MG And Rover Customers Can Now Benefit From Approved LPG Conversions
Published: 1st July 2002
Utilising the more widely available 1.8-litre K Series engine built by Powertrain Limited at Longbridge, the converted Rover and MG cars can switch between petrol and LPG at the touch of a button. LPG conversions are available on the following Rover and MG models:
Rover 45 (5-door and saloon)
All 1.8-litre manual models
Rover 75 (Saloon and Tourer)
All 1.8-litre manual models
MG ZR (3- and 5-door)
ZR 120 / ZR+ 120 manual models
MG ZS (5-door and saloon)
ZS 120 / ZS+ 120 manual models
It is planned that the remaining petrol versions of MG and Rover cars will be progressively offered with approved LPG conversions in due course and dealerships can take orders for autumn deliveries.
All MG Rover dealerships will be given the opportunity to become approved LPG installers through the partnership with EcoGas. MG and Rover cars fitted with the approved LPG conversion will retain their three-year product warranty.
The retail price of a LPG equipped Rover or MG car, including installation, is an additional £2,195. The Powershift rebate will cover at least 50% of the cost of conversion. This may rise to a 70% rebate if the emissions results are fully certified. Confirmation of MG Rover Group’s classification will be made available on the Powershift Register in the coming weeks – accessible through the website www.powershift.org.uk.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a mixture of Propane and Butane that comes from oil refining and natural gas fields. It is a cleaner fuel for the environment than petrol as it contains less contaminating components like sulphur and aromatic compounds. The main advantage of LPG is its cost. It is cheaper than both petrol and diesel due in part to the significantly lower fuel duty imposed by the government.
To encourage the switch to more environmentally friendly methods of travel the Government has introduced several measures:
Powershift Grants – customers who wish to convert their vehicles
to LPG can get a grant towards the cost. This makes conversion cost effective.
Fuel Duty – the Government has promised to freeze the duty on LPG
until the end of 2004.
Congestion Charges – already London is set to introduce these charges.
Also, under a European project called "Alter" over 30 of our
cities and large towns will be introducing these schemes. LPG vehicles
will be exempt from these charges.
Agenda 21 – this is a document that makes it incumbent on Councils,
Utilities and large companies to lower their emission levels. LPG helps
them achieve this and also save money.
LPG has grown in popularity in recent years with significant customer
cost savings. The current average cost of LPG at retail filling stations
is 36 pence per litre (compared to the typical cost of unleaded petrol
at 75 pence per litre).
LPG filling station locations can be found on the website www.powershift.org.uk.
Currently there are over 1100 filling stations in the UK. To keep abreast
of this demand the network of fuelling stations that supply LPG is growing
at a rate of one per day and this trend looks set to continue.
