and tinted windows. The Si had split rear seats, Si Auto and above got a sunroof. SLi trim added electric rear windows and wooden door trim; GSi models received 15" multispoke alloys and full leather trim.
From 1994, all cars had a driver's airbag. The 623i''S'' had half leather trim and a small lip spoiler on its boot. The ti featured a set of 16" six spoke alloys with uprated suspension, 'Torsen' gearbox and a dark half leather interior.
Run out models included:
* 618iL
* 618iS
* 620iSD
* 620iLD
S and SD models had the appearance of the 620ti, with the same six spoke 16" alloy wheels and half leather trim. L and LD models had seven spoke 15" alloy wheels and full leather trim resembling the GSi models.
The range was revised/mildly "facelifted" twice.
The first revisions were in 1996, which included a slightly revised interior, with a padded front arm rest and separate rear head rests, all models, apart from the ti, had 15" wheels, high level brake light, new alarm and immobiliser system (the alarm changed from an infra red to a radio controlled handset and the ignition key became a 'transponder key', without which the immobiliser could not be disarmed), drink holders in the front doors, electric headlight adjuster and all models from Si specification upwards receive air conditioning and 15" alloys.
At this time, the T series changed ignition system from Distributor to '
wasted spark
A wasted spark system is a type of ignition system used in some four-stroke cycle internal combustion engines. In a wasted spark system, the spark plugs fire in pairs, with one plug in a cylinder on its compression stroke and the other plug in a ...
', pistons, Klinger head gasket, LSD and the steering was changed to Rover's Positive Centre Feel (PCF) system. United Kingdom cars which featured these revisions were all badged as "600" only, in line with most other models in the Rover range which no longer had badging by engine sizes.
The final revisions came in 1997, just over a year later, and all cars got slightly lowered suspension (~10 mm) and body coloured sills, rubbing strips, door handles and door mirror covers.
620ti
![Rover 620ti](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Rover_620ti.jpg)
In 1994, the 620ti was launched. It had a turbocharged,
intercooled
An intercooler is a heat exchanger used to cool a gas after compression. Often found in turbocharged engines, intercoolers are also used in air compressors, air conditioners, refrigeration and gas turbines.
Internal combustion engines
Most ...
, 16 valve, twin cam 2.0 litre
T series engine, a top speed of , and a 0-60 mph time of seven seconds, thanks to and torque. The 620ti also had uprated suspension, dark half leather upholstery, and a set of six spoke 16 inch alloy wheels.
''
Autocar'' magazine (8 February 1995) had an example on a long term test, and found it to be as quick in the mid range as a
Ford Sierra Sapphire 2.0i RS Cosworth, following tests at
Millbrook Proving Ground
Millbrook Proving Ground is an English vehicle testing centre located at Millbrook, Bedfordshire. One of the largest vehicle testing centres in Europe, it is near to the M1 and Bedford.
History
Modelled on the Milford Proving Ground operated by ...
.
Production
Reviews
*
The AA
AA Limited, trading as The AA (formerly The Automobile Association), is a British motoring association.
Founded in 1905, it provides vehicle insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans, motoring advice, road maps and other services. Th ...
'The Rover 600 ... has the finest power units and sweetest gearchange ... its unique aura and good looks will appeal to those who buy with their hearts not their heads. (But) the 600 costs more to buy and run. It is under equipped and takes up a lot of space outside, without offering any of the benefit ... inside.'
Honest JohnPositives: Smart looking car, best with 2.3 litre engine, Honda Accord based and the most reliable Rover of its era.
Negatives: Lacklustre ride and handling, prone to inner rear wings rust, T-Series engines suffer head gasket trouble.
*
RAC
RAC or Rac may refer to:
Organizations
* Radio Amateurs of Canada
* RATCH-Australia Corporation, electricity generator
* Refugee Action Collective (Victoria), Melbourne, Australia
* Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, US
* Rent-A-Center, ...
'A sound design that managed to keep the Rover image moving upmarket. If you want British luxury and quality Japanese engineering, the 600 could be just your cup of Earl Grey. Many buyers are now realising what a bargain this combination of cultures represents. Try one and be surprised – it's better than you might think.'
References
External links
*
{{Automobiles made by BMC, BL and Rover Group companies, post-1945
600
__NOTOC__
600 ( DC) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 600 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the ...
Euro NCAP large family cars
Compact executive cars
Sedans
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Cars introduced in 1993