1989 MG DR2/PR5 - AllCarIndex

The MG DR2, later renamed PR5, was Rover’s bold attempt to resurrect the spirit of classic British roadsters like the Austin-Healey 3000 and MGC for a modern era. Conceived in the wake of the Mazda MX-5’s runaway success, the DR2 was envisioned as a range-topping, V8-powered, open two-seater – a charismatic halo model to mark MG’s triumphant return, especially in the American market.

A Dream Born in Canley
The DR2 was created at Rover’s Design Studio in Canley in the late 1980s, during a flurry of creativity that explored several MG sports car concepts – from an entry-level Midget successor to more ambitious ideas. Spurred on by the launch of the MX-5 in 1989, Rover’s management began to see genuine value in reviving MG as more than a badge on hot hatches. As design chief Gordon Sked reportedly said upon first seeing the Mazda, “he felt like crying” – realizing they had the same ideas but had failed to act on them.

An Anglo-American Ambition
The DR2 was part of a multi-tiered sports car strategy, intended to complement the more affordable MGF. Where the MGF was mid-engined and forward-looking, the DR2 was traditional: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, and powered by a Rover V8. The design, penned by Roy Axe and developed by Design Research Associates (DRA), blended MG’s classic curvaceousness with styling cues reminiscent of the Austin-Healey—signaling that both marques were considered for revival.

To bring the concept to life quickly and cost-effectively, the DR2 used a TVR Tasmin 350i as its base. Engineers purchased a near-perfect example from a local dealer, stripped it down, and fitted the clay-styled DR2 body onto its tubular chassis, keeping the TVR’s interior and mechanical components. The result was a thrilling, old-school sports car with a modern skin—exciting to drive and visually dramatic.

From DR2 to PR5 – And Then, to Nowhere
Approved for further development and rebadged as PR5 under the short-lived Phoenix Route plan to revive MG, the project looked promising. However, the tides were shifting. Rover's decision to exit the U.S. market in 1991, combined with financial constraints under British Aerospace ownership, meant that priorities turned toward the MGF – cheaper to build, more modern in layout, and seen as having broader market appeal.

After a final management ride-and-drive exercise, the DR2/PR5 was quietly shelved. Only one running prototype was ever built – a one-off that now rests at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, a tantalizing glimpse at what might have been.