It was another in a week of important announcements from Rover, this one appearing as a full-page advertisement in Britain's national newspapers headed: "An Important Announcement from Rover." Rover said British buyers could still get a Rover or MG with confidence, that the three-year warranty would be honoured, and that the carmaker would maintain the servicing of all its cars for at least 10 years.
The ad appeared on the same day as a story about the British Government taking bids for the next generation of mobile phone licences. Bidding had reached more than $14 billion, which prompted one columnist to say that with that sort of money the British Government could buy 177,000 Rover 75s - or send 62,000 pupils to Eton college at $45,000 a year for five years. The point was that neither option makes sense, although the Rover 75 is likely to be the last luxury car Rover builds and should be a collector's item.
Showing the flag
The Good Oil writer is filing from the hotel Concorde La Fayette in Paris, his digs for the launch of the luxury Peugeot 607. It's an Anglo-Irish part of Paris. Across the road is the James Joyce pub, around the corner the Rolls-Royce showroom, and sitting snugly between them is the office of the one British carmaker that will forever remain British: Morgan. Rolls-Royce becomes part of BMW in 2003.
Toyota rules
One carmaker happy with its lot as an independent giant is Toyota. It has enormous global presence - and an office on the Champs-Elysees, one of the world's best addresses. Its latest offering is the soft-top MR2 sportscar, which is fast attracting the punters of Paris. Already the car has received rave reviews in Britain and France, such as, "Only the bare bones and more expensive Lotus Elise is a better drive." The MR2 is expected to be on sale in New Zealand this year. The price in Britain is about $57,000 but it certainly won't cost that much in New Zealand.
Geared to sporty set
Another car turning heads in Europe is the latest from Alfa Romeo, the 156 Sportswagon. No word yet on when the stylish estate will land in New Zealand but it should keep interest in the 156 range ticking over. A popular feature of this model is the tailgate. Alfa has hinged it into the roofline, which means items can be loaded into the boot from the side and from above, not only the back. The carpeted boot floor can be flipped to reveal a washable, dished rubber tray which clips in place to hold dirty winter sports gear or whatever. Alfa predicts that 156 Sportswagon buyers will be five to 10 years younger than saloon owners.
Going to the dogs
Rover's future - or lack of it - since BMW sold it to London investment group Alchemy Partners has kept industry commentators busy. It has been well publicised since the sale that the BMW board called its ailing Rover subsidiary the English Patient, a jocular reference to the movie of the same name. But talk now has it that Alchemy's codename for the deal to buy Rover was Project Crufts, after the London dog show. Get it?
Thrash metal
A film company wants John Cleese to reshoot the scene in Fawlty Towers where Basil Fawlty thrashes a Morris 1000 with a sapling. But this time the director wants the Morris replaced with a BMW and the sapling by something heavier. Another television character has been introduced to the mix, too. One columnist called the BMW board "respectable businessmen on the outside but Arthur Daleys underneath." Even former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been blamed. One analyst said her 1980 closure of the MG factory in Abingdon was "one of the most spiteful political misdeeds in Britain in the past 50 years."
Still rovin' along
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