4/1/92 New York - Honda announces new joint venture with Rover:
Honda Motor Corp, which owns 20% of the Rover Group, through it's
parent company British Aerospace, has announced a new joint project
between the two companies. In a marketing move reminiscent of the
Austin-Healey Sprite and MG Midget twins of the 60's, a small convertible,
currently known as the Honda Beat in Japan, will be marketed by Rover as
the new MG Midget. Rover has previously sold Hondas in the UK with badge
changes, and uses an Acura Engine in its 800 series, which were sold
as Sterlings in the USA. Rover owns the MG name through it's merger
with BLMC in the 70's and has sold various Rover sedans in England through-
out the 80's with the MG nameplate.
The Midget will be a slightly enlarged version of the current Beat, which is
powered by a 64 horsepower, 640cc, 3 cylinder, 12 valve engine, which
revs eaisly to it's 8500 RPM redline, and a slick shifting 5 speed
transmission. The mid-engined two-seater is built on a 90 inch wheelbase,
with a well engineered strut-type suspension, four-wheel disk brakes,
and different front and rear tires - 155/65R13 front, 165/60R14 rear.
A drivers side airbag will be available.
The MG version of the car will be built alongside the Beat in Honda's
existing plant in England, but will have a different trim package. US marketing
plans are incomplete, but the super economical MG will probably be sold through
existing Range Rover dealerships in 1993 as the MG Midget for about $11,000.
In 1993, Rover will also introduce a new 3.9 litre V8 MGB. The powerful 60's
Retro-car will sell for around $45,000.
Rover spokesmen said that "The new Midget embodies the same spartan,
inexpensive, and fun spirit of previous MG's".
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