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Rover 800 Coupe 820i (136 Hp)
Overall Rating
Rover 800:
The Rover 800 series is an executive car 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 States. Co-developed with Honda, the 800 was a close relative to the Honda/Acura Legend and the successor to the decade-old Rover SD1.
The first product of the BL-Honda alliance was the Triumph Acclaim – and shortly after its launch the two companies mapped out an advisable strategy for future collaborative projects. Plans for a midsize car were investigated, but were dropped because BL already had the Austin Maestro and Austin Montego in the final stages of development. However both BL and Honda had a pressing need for a full-size executive car in their lineups. BL had to start planning for a successor to the Rover SD1, whilst Honda was keen to expand its presence in the lucrative North American market – something which it couldn't fully do unless it had a full-size luxury saloon which would compete with similar large Japanese imports from Toyota and Datsun. Joint development of the car began in 1981 under the "XX" codename; the corresponding Honda version was known as the Honda Legend, and was codenamed as "HX". The development work was carried out at Rover's Cowley plant and Honda's Tochigi development centre. Both cars shared the same core structure and floorpan, but they each had their own unique exterior bodywork and interior. Under the agreement, Honda would supply the V6 petrol engine, both automatic and manual transmissions and the chassis design, whilst BL would provide the 4-cylinder petrol engine and much of the electrical systems....(Read more on Wikipedia)
Coupe Overview:
Rover 800 (Coupe). With 184 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~11.5 l/100km). With a weight of 1345 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 10.2 s). The top speed reaches 201 km/h. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Rover 800 Coupe was produced before widespread Euro NCAP testing protocols were established (Euro NCAP began in 1997). While it featured basic safety systems like ABS, its structural integrity and occupant protection would likely not meet modern standards.
820i (136 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The manual gearbox significantly improves the driving experience over the automatic, offering more direct control and better acceleration (10.2 sec) for the 136 Hp engine.
Fuel Economy
Achieving 7.3 l/100 km, this is the most economical petrol engine in the lineup, making it a sensible choice for those prioritizing running costs.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Elegant and distinctive styling
- • Comfortable and spacious interior for a coupe
- • Refined Honda V6 engine option
- • Strong performance from Ti and Turbo models
- • Good value on the used market
Cons:
- • Variable build quality and electrical issues on some models
- • Aging platform and technology
- • Limited parts availability for some components
- • Fuel economy can be high on V6 models
- • Not tested by Euro NCAP, safety features are basic by modern standards
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Hatchback: 1988 - 1991).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Rover |
| Model: | 800 |
| Generation: | Coupe |
| Modification (Engine): | 820i (136 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1992 |
| End of production: | 1999 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Coupe |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 136 Hp @ 6000 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 68.2 Hp/l [worst than previous generation] |
| Torque: | 184 Nm @ 2500 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | M16i [Same engine] More details about the engine M16i |
| Engine displacement: | 1994 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 4 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.5 l |
| Coolant: | 10 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 84.45 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 89 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 10:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 11.5 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 5.9 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 7.3 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 10.2 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 10.2 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 201 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 9.9 kg/Hp, 101.1 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 7.3 kg/Nm, 136.8 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 9.7 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1345 |
| Max. weight: | 1910 |
| Max load: | 565 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 455 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 68 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4882 mm mm |
| Width: | 1730 mm mm |
| Height: | 1393 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2766 mm mm |
| Front track: | 1487 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1450 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 195/65 R15 |
| Front suspension | Double wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |
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