A bad report on U.K. Rover (Phoenix) sales in June : down 20 % . The same
month, BMW sales went up 25% - so much for bad publicity.
However, this was posted on BBC online just yesterday :
A specialist sports car designer has been appointed to oversee the next
generation of Rover cars.
Peter Stevens, who designed the world's fastest road-going car, the McLaren
F1, is to lead a new design team at loss-making Rover, which was bought from
BMW in May by the British Phoenix consortium.
The group, headed by former Rover chief executive John Towers, aims to get
Rover back in profit within the next two years.
Industry analysts have said the company's success depends on its ability to
roll out competitive new models.
But the car market is becoming increasingly tough and Rover will need
exceptional design and production if it is to rebuild its reputation.
New man
As well as the 240mph McLaren F1, Peter Stevens designed the Jaguar XJR15
and Lotus Elan M100, and was also head of design at Lamborghini.
The appointment of the 55-year-old car collector - who owns a number of
classic MGs - to head up Longbridge's development team will give Rover a big
boost.
He is expected to give priority to engineering a new range of MG-badged
cars, including a flagship supercar developed in partnership with racing car
group Lola.
Rover's deputy chairman, Nick Stephenson, is a director of Lola.
Partnership
When Phoenix took control of Rover, it said it was looking for a partner to
help develop a new range.
In the meantime, it said it would be aiming to continue production of the
Rover 25, 45 and 75 models and the old-shape Mini at about 200,000 units a
year.
Production of the 75 is being transferred from Cowley in Oxford, which has
been retained by BMW, to Longbridge in Birmingham.
About 500 workers at Cowley have agreed to take voluntary redundancy.
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