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The Rover 75 Tourer followed soon after in the May and extended the versatility of the Rover portfolio. At the Geneva Motor Show, a long wheelbase version of the 75 was announced, with the Rover TCV 'stealing the show'. Rover's design direction illustrated a new journey into a modern era.

On 16 March, BMW Group announced fundamental 're-organisation plans' that split the company apart, despatching Land Rover to Ford. The Phoenix Consortium acquired the Rover Group business, comprising the MG and Rover brands, on 9 May 2000. For the first time in many years the company found itself independent, British owned and debt free. The future would focus strongly on the MG and Rover brands, under the MG Rover Group operation, free to develop without constraint of partnership or ownership restrictions.

After six years in the ownership by British Aerospace, in early 1994 the Rover Group was taken over by German carmaker BMW. Under the new owner, Rover could begin to fulfil its potential, and 1995 saw two important new models. First the 400, a medium-sized car available in saloon and five door versions, and then at the end of the year, the new 200, a three or five door hatchback with a youthful appeal. Both featured versions of the wellestablished K Series engine, and also Rover's new much acclaimed L Series diesel engine. In 1996, the ageing Honda V6 engine in the 800 series was replaced by Rover's own new KV6 2.5-litre engine, pointing the way to future developments for the brand. Thedevelopment of a new, classic but modern Rover was being developed to be everything that a forward looking Rover should be, and was being prepared for launch in 1998. The Rover 75 Saloon was introduced under the objective of creating 'the best front-wheel drive car in the world'. The elegantly proportioned Rover inspired the media and a variety of international awards followed.

The original five door 200 saloon was soon followed by a host of derivatives, including the booted four door 400 of 1990, while in the same year the K Series engine was also fitted in the Rover Metro a much developed version of the corporate best selling small car which later became the 100 series.

A return to more traditional brand values was signalled in 1992 when a new 800, for the first time since the demise of the P5 almost 20 years before, featured a version of the classic Rover radiator grille, and a luxurious coupe version was added to the range. In 1993, the elegant 600 was introduced, a saloon which was manufactured together with the 800 models in a new facility at Cowley near Oxford, while production of the smaller Rover models was concentrated in the Longbridge factory in Birmingham.

