Performance Review: Rover 600 620 Ti - [1994]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Rover 600 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Rover 600 620 Ti is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1994. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1995 McLaren F1 LM 6.1 V12 and the 1995 Ford GT 90 6.0L V12.This particular Rover 600 has a 1994cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 600 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 600's Front Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1365 kgs (3009 lbs) this makes the Rover 600 620 Ti in the same weight category as the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 or the give or take 50kg.

The Rover 600 shares the same bhp with the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp)

In terms of power the 1994cc 16V St4 engine produces 197 bhp (146 kW) @ 0 rpm similar to the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 174 lb-ft (235.9 Nm) @ 0 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Rover 600 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (169.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Rover 600.

The Rover 600 has a Power to weight ratio of 144.3 bhp per ton and 127.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1994 600 competing with the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (169.3 bhp per ton) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (169.3 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Rover 600 generating around 127.4 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1999 BMW Z3 2.8i Roadster (152.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2013 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (152.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.2 secs, this made the Rover 600 620 Ti as fast as the 2020 Alfa-Romeo Giulia 2.2 16v Turbo Diesel (7.00 secs) the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (7.00 secs) the 2013 Seat Leon SC 1.8 FR Start-Stop DSG (7.00 secs) the or the 2012 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Cabriolet DSG (7.00 secs). This Rover 600 620 Ti is also faster than the 2018 Abarth 595 Turismo 1.4 Turbo (7.10 secs) the 2013 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 (7.10 secs) the 2012 Lexus ES 350 (7.10 secs) the and the 2011 Abarth 500C Essesse 1.4 Turbo (7.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 600 and the 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 Turbo Estate

When talking about the performance of the Rover 600 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.31 secs @ 89.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2015 Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 Turbo Estate (15.24 secs), the 1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport (15.25 secs), and the 1970 Chevrolet Malibu 5.7 V8 Turbo Hydra-Matic (15.26 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1994 version of the Rover 600 620 Ti has a maximum speed of 143mph.

Top Speed of the 1994 600 equals the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1994 Rover 600 620 Ti then how about the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph), the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (154 mph), or the 2019 Peugeot 508 PureTech 225 GT S and S (154 mph).

Related Links:

1994 600 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Rover

Car Comparison