Rover’s distinctive "new face" is completed with the new Rover 45, available in five-door hatchback and four-door saloon body styles and completes the trio of Rover models - Rover 75, 45, 25 - each with the new Rover ‘quad headlamp’ style. The front end has a higher bonnet line and deeper grille than the Rover 400 it succeeds, with new front and rear bumper designs incorporating classic-style chrome inserts, with direction indicator units integrated with the outer headlamps. Chrome door handles are a further styling cue and there are five new paint colours plus new designs of wheel trims and alloy wheel styles. 

New interior trim materials enhance the cabin ambience, with extra comfort from new Rover 75 type front seats. A wide choice of interior trim colours is offered, with a similar structure of appointment levels to that offered on the Rover 75. Safety features are enhanced, with a 45-litre driver’s airbag, new load-limiting seat belts and the standard front seat side airbags and passenger airbag. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard on all Rover 45 models. A revised line up of power units, all engineered to comply with the EU3 emissions standard, includes the acclaimed new 2.0 litre KV6 engine, first introduced in the Rover 75. This ultra-refined six cylinder unit is combined with a special version of the Jatco five-speed automatic transmission. Top specification V6 models have cruise control as standard, emphasising the effortless character of this new engine. Also new for the Rover 45 range is the 1.8 litre K series engine, available in five-speed manual. The Rover 45 is also available with the new high-torque L Series common rail turbo-diesel engine that produces a competitive 240Nm torque from 2000rpm. An entirely new chassis set up, evolved for the new V6 version, has helped to give the entire Rover 45 range taut and responsive handling, without compromising its class-leading ride comfort.