VOTE TODAY
Deals on MG Rover Alloys All Leading Wheel Brands
 |
| Modifying MG ZR |
| Thursday, 20 October 2011 00:00 |
|
MG’s hot hatchback has the potential for improvement, backed up with a variety of specialists, performance products and owners’ clubs. Words & pictures: Rob Hawkins
MG’s badge engineered hot hatchbacks had been a success in the 1980s with the Maestro and Metro, but nothing was available throughout the 1990s, even though the market was active thanks to the Golf, Peugeot 205, Saxo and Escort. MG eventually pulled its socks up and adopted the Rover 200/25, launching the MG ZR in 2001. This was a huge success, right up to the when MG collapsed in 2005 (a facelifted Mk2 appeared in 2004).
Throughout its production life, the ZR was available as a three or five door hatchback (including the three door, two seater MG Express van), powered by a mixture of petrol and diesel engines. The entry level ZR105 used the highly capable 1.4-litre K-series twin cam engine, which produced a respectable 102 bhp, giving a 0-60mph time of 9.8 seconds with a top speed of 111mph. The ZR120 used the MGF’s 1.8-litre engine, producing 115bhp with an 8.6 seconds 0-60mph time and a top speed of 119mph. Top of the petrol engine ZRs was the 160 with the MGF’s VVC engine that gave 157bhp at the flywheel, a 7.4 seconds 0-60mph sprint time and a top speed of 131mph.
The ZR diesel range consisted of two models; the 100 and 115. Both used a 2.0-litre diesel engine with minor tuning enhancements to differentiate power output. Performance was impressive with 240 and 260Nm of pulling power for the 100 and 115 and a 0-60mph time of 9.7 or 9.1 seconds respectively. Top speed was nothing to be sniffed at with 114 and 116mph, and this impressive performance returned a whopping 40-50mpg (and a slightly higher car insurance quote).
Today the ZR is a cheap hot hatchback to purchase secondhand, with prices for the 1.4-litre starting at around £800 and not much more for the other models. Thanks to the MGF and Rover 100 modification market, there are numerous engine modifications available to help improve the performance of all the petrol engined ZRs. Specialists including MGOC Spares, Moto-Build, Power Train Projects, AA Autosport and Brown and Gammons have helped to develop further tuning modifications specifically for the ZR, and general modification specialists have not overlooked this model in areas of induction, exhaust, suspension, brakes and styling.
There are some arguments and mixed opinions to consider when planning to modify the ZR. Modifying a ZR105 or 120 to around 160bhp will probably be more expensive than buying a ZR160 with this level of performance as standard (and the more powerful variant will already have better brakes). In a similar vein, the 1.4-litre engine in the ZR105 has a weak gearbox on early models (see Gearbox section) and the position of the engine is restrictive for exhaust manifold upgrades, so power upgrades to 120bhp levels are often not as cheap as buying a ZR120 in the first place.
CONTACTS AA Autosport 07739 019330 / www.aaautosport.co.uk Diesel Tuning UK 01207 299538 / www.diesel-performance.co.uk
To read more about this project see the November 2011 issue of MG Enthusiast Back issues of MG Enthusiast available here |
Add comment
     |
