ROVER has heralded the start of a new era with the launch of a new garage in Southampton and the unveiling of a new Rover model.

Mann Egerton's new premises in The Avenue were opened by Rover managing director Jim Macdonald who hailed the dealership as the best ever.

"It's great to be here and have the opportunity to open such magnificent premises,'' he said. "The whole dealership is extremely impressive. It has modern architecture and design which fits in extremely well with what we have planned for Rover in the future.''

He said the style and innovation in the showroom would be mirrored in new Rover cars set to be launched in the next few years.

Last week's opening coincided with the national launch of Rover's new car, the Rover 75, which Mr Macdonald said would be spearheading Rover's revival.

He said falling market-share was linked to models being phased out, but the arrival of the Rover 75 and subsequent new cars, would ensure that Rover was right back among the top selling auto manufacturers.

"By the end of next year we will have invested £4 billion in Rover. This makes BMW the largest inward investor in the UK," he said. "The 75 is the best quality car Rover has ever produced and we want people to buy the car because it is good, not because it is British.''

The principal dealer and spokesman at the Mann Egerton showroom, Steve Price, said the launch of the car and the official opening were milestones in the history of both Rover and the Inchcape group which owns the dealership.

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