Austin Metro

Austin Metro
1989 Austin Metro
Overview
Manufacturer	British Leyland (1980–1986) Rover Group (1986–1998)
Also called	Austin mini Metro MG Metro Rover Metro Rover 100
Production	1980–1998[1] 2,078,218 produced
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini car (B)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Mini
Chronology
Predecessor	Mini
Successor	Mini Hatch / MG ZR / Rover 25

The Metro is a supermini car, later a city car that was produced from 1980 to 1998, first by British Leyland (BL) and later by the Rover Group. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin Mini Metro (styled AUSTIN miniMETRO). It was intended to complement and eventually replace the Mini, and was developed under the codename LC8. The Metro was named by What Car? magazine as "Car of The Year" in 1983 as an MG, and again as the Rover Metro in 1991.^{[citation needed]}

During its 18-year lifespan, the Metro wore many names: Austin Metro, MG Metro and Rover Metro. It was rebadged as the Rover 100 (full name: "Rover 100 series") in December 1994.^[2] There was also a van version, known as the Morris Metro, and later, the Metrovan.^[3]

At the time of its launch, the Metro was sold under the Austin brand, and from 1982 MG versions became available. During 1987, the badge lost the Austin name, and the car was sold simply as the "Metro". From 1990 until its withdrawal in 1998, the Metro sported the Rover brand name.

Although the R3-generation Rover 200 (introduced in 1995 and smaller than previous 200 models) had originally been designed as a replacement for the Metro, it was not marketed as such after its launch.^[4] The Rover 100 finally ceased production in 1998, being outlived (by three years) by the original Mini that it was meant to replace. 2,078,218 Metros of all types were built.^[5]