Austin Montego
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer |
British Leyland (Austin Rover Group) (1984–1988) Rover Group (1988–1995) |
| Also called | MG Montego Montego Rover Montego (India, Taiwan, Trinidad) |
| Production | 1984–1995 (Austin/Rover Montego) 1985–1991 (MG Montego) |
| Assembly |
Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom Longbridge, Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Designer | Ian Beech David Bache Roger Tucker Roy Axe |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Large family car (D) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Austin Maestro |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.3 L A-Plus I4 1.6 L S-Series I4 2.0 L Perkins Prima / Rover MDI I4 2.0 L O-Series I4 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,570 mm (101 in) |
| Length | 4,468 mm (175.9 in) |
| Width | 1,709 mm (67.3 in) |
| Height | 1,420 mm (56 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
Morris Ital Austin Ambassador MG Magnette (MG model) Vanden Plas 1500/1750 (Vanden Plas model) |
| Successor | Rover 600 |
The Austin Montego is a British family car that was produced by British Leyland from 1984 until 1988, and then by Rover Group from 1988 until 1995. The Montego was the replacement for both the rear-wheel-drive Morris Ital and the front-wheel-drive Austin Ambassador ranges to give British Leyland an all-new competitor for the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier.
On its launch, it was sold as an Austin and also an MG. From 1988, it was sold without a marque following the phasing out of the Austin name.
The Montego started life as a four-door notchback variant of project LC10. Development on the new model, intended to succeed both the Morris Marina and the Princess ranges by the turn of the 1980s, had begun in 1977 but ultimately the new car was not launched until seven years after development had started; in the meantime, the Marina had been updated and rebadged as the Morris Ital from 1980, whilst the Princess had been updated as the Austin Ambassador in 1982. The Honda-based Triumph Acclaim had also been introduced in 1981 largely as a stop-gap to keep potential buyers interested in BL products until both the Montego and the Rover 200-series were launched in 1984.
The Austin Maestro emerged as the five-door hatchback variant. When the designs diverged, the Montego became project LM11 (the Maestro being LM10), and remained based on a lengthened version of the LC10s Volkswagen Golf style front MacPherson strut / rear twist beam chassis. The Montego received different front and rear styling following the replacement of designer David Bache with Roy Axe. It also featured body-coloured bumpers (as did the Maestro), and front wipers which hid themselves under the bonnet when parked.
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