Fellow fiends:
Some (interesting) reading from the "World news this week" section of the
2/28/94 issue of Autoweek:
"HONDA CUTS ROVER. Honda has announced its intention to end its 15-year
relationship with Rover by selling its 20% stake, most likely to new owner
BMW. Honda supplies engines and other technology to Rover, and has indicated
that it would end the partnership slowly to better facilitate the
transition. Meanwhile, BMW chairman Bernd Pischetsreider has said that BMW
V8s devinitely will replace the aging Rover V8 (born a Buick) used in the
Range Rover. It's too late to drop in the engine for this fall's launch
of the new Range Rover, but it likely will appear within two years of the
launch. The Rover Mini will return with some safety retooling, but the
Maestro and Montego hatchback and sedan will cease production in England.
Rover already has an agreement to transfer Maestro production to Bulgaria
and is finalizing negotiations to set up Montego production in India for
the Sipani Company."
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On a related matter, though our own Scott Fisher did not get published in
the "Fax Poll" regarding a BMW/MG nexus, I thought you folks out there in
SOL.land might be interested in the comments that were published (from the
same issue of AutoWeek):
"MG means "sports cars," plus MG can help pave thw way for other Rover cars
like the Mini replacement to be sold here. When designing the new Mini,
BMW/Rover should follow the lead of the VW Concept 1 and produce a modern
rendition of the classic"
"Slip a nice BMW four under the bonnet, perhaps a detuned 318 motor."
"The MG and BMW (roadster) could be sold side by side, just like the Midget
and MGB. Sell the MG at $15,000 and the BMW at $20,000 plus."
"Why not a Triumph as well? Use one of BMW'w V8s and the rear suspension
from the 5-series."
"I hope BMW knows what it is doing. Even with Honda and its technological
prowess, Rover could do no better than turn out Sterling. If BMW can't come
up with a competitive package to compete with the Mazda Miata, they ought
to bag the whole idea. Focus on BMW's own roadster and leave the MG to
as a warm piece of automotive history."
"If the car is really like an MG used to be, do the world a favor and
bury the marque."
"BMW should concentrate on marketing its own roadster, then fill the limited
niche with an MG."
Some interesting comments, others not so interesting (IMHO).
Cheers,
Will "the square round poet" Zehring
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