Rover 800 Series - Model Designations

Model Designations

Unlike many other manufacturers who used numerical model naming systems, Rover never settled on a permanent standard for the majority of their cars. However, for the following designations are an approximate guide:

• 820 – 4-cylinder 8-valve carburetted models (Rover O8)
• 820e – 4-cylinder 16-valve single point injected models (Rover M16e)
• 820i – 4-cylinder 16-valve multi point injected models (Rover M16i) Came in naturally aspirated form and turbocharged (Turbocharged model fitted to later 820 Turbo)
• 825i – pre-1988 6-cylinder models (Honda C25A)
• 827i – post-1988 6-cylinder and US models (Honda C27A)
• Sterling – for most markets (except North America); luxury flagship model (Honda C25A then C27A after 1988)
• Vitesse – for most markets; sports flagship model (Honda C27A)

Following the 1992 R17 facelift, the convention was simplified to:

• 820i/Si/SLi/sterling – 4-cylinder 16-valve multi point injected models (Rover T16) Came in naturally aspirated form and Turbocharged for the Vitesse.
• 825D/SD – 4-cylinder diesel models (VM Motori 425)
• 827i/Si/SLi/Sterling – 6-cylinder models (Honda C27A - Before 1996)
• 825i/Si/SLi/Sterling – 6-cylinder models (Rover KV6 - After 1996)
• Sterling – for most markets (except North America); luxury flagship model
• Vitesse – for most markets; sports flagship model (Rover T16)