The MG ZR was a compact vehicle introduced in 2001 by the MG Rover Group.
The hot-hatch was actually a badge-engineered Rover 25 that suffered few changes such as an improved suspension and a more attractive exterior and interior design.

The attractive ZR was built in 3- and 5-door body styles, available with a variety of engines and trim levels.

In 2004, MG decided to update the small sporty car along with the rest of the vehicles in the range.

With the new exterior design changes, the ZR was no longer that similar to the Rover 25.

Inside, the revised interior design was more appealing than before. The new dash design incorporated the climate controls on some models and the cloth upholstery was refreshed.

Other updates included a sunroof, 16-inch Grid Spoke alloys, refreshed rear light clusters, a leather steering wheel, side sills and rear bumper extensions.

Aside from the mentioned improvements, the ZR remained the same agile, aggressive looking pocket-rocket with a precise steering and great stability in turns.

The facelifted ZR should have been given an award for the shortest life in the automotive history, as its production ceased on its 1 year birthday.
The MG Rover Group went bankrupt in April 2005, just when the carmaker was about to release a new model to replace the ZR.

The simultaneously released 5-door hatch was identical with the 3-door variant.
Boasting an extra set of doors for optimum rear access, the car provided sufficient room for four. Because of its sporty nature, comfort was not ZR’s best asset. However, performance was the feature that drove the car to great popularity, especially among young British buyers. Having been available with the same choice of engines and trims as its 3-door sibling, the ZR was on overall reliable vehicle with sufficient power and good handling. However, the ZR’s K series were notorious for gasket failure and overheating.