MR Rover has introduced a new MG model to South Africa. The MG ZT 160 1.8T, baby brother to the 2,5 litre MG ZT 190, costs R50 000 less than the R315 000 tag of the ZT 190, and gets along pretty briskly with the 118 kW and 215 Nm that its turbocharged 1,8 litre four cylinder engine dishes up. The ZT 190’s naturally aspirated V6 produces 140 kW and 245 Nm, which isn’t hugely more than the four cylinder turbo, and it does so at higher revs to boot, so we feel that the smaller, cheaper model is the bargain of the pair.
Performance is brisk in the ZT 160, with 100 km/hr coming up in 8,5 seconds compared to the 7,7 seconds taken by the bigger engined version. Top speed is claimed to be 212 km/hr compared to the 227 of the other model, so the turbo engine will get the job done more than adequately for most drivers.
During the launch we drove the new car for around 500 km through the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and enjoyed the experience thoroughly. The ride is firm but not over-hard, while the car cruises effortlessly up hill and down at speeds way above any speed limit. The power comes in from low down, so there’s no need to fiddle with the gear lever all day either. Handling is excellent throughout.
We don’t usually comment much on styling, because we believe tastes differ from person to person and we’d rather leave the pictures to do the talking in that department. Nevertheless, the MG drew enough favourable comment from all quarters to convince us that it really does appeal to just about everybody, with a mixture of British conservative lines and blatant power statements like the mesh radiator grille, big 18″ wheels with ultra low profile rubber and the small boot wing.
The interior of the ZT is attractive and comfortable, with superb leather racing seats, and satellite controls for the sound system on the sporty steering wheel. Specification levels are high -the ZT comes with rear parking distance sensors that beep faster and faster as you get closer to obstacles astern. There are also drivers and passenger’s front and thorax airbags, electric windows, driver’s seat height and lumbar adjustment, an efficient aircon and an on board computer that monitors fuel consumption, speed and remaining range till empty as you drive.
We think the MG ZT 160 is a superb car at the price, offering class and performance at least as good as most others in its R265 000 price range, and in a markedly different package. For us there was only one disappointment. The dark grey car we drove at the launch had a marked vibration through the gear lever and throttle pedal from 5 000 rpm upwards. I discussed this with other journalists and MG Rover staff at lunch, and discovered that none of the other cars had the problem. I then swapped cars with another driver and found the new car to be an absolute pleasure – smooth and quiet right up to the 6 750 rpm red line. Back at the dealership I mentioned the inconsistency to MG Rover staff, and again in a telephone conversation later that week, saying that potential buyers would be put right off by the vibration, which was probably due to a faulty or misaligned engine mounting.
I would not have mentioned this presumably one-off problem here, except that a few weeks later I picked up a car from the local dealership for a week’s further acquaintance, and noticed that it looked suspiciously like my vibrating special. A quick sprint down the freeway confirmed it – at just over 5 000 rpm the resonance and vibration was still there, as bad as ever.
So there we have it. A superb motor car let down, in this case, by a lack of attention where it counts – dealing with problems promptly so that they don’t come back to haunt you. It’s now all up to the importers and dealers.