Rover T4 gas turbine saloon
 | |
| Manufacturer | Rover |
|---|---|
| Production | 1961 |
| Assembly | United Kingdom |
| Predecessor | Rover P4 Rover P5 (concurrent to 1973) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Layout | Front engine front wheel drive |
| Engine | twin shaft gas turbine |
| Top speed | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
The Rover T4 gas turbine saloon was a prototype built by Rover in 1961.
History
Shortly after the start of the Second World War in 1939, the British government approached Rover and asked for support in the manufacture of secret, innovative propulsion systems that Frank Whittle had developed for propelling aircraft, but was unable to produce. Various gas turbines were built up to 1942, partly based on Whittle designs and partly on Rover's own design. Rover was a pioneer in gas-turbine technology for road vehicles for the time.
The T4 saloon was the fourth and last prototype for a road going turbine car although in 1963 they co-operated BRM in constructing a racing car for Le Mans.They also produced a small series gas-turbine lorries from 1968 to 1969 in co-operation with Leyland Vehicles from the time. Before development of the engines was finally dropped.
A completely practical vehicle in a clean modern design. The car is powered by a single-stage turbine with separate compressor turbine, the shaft output being 140 bhp. The car has front wheel drive, disc brakes and independent suspension on all four wheels. The air intakes surround the four head lamps and the air filters are concealed in the front wings. Variable pitch blades are used for the compressor turbine so as to obtain rapid acceleration, and a static primary surface heat exchanger integral with the engine is said to have affected an important reduction in fuel consumption.
The T4 was based on the 2000 P6 prototype and was unveiled two years before the conventional P6 2000 production model actually reached the market. The four-door T4 already had the body and floor pan of the P6 model with slightly amended shape and slightly flatter front. One of a line of earlier gas turbine prototypes built by Rover in the 1950s and 1960s The Kerosene consumption is in the range of 16-20 miles per gallon. Unusually the 2S/140 turbine engine drives the front wheels and rear suspension is independent with swing axles. unlike the later P6 that is rear wheel drive.
Rover claimed that the T4 could be produced in three years to go to market, but production of a turbine car would be at a premium price. advantages expected would be freedom from engine maintenance for long periods and exhaust gases much less toxic than on a piston engine. But would the public be ready to accept it, at an expensive price of around £3,000-£4,000. The most expensive Rover in production at the time cost £1,948 so almost twice the price. The gas turbine engine was never used for the production vehicle. In fact, Rover had already abandoned any hope of putting a turbine engine car into production because of this.
