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BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 121

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that many in the motoring industry greeted the MG ZT range with huge scepticism. Turn a Rover 75 that 'wheeled Werther's Original' into something that would do credit to the MG badge? Do us a favour! Knives were sharpened in advance; hatchet jobs were planned describing how MG Rover were milking the last vestiges of credibility from the MG marque. Journalists drove the car. Big helpings of humble pie were subsequently eaten. The MG ZT is a class act, there's a bulletproof aura to it whichever model you choose. With used examples now starting to appear in steady numbers it's possible to buy into this hefty hunk of Britishness at bargain prices. Here's how.

Modelsword count: 22

Models Covered: Four-door saloon ZT, Five-door estate ZT-T (1.8, 2.5 V6, 2.0 diesel [120, 160, 180 Sports Auto, 190, 260, CDTi, CDTi135])

Historyword count: 284

That the MG ZT was hatched from the tweedy Rover 75 is improbable in itself. That it turned out to be a car that looked the part wearing alloy wheels and spoilers is even less likely but strange times breed strange cars. When BMW pulled the plug on Rover, the management in charge had to revitalise the marque and bring in much needed cashflow quickly and it turns out they made some wise choices. Employing Peter Stevens to style the ZT's aggressive spoilers was one good move as was sparking public interest with plans for outrageous rear wheel drive powerhouses. The range kicked off in June 2001 with one engine in two distinct states of tune, 160 and 190bhp. This 2.5-litre V6 was a good base to proceed from, offering a buttery smooth power delivery that MG could graft some proper sporting induction and exhaust sounds onto. The ZT-T Tourer model and 114bhp CDTi diesel version followed shortly afterwards. A ZT180 Sports Auto version appeared in summer 2002 with a more powerful CDTi 135 version appearing the subsequent autumn. At the same time, MG Rover axed the ZT160 in favour of a turbocharged 1.8-litre model, also with 160bhp but boasting better emissions and performance figures. Summer 2003 saw the launch of the fleet-friendly ZT120 entry-level model. The first of the rear-wheel-drive V8 ZTs arrived at the tail end of 2003 sporting a 4.6-litre Ford Mustang engine. In early 2004 a facelift radically, and somewhat controversially, changed the look of the car. A new grille derived from the SV coupe and reshaped headlights were the most prominent. features. By 2005, it was all over for the ZT and MG Rover as a volume car producer.

What You Getword count: 303

MG Rover started at a considerable disadvantage in not having a clean sheet of paper to work from. They had the Rover 75 as a basis and had to make a decent fist of it. It was a bit like being presented with Kenneth Clarke and being expected to train him into an Olympian pole-vaulter. You'd be facing a heavy uphill task. Therefore it came as something of a surprise to witness the automotive equivalent of big Ken sailing over the six-metre bar. Headline grabbing flagship models may build the brand, but it's the cars with broader appeal that put the money in the bank, and the ZT CDTi, ZT CDTi135, ZT 120, ZT 160, 180 Sports Auto and 190 models that form the most relevant parts of the ZT range have had to earn their keep against some formidable and well-established opposition. The ZT190 certainly looks aggressive enough, with the squinting front lamps, deep spoilers and full dechroming treatment ridding the MG ZT of the geriatric appearance of the Rover 75. The entire front grille and air dam construction had to be completely redesigned when MG Rover's stylists realised that the indicators of the Rover 75 were already at the legal minimum height, and that the essential process of lowering the car would render the indicators illegal. The interior has been thoroughly divested of any timber, and there is some exquisite detailing, not least of which the beautiful leather/alcantara seats and steering wheel combination. Compared to the MG, the interiors of many rival sporting brands are token efforts, ruthlessly excised overheads from the big budgets that have been lavished on the drivetrains and suspension set-ups. The ZT+ models hammer home the point still further with additional air conditioning, rear electric windows, a CD autochanger and a rear spoiler included in their prices.

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