The MG Metro is a supermini car manufactured and marketed by the British car marque MG from 1982 to 1990.
History of the MG Metro
The MG Metro was introduced in May 1982 some 18 months after the pain of the closure of the MG factory at Abingdon. This tainted many MG enthusiasts' reception of this car in a negative way as it was somewhat different to the traditional sports car market, although at this time the then new 'hot hatch' era heralded by the Golf GTi was in full swing, and as far as manufacturers and most car buyers were concerned open-top two-seat sports cars were something from the past. Indeed the modest sales expectations for the MG version of the Metro range were expected to be no more than 10%, yet in a short period of time sales were running in excess of 25%. Had the MG Metro been supported by a continuing MGB, with the planned and developed O series engine, it is clear that the perception of this model and the follow on MG Maestro and Montego models would have been considerably different. It is debatable whether this would have impacted much on the sales of the car, but as enthusiasts are responsible for the survival of many cars over the very long term it is obvious that a better-accepted car would have meant many more would be around today. The MG Metro boasted some quite positive features for the day including the standard use of powerful servo-assisted brakes using four pot (piston) calipers up front, very competitive performance, and superb economy courtesy of the responsive and well-proven A+ series engine. During the car's production life, it was subject to a facelift in October 1984 when the bonnet line was lowered and streamlined and a new interior and dash molding were introduced. This was a common facelift across the whole Metro range but the MG model retained the stand-alone features that allowed it to stand apart from the mainstream Austin and Vanden Plas models. A series Metro was replaced in 1990 by the Rover Metro with the advanced K series engine and ended on a 5-speed gearbox. Now though the Rover management had decided the MG badge was for genuine sports cars only and already plans and actions were afoot to provide such cars. Thus the performance Rover Metros were to be the GTa and GTi models.
Price
A used MG Metro could cost you around £4,000 ($4,822) for the most basic and affordable model, rising to £8,000 ($9,644) for a well-conditioned Metro vehicle.
Specs and Performance of the MG Metro
Engines:
- 1.0 L A-Series I4
- 1.3 L A-Series I4
- 1.3 L A-Series turbo I4
The MG Metro's 1.3L A-Series I4 engine delivers 72 hp (54 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 73 lb-ft (99 Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm. MG marketed the Metro as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle, and it was available with a 4-speed manual transmission. The MG Metro accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 11.4 seconds, with a top speed of 104 mph (168 kph). Dimension-wise, the MG Metro measures 3,406 mm (134.1 in) long, 1,546 mm (60.9 in) wide, and 1,373 mm (54.1 in) high. Its wheelbase measures 2,251 mm (88.6 in) and has a curb weight of 1,781 lbs (808 kg).
Release Date
The MG Metro was released between 1982 and 1990. It was discontinued in 1990 by the Rover Metro.