The MG Maestro is a five-door hatchback small family car manufactured and marketed by the British automotive marque from 1983 to 1991.
History of the MG Maestro
MG Maestro 1600 (1983–1984)
Rushed into production against engineers' advice at the launch in March 1983, the original MG Maestro was underdeveloped. Its 1.6L R-series engine ran roughly, was difficult to start when warm, and its Weber twin carburetors could not be tuned by dealership workshops, who were used to SU carburetors. The R-series model was replaced in July 1984 with the short-lived S-series model which was built until October 1984 when the EFi was launched. Despite the reliability issues, more than 15,000 MG Maestro 1600s were built.
MG Maestro 2.0 EFi (1984–1991)
After a brief interval, the MG Maestro was relaunched in October 1984 with a fuel-injected 2.0L O-series engine that gave considerably better performance than its predecessor. Handling and performance were both improved and gave Austin Rover its first serious rival for the Golf GTI and Escort XR3i. It had a claimed output of 115 bhp (86 kW), a top speed of 115 mph (185 km/h), and a 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds. It was also mated with a Honda PG1 gearbox for improved gearchange, in preference to the Volkswagen box as supplied to the rest of the range.
MG Maestro Turbo (1989–1991)
With the Rover Group only a few months away, the limited edition (500 + 5 press cars) MG Maestro Turbo (displayed at Birmingham in October 1988 and launched in early 1989) was the final car from ARG. It made use of the 2.0's already impressive engine, but the combination of carburetor and turbocharger gave it a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h) and a 0–60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. It was faster than the majority of its competitors, but the high-performance, Tickford-designed body kit, and alloys did little to disguise the fact that it was very much still a Maestro. Sales were slow, as it appeared six years after the Maestro's launch. Production of the MG Maestro finished in 1991, as Rover had launched GTi versions of the new 200 and 400 models, though the standard Maestro remained in production until 1994.
Price
A used MG Maestro ranges from $4,000 to $9,000, depending on the condition, mileage, and engine status.
Specs and Performance of the MG Maestro
Engines:
- 2.0L O-series I4
The MG Maestro's 2.0L engine delivers 150 hp (112 kW) at 5,100 rpm and 169 lb-ft (229 Nm) of torque at 3,500 rpm. MG marketed the Maestro as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle, and it was available with a 5-speed manual transmission. The MG Maestro accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 129 mph (207 kph). Dimension-wise, the MG Maestro measures 4,077 mm (160.5 in) long, 1,687 mm (66.4 in) wide, and 1,424 mm (56.1 in) high. Its wheelbase measures 2,507 mm (98.7 in) and has a curb weight of 2,359 lbs (1,070 kg).
Release Date
The MG Maestro was released from 1983 to 1991. It was essentially an MG-branded performance version of the Austin Maestro.