ROVER has unveiled the design powerhouse which will drive its model range into the next millennium. Rover has centralised research and design, product development and testing facilities in a £30 million purpose-built design and engineering centre at Gaydon in Warwickshire where some 1,200 designers and engineers will design Rover vehicles for the next century.

The building has new computer-aided design and modelling facilities, many compatible with equipment at BMW's design centre in Munich. Rover's demonstrator operation also moves to Gaydon, and the fleet team will report to product development staff on new products' performance with fleets.