Rover SD1
| Rover SD1 | |
|---|---|
1985 Rover Vitesse | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | British Leyland (Rover marque) |
| Also called | Standard 2000 (India) |
| Production | 1976–1986 303,345 produced |
| Assembly | United Kingdom: Castle Bromwich, England United Kingdom: Cowley, Oxford, England United Kingdom: Solihull, West Midlands, England India: Chennai New Zealand: Nelson South Africa: Blackheath (CKD) |
| Designer | David Bache & Spen King |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback/fastback |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Transmission | 3-speed automatic GM TH180 5-speed Leyland LT77 manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in (2,814 mm) |
| Length | 185 in (4,699 mm) |
| Width | 69.6 in (1,768 mm) Wheel Track 60 in (1,524 mm) |
| Height | 54 in (1,372 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Rover P6 Triumph 2000 |
| Successor | Rover 800 series |
The Rover SD1 is both the code name and eventual production name given to a series of executive cars built by the Specialist Division (later the Jaguar-Rover-Triumph division), and finally the Austin Rover division of British Leyland from 1976 until 1986, when it was replaced by the Rover 800. The SD1 was marketed under various names. In 1977 it won the European Car of the Year title.
In "SD1", the "SD" refers to "Specialist Division" and "1" is the first car to come from the in-house design team.
The SD1 was the final Rover-badged vehicle to be produced at Solihull. Future Rover models would be built at the former British Motor Corporation factories at Longbridge and Cowley.