ROVER'S MILESTONE SUMMARY

• The first appearance of the Rover name was on a tricycle in 1884.
• The Rover Safety bicycle launched in 1885 was the first rear-wheel driven cycle and pioneered the future of cycle design that continues to this day.
• The Imperial Rover cycle proved itself the best in the world by winning every race in the 1908 Olympic Games.
• In Poland and Slovakia, the name for bicycle is 'Ro'er or Rover'.
• In 1888 Starley began working on an electric car, and heralded in a 1903 issue of The Autocar as 'we believe, the first motor machine made in Coventry'.
• The 1st Rover prototype 8hp was completed on July 1 1904.
• Rover's 8 hp went on-sale on December 1 1904 and featured a novel backbone chassis construction, uniquely including the rear axle and became Britain's best selling car (before the arrival of the Longbridge built Austin Seven).
• Over 400,000 cycles and 100,000 motor cycles carried the Rover name between 1896-1924.
• In 1907 a 20 hp Rover, the company's first 4-cylinder car, won the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race.
• The 14/45 won the RAC Dewar Trophy in 1927 for 50 ascents of Bwlch-y-Groes, a steep, winding hill in Wales, at a time when getting to the top at all was something of an achievement.
• The first four wheel braked car was a 1923 3½-litre Rover. Only three were initially made.
• The 1920s saw the adoption of the helmeted Viking. Rover's upstanding Viking gave way in due course to his head alone, then logically enough this became the figurehead of a Viking longship. The first Rover to wear the Viking head mascot, and the enamel badge of the black longship ploughing through blue seas, was a 2.0-litre saloon in 1930.
• One of these, a Light Six, carried the distinctive heraldry when it raced and beat the Blue Train through France in January 1930. It was a moderately shameless stunt by Dudley Noble, safe in the knowledge that the average speed of the famous express was no more than about 40 mph once all its stops and detours were taken into account. To beat it, Noble had to drive more or less non-stop from Calais to the Riviera. He defeated the train and his crew became celebrities through The DailyExpress. Noble's bright idea illuminated Rover's success. A vigorous new management turned it from a pioneer into a pillar of the establishment.
• During the war Rover produced aircraft parts for the Arbemarle, Bristol and Lancasters, but it was the company's work with Frank Whittle in the development of the gas turbine engine, the formation of the jet engine, that has revolutionised air travel ever since.
• Introduced as 'One of Britain's Fine Cars', the P3 was every inch the epitome of reserved and refined motoring, with a gracious style that extended respect to those who drove it.
• It was no surprise therefore that Rover used the gas turbine experience to good effect. JET1 set a land speed record for gas turbine propelled cars at 152.9 mph in 1952 on a stretch of the Jebbeke (uncompleted) motorway in Belgium.
• The Rover P4 was popular transport for the doctor, bank manager or professional, but known as the 'Auntie' Rover. It was a journey in 1958 by Autocar's Ted Eves and Denis (Jenks) Jenkinson and Jesse Alexander from Sports Cars illustrated in a Rover P4 90 to the (only) Moroccan GP in Casablanca, followed by a return deviation to the Turin motor show that was described by its driver as being so effortless, with power in reserve, it was 'like a trip down to Aunties even down to – the ticking clock on the mantle piece', as it was on the dashboard of the Rover.
• 1st car on the Moon! Albeit not a product from the company, the landing on the Moon in 1963 did use a product referred to as a 'Moon Rover'. As a generic term, a rover is a roving wanderer.
• In March 1961 H.M. The Queen Mother took delivery of a Rover 3-litre (P5) saloon in dark green with silver grey interior trim.
• 1963 saw Rover compete at Le Mans in the gas turbine Rover B.R.M. with Graham Hill and Richie Ginther finishing with a time that would place it eighth. In 1965 it competed again with Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart finishing tenth.
• In the 1960s H.M. The Queen was often seen driving Rover P5 saloons at Windsor and Sandringham, which are on loan and displayed at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon.
• The Rover P5 becomes the popular carriage of PMs, Ministers, dignitaries and senior businessmen.
• 1963 launched the Rover 2000 the first 'Compact-Executive' saloon (when – motorways were first being opened). The first disc brake equipped production car was the Rover 2000 and it was also the first car to be awarded the coveted 'Car of the Year' title.
• In 1977 the SD1 Rover won the 'Car of the Year' title and the Tourist Trophy race – both for the second time for the company.
• Rover 200 4dr was the 1st new design from the collaboration with Honda.
• The Rover 800 (project XX), another collaborative project with Honda was launched in 1986 and became another CotY contender. The 800 was a particularly popular choice with business managers and ministers.
• Rover 200 (R8) was available in 3dr, 5dr, 2-dr Coupe and Cabriolet bodystyles, and soon became the best-selling Rover car.
• A 1.4-litre Rover Metro established 21 land speed records for class F (1100-1500cc) in September 1990 and a few years later a Rover 220 Coupe Turbo set records up to 155.53 mph for this 2.0-litre car.
• In 1993 Rover introduced the attractive 600 Series. Stylishly proportioned, it was popular with the junior fleet managers and probably did much to inspire BMW's acquisition of the Rover Group in 1994.
• The second Rover 200 was launched at the Earls Court London Motorfair in 1995, heralding a return to British design and a modern design.
• The majestic Rover 75 is the company's current flagship. A product appealing to the discerning motorist whose comfort over long journeys is preserved.
• The Rover 25 was launched in October 1999 and became the best-selling car in the UK, in April 2000.
• Rover 45 was effectively the first new car launched in the 21st Century and succeeded the 400 Series. Its proven record for customer service and reliability are exceptional and clearly benefits all owners who drive one.
• Over the years, the Rover 75 has won the praise of pundits from around the world with an impressive list of international awards.
• A new small Rover was introduced on Tuesday, July 8 named 'CityRover'. The fivedoor, modern design 5-door car expands the Rover range to four platforms.
• Thursday, July 10, 2003 build of the five-millionth Rover, a 75 Saloon, in special – Xirallic® Aubergine paintwork (VIN SARRJZLLM4D298618), was celebrated with a visit by The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
• Rover celebrates its centenary in 2004.

Since then:

1. MG Rover Group went into administration in 2005 and its key assets were purchased by Nanjing Automobile Group, with SAIC purchasing the technical rights to manufacture Rover's 25 and 75 models, and for the Powertrain Ltd business. It did not acquire the Rover name. Nanjing merged with SAIC Motor.
2. The rights to the dormant Rover brand were sold by Ford, along with the Jaguar Land Rover business, to Tata Motors of India in 2008.

The next new Rover car was the SD1 of 1976, which like the P6 before it took the Car of the Year title. Initially available only with the V8 engine as the 3500 model, the range was subsequently widened with four and six cylinder versions, as well as Rover's first diesel engined car. The engineering of the SD1 was less adventurous than its P6 predecessor but its sleek five-door fastback body gave it a unique market position in the executive class. The SD1 became a successful saloon racing car and with this car, Rover won their second TT race only 76 years after the first. A fuel injection engine was fitted to the Vitesse version, which was the fastest Rover production car. 

Meanwhile, the parent company British Leyland had encountered financial difficulties, which in 1975 led to the effective nationalisation of the company. A programme of drastic restructuring was initiated by Michael Edwardes, who became chairman in 1977. He initiated the link with the Japanese Honda Company with selected Honda cars being built under licence - an example was the first Rover small car for many years, the first 200 series of 1984, which was also the first front-wheel drive Rover car. A programme of joint development was then started for a new executive car; project XX, which was introduced as the first Rover 800 in 1986.

This was also a front-wheel drive car, fitted either with a Honda V6 engine or Rover's own new 16 valve 2 litre four cylinder engine, originally available only as a four door saloon but later joined by a five door hatchback which was offered as a high performance Vitesse model. In the same year that the 800 was introduced, Graham Day was appointed as chairman of BL.

He quickly renamed the company Rover Group and began a programme of moving the company and its products up-market, away from the mass market. He was also charged with completing a privatisation programme, which so far had seen many BL subsidiaries (including Jaguar) being sold. In 1988, this was finally accomplished with the sale of Rover Group to British Aerospace.