The Vanden Plas variant received the same MG engine from 1984 onwards (with the exception of the VP Automatic, which retained the 63 bhp (47 kW) 1275 cc unit). The Vanden Plas featured higher levels of luxury and equipment, while the slightly more powerful MG Metro 1.3 sold as a sports model (0–60 mph in 10.9 seconds, top speed 103 mph). The Metro range was expanded in May 1982 to include the luxury and higher performance versions the MG Metro marked a quick comeback for the marque previously used on sports cars until the plant making the closed in 1980. The advert also featured the similar-sized, and as 'foreign ' and the voiceover spoke of the Metro's ability to 'send the foreigners back where they came from'. A five-door Metro eventually became available in October 1984.A major TV advertising campaign was created by the London agency, Leo Burnett which came up with the headline 'a British car to beat the world'. This was despite the arrival of a host of new superminis on the British market that year – the Ford Fiesta received a major facelift, and four all-new superminis (the, and ) went on sale in Britain between April and September. Its updated A+ series 1.0 and 1.3-litre OHV engines hardly represented the cutting edge in performance, but they were strong on economy.In its best year, 1983, more than 130,000 Metros were sold in Britain only the and outsold it. Its clever interior design made it spacious considering its dimensions, and Hydragas suspension gave surprisingly good ride and handling. Even then, during the early part of its production life, it was the best selling mini-car in the UK, before being eclipsed by the updated in 1984. It was finally revealed to the public on the press day of the British Motor Show with the British Prime Minister, in attendance.The Metro quickly proved popular with buyers, a 19-year-old buying one of the early examples, and was regularly seen in it being hounded by the paparazzi just before her marriage to in July 1981.
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