Bojan Vrbnjak
This is what we call an unhappy time. October 20, 1998 the new one was introduced with great fanfare Rover 75. The British brand's beacon of hope is expected to go on sale in mid-1999. But what does it do? Bernd Pischetsrieder, manager of the then owner of Rover, by BMW? He criticized the British government's attitude towards financial support for the renovation of the Rover factory in Longbridge (where the new Mini and R30 are said to be produced) and hinted that Rover is in crisis.
The press interpreted it as if it were BMW dissatisfied with permanent financial losses and intends to close the Rover. This no doubt put off many potential buyers, despite very positive responses to the car itself. In fact, it could (and still can) compete very well Jaguar S-Type, which was presented at the same motor show. Brand image Rover despite the positive reception in specialized media, suffered damage also due to the model "Seventy-Five” (as Rover wanted 75 to be pronounced).
If we look around few years back, is the basic idea of the model Rover 75 created as part of a group of three new designs for the company he ran Richard Woolley: a large limousine codenamed “Flagship", smaller vehicle (code name "Eric“) and the model 75. Of these designs, only the Model 75 design was carried out. Initially, a redesign of the model was envisaged Rover 600 (introduced in April 1993), but it was after being taken over by BMW in 1994 it was quickly decided that this platform would not be reused, but replaced brand new model, which was supposed to be presented at the end of the nineties.
Work on new model with a code name R40 took place without much interference BMW; the design was enthusiastically received by management and both companies believed that it would classic look ideal orientation for Rover. Inside was in model 75 a lot of wood and chrome. As already mentioned, it is 4,74 meters the long Rover 75 sedan debuted October 20, 1998 at the car show in Birmingham and was put up for sale in the professional press after extensive testing June 17, 1999. Interested customers in Germany have received video cassette with detailed information about the car. This is how the film looked at the time:
