| On the back of the success of the MG variants
of the Metro (and later the Maestro), Austin-Rover Group announced, in 1984, the MG
Montego. Based on the 2.0 litre ‘O’ Series engined Austin Montego, the MG
Montego benefited from electronic ignition and electronic fuel injection, giving it a
boost in power from 102 bhp on the carburettored Austin Montego to 115bhp, driving through
a new Honda-derived 5 speed gearbox. This was enough to give the new MG a top speed of
115mph. Unlike the Metro with it’s Hydragas suspension, the MG Montego used
conventional coil springs all round, with McPherson struts, telescopic shocks and an
anti-roll bar, with interconnected trailing arms, telescopic shocks and an anti-roll bar.
As with the MG versions of the Metro and Maestro, the MG Montego had both front and rear
mounted spoilers and larger alloy wheels as standard, to help distinguish it from
it’s Austin stablemates. The interior got the same red trimmed upgrade that the other
MG saloons, able to carry up to 5 passnegers in spacious comfort. At the launch, the MG
Montego also got a space-age digital, voice-synthesised dash. However, many customers
found this to be a nuisance and late in 1984 this was dropped. These early cars are now
among the rarest of all MG Montegos. After the
success of the MG Metro Turbo, it wasn’t long before ARG decided that a turbo-charged
version of the MG Montego was in order. Launched in 1985, the new MG Montego Turbo boasted
150bhp, courtesy of the same Garrett T3 turbo used in the MG Metro Turbo blowing through a
single HIF44 SU carburettor, in place of the fuel injection system found in the non-turbo
MG Montego. Despite the relatively low-tech installation, the MG Montego Turbo would prove
to be very rapid – 126mph, 0-60mph in 7.3s making it not only the fastest production
MG to date, but also the fastest car in it’s class. As well as the extra horsepower,
the MG Montego Turbo received big alloy wheels with lower profile tyres, and revised
graphics. The suspension was also uprated to cope with the extra power, and a close ratio
gearbox fitted.
By and large the MG Montego received early mixed reviews,
often in the same article, complimenting the speed, handling and accommodation, but
lamenting the poor build quality. Journalists were also quick to condemn the Turbo’s
considerable torque steer on early versions, something which was fixed quite promptly and
later versions performed much better. The quality also improved significantly throughout
the production life, but by then the damage to the image had been done. Despite this, both
MG versions of the Montego sold well. Whilst it didn’t garner quite the accolades
from the press that the MG Metro had early in it’s life, the MG Montego nonetheless
scored well in a number of Car of the Year poles, most notably in the 1988 What Car?
Finishing 3rd in Best Sports Car.
1988 saw the only major revision to the MG Montego, with
minor cosmetic changes to the interior and exterior design, losing the red carpets but
otherwise retaining the red trimming. The dash was also slightly modified, and a better
quality 4 speaker sounds system fitted. Updated alloy wheels, a tilt and slide
sunroof, colour coded door mirrors and handles and revised badging were the exterior
updates.
|