Dead squared. not only the Rover Streetwise ceased to exist more than 12 years ago, as well as the Rover brand belongs to history — it would be reborn as Roewe, after the first one went bankrupt and was bought by the Chinese, and it still remains there.
There were many Rovers that marked the car's history — like the P6 or the futuristic SD1 — but we felt the need to also include Streetwise in that group, despite not having been marked by its engineering or innovative design. But it would be the precursor of a niche that remains to this day.
Being slimmer, the Streetwise Rover is nothing more than a 25 “artillated” Rover, a kind of “Mad Max zero calories” version of the 25. Dressed in an armor composed of bulkier bumpers, wheel arch protections, thicker friezes Sides and even roof bars, the compact model also saw its ground height increased by 40 mm — but no four-wheel drive.
It was clearly a bet on aesthetics, an attempt to attract a younger audience to the brand — generally associated with a much older age group — and given the anticipated urban use of the car, honestly, why traction at four? Rover itself identified it as “The Urban On-Roader” and the media were somewhat baffled by its purpose — isn't this more than an empty marketing exercise?
The inspiration
The inspiration came not only from a new generation of SUVs with a more strait character — the first signs of the future fever were already being felt — but also from models such as the Audi Allroad, Volvo V70 Cross Country or the Renault Scénic RX4. Also derived from conventional cars, but larger and for familiar purposes, they added to the more “macho” and rugged look, some off-road competence, integrating all-wheel drive into their mechanical and dynamic arsenal. And we can recall other examples such as the Citroën AX Piste Rouge or the Volkswagen Golf II Country, closer in concept to the Streetwise, but also equipped with all-wheel drive.
It was launched in 2003, just two years before Rover went bankrupt, but it must have struck a nerve — despite the brand's obvious struggles at various levels it met with some success and just a year later Volkswagen launched the Polo Dune, the forerunner of all. the current Cross range from the German brand, which followed the same recipe to the tiniest plastic added by Streetwise.
The Streetwise Rover was available with three- and five-door bodywork…
The legacy
It is still a recipe for success. The visual appeal of these versions usually equals that of the sports variants, even knowing that they have few or no advantages over the models from which they are derived.
Nowadays, it is relatively common to see in the most varied ranges of the most varied brands cross-this, x-aquilo or activ-aqueloutro versions of conventional cars, which generated so many other speeches about the holy grail lifestyle, maintaining the same recipe introduced by Rover Streetwise 15 years ago.
Regardless of what opinion we may have about the real value of these variants, here is due recognition of Rover Streetwise, the first to see a new opportunity and to seize it. Unfortunately, not enough to keep the Rover's doors open.
The Streetwise Rover would end its production in 2005, with the closing of the British brand's doors — it was produced in more than 14,000 units — but would re-emerge in 2008, in China, already as MG 3SW, remaining in production until 2010 .
Here are other historical models:
- Do you remember this one? Fiat Coupé 2.0 20v Turbo;
- Do you remember this one? Mercedes-Benz E 50 AMG (W210);
- Do you remember this one? Alfa Romeo 156 GTA. Italian symphony;
- Do you remember this one? Alpine B8 4.6;
- More classics articles.
About "Remember this one?" . It is the section of Razão Automóvel dedicated to models and versions that somehow stood out. We like to remember the machines that once made us dream. Join us on this journey through time, weekly here at Razão Automóvel.