Austin Metro

Lore & Background

The Metro's development began with the ADO88 project, intended as a direct Mini replacement. After poor reception of its styling and the rise of superminis, BL chairman Michael Edwardes ordered a redesign in late 1977, making it larger and more upmarket. The revised LC8 project reused the Mini's A-Series engine and Hydragas suspension but with extensive updates, including 12-inch wheels and servo-assisted disc brakes. The bodyshell was one of the most spacious of its time, and the 60/40 split rear seat was standard on higher-spec models. The name 'Metro' was chosen by employee ballot, though Metro-Cammell objected, leading to an initial promise to advertise it only as the 'Mini Metro'.

Reader's Guide

The Austin Metro was significant as BL's first supermini, filling a gap between the Mini and larger models. It quickly became Britain's best-selling car, demonstrating the success of its space-efficient design and updated engineering. The car's launch on 8 October 1980 at the British Motor Show, attended by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, underscored its national importance. Over its 17-year production run, it evolved through MG versions, a van variant, and a rebranding as the Rover 100, with 2,078,218 units built. Its legacy includes outliving the original Mini it was meant to replace, ceasing production on 23 December 1997, three years after the Mini ended.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Metro' was chosen by a ballot of BL employees from the options 'Match', 'Maestro', and 'Metro'.
• The Metro's launch event was held on a cruise ship, the MS Vistafjord, sailing between Liverpool and the Isle of Man.
• The car featured a 'symmetric' dashboard design that saved tooling costs for left- and right-hand drive models.
• A two-door saloon version was developed but never produced, as the Mini remained in production to fill that niche.