Editing Austin Montego (section)

==Later developments==
Development on the Montego continued. A replacement was proposed by Roy Axe in 1986, which would have been the existing Montego core structure clothed with new outer panels to mimic the design language set by the recently launched [[Rover 800|Rover 800-series]], and would have been designated the Rover 400-series. This concept, designated AR16 and planned to go into production around 1989, would have also spawned a five-door hatchback version (designated AR17) to increase Rover's options in its rivalry with the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/austin/maestromontego/concepts-and-prototypes-lm10-and-lm11-facelifts/|title=Concepts and prototypes: LM10 and LM11 facelifts | work = AROnline |date=18 May 2014 |access-date=24 January 2017}}</ref>

The AR16/17 concepts were however abandoned in November 1988<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts-and-prototypes/austin-ar16/ |title=In-house designs: Austin AR16 |first=Keith|last=Adams |date=31 December 2016}}</ref> due to lack of funds, and a facelift to the existing car (designated AR9) released in 1988 enhanced its appeal, which was buoyed up by both the [[Perkins Engines|Perkins]]-engineered [[Diesel engine|diesel]] model, and the seven-seater version of the "Countryman" estate. The 2-litre turbodiesel (often known by its Perkins designation 'Prima') was a development of the [[BL O-series engine|O-series]] petrol engine already used in the range. The diesel saloon won a ''[[Car (magazine)|Car]]'' magazine 'giant test' against the [[Citroën BX]] (1.8 XUDT), the new [[Peugeot 405]] (1.8 XUDT) and [[Audi 80]] (1.6) turbo diesels. They rated the 405 the best car, followed by the BX and then the Montego, with the Audi coming in last. "But if people buy diesels, and turbodiesels, for their economy, the winner has to be the Montego. ...its engine is - even when roundly thrashed - more than 10% more economical than the rest. For those isolated moments when cost control is not of the essence, the Montego is a car you can enjoy too. The steering and driving position are quite excellent. ...the suspension as 'impressively refined'. It is silent over rough bumps, poised and well damped."<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 1989 |magazine=[[Car (magazine)|Car]] | title = Arch Rivals | page = 123 | url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/4478895239/in/album-72157623617539451/ }}</ref>

The turbo diesel became a favourite of the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) for officer transport. ''[[Car Mechanics]]'' ran a de-mobbed RAF officer transport Montego bought from a Ministry of Defence auction in 1996.<ref>{{cite journal
|date=July 1996
|journal=[[Car Mechanics]]
|title=Car Mechanics
}}</ref>

The facelift also saw the phasing out of the [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]] name. These late-1980s models had a badge resembling the Rover Viking longship, but it was not identical, nor did the word "Rover" ever appear on the cars.

Though the car failed to match its rivals, such as the [[Volkswagen Passat]], the car sold well{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=July 2016}} to the likes of the [[Ford Sierra]] and [[Vauxhall Cavalier]].

By the early 1990s, the Montego was terminally aged and its popularity was dwindling, although this was offset by the popularity of new cars like the second generation [[Rover 200 series]], and its saloon equivalent, the [[Rover 400 Series]]. Saloon production finished in early 1993 on the launch of the [[Rover 600 Series]]. The estate continued until December 1994, almost a year after Rover's takeover by [[BMW]]. The second generation Rover 400 Series was launched shortly afterwards as a hatchback and a saloon, further filling the gaps in the Rover range left by the phasing-out of the Montego.

In its final year, ''[[What Car?]]'' magazine said "Austin Rover's once 'great white hope', Montego matured into a very decent car &mdash; but nobody noticed".<ref>{{cite journal
|date=March 1993
|journal=[[What Car?]]
|title=What Car?
}}</ref> The chassis development for the Montego and Maestro's rear suspension was used as a basis for later Rover cars, and was well regarded.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aronline.co.uk/opinion/essay-why-i-dont-love-the-rover-r8/ |title=Essay : Why I don't love the Rover R8... |date=10 March 2017}}</ref>
 
Montegos continued to be built in small numbers in [[Complete knock down|CKD]] form at the Cowley plant in Oxford until 1994, when production finally ended. The last car was signed by all those that worked on it, and is now on display at the British [[British Motor Museum]] in [[Gaydon]], Warwickshire. A total of 546,000 Austin/Rover Montegos and 23,000 MG Montegos were produced, with Britain by far being the biggest market for the car.

In all, 436,000 Montegos were sold in the UK between 1984 and 1995. In August 2006, a survey by ''[[Auto Express]]'' revealed that the Montego was Britain's eighth-most scrapped car of the last 30 years, with just 8,988 still in working order. Contributing to this, areas of the bodywork that were to be covered by plastic trim (such as the front and rear bumpers) were left unpainted and thus unprotected. In addition, pre-1989 models fitted with the A and S-series engines cannot run on unleaded [[gasoline|petrol]] without the [[cylinder head]] being converted or needing fuel additives.<ref>[http://fbhvc.co.uk/fuel-information/ Fuel Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725185755/http://fbhvc.co.uk/fuel-information/ |date=25 July 2011 }}</ref> This led to many owners simply scrapping the cars, as leaded petrol was removed from sale in Britain after 1999, and by 2003 most petrol stations had stopped selling LRP (lead replacement petrol) due to falling demand as the number of cars requiring it declined.

The Austin Montego, like many other Austin Rover cars at the time, offered a high luxury model. Sold opposite the MG, the Montego Vanden Plas was the luxury alternative. The Vanden Plas featured leather seats and door cards (velour in the estate version), powered windows, mirrors, door locks and sunroof. Alloy wheels were offered and later became standard on all cars. An automatic gearbox was also offered. It was available in both saloon and estate bodystyles. All Vanden Plas Montegos were 2.0&nbsp;litres, either EFi (electronic fuel injection) or standard carburettor engines.