It was just a matter of time before another use for the rear-wheel drive chassis and V8 engine (developed for the MG ZT 260 sports saloon) was found. Rover revealed this week the handsome 75 Coupe pictured here, labelled a concept, which would be an ideal home.

The downside with using the rear-wheel drive layout would be the impossibility of fitting the Rover KV6 engine, which would make an alternative to the thirstier V8. Sadly, we don't think that the 75 Coupe will ever see the light of a Rover showroom. It is undeniably elegant, as well as having a decidedly sporty edge, but its target market must be quite limited in numbers.

Rover's press release was carefully worded, with Peter Stevens (design director at MG Rover) saying: "Heritage is a great strength for a marque as it gives you the terms of reference and something to build on for the future. That is exactly how we saw the challenge of presenting a Rover concept in its Centenary year." The Rover 75 Coupe may make a great successor to cars from Rover's heritage such as the P5 Coupe and P6, but Rover cannot afford to make a car that does not make money.

Shane O' Donoghue - 17 Nov 2004