1987 Munot Meteor 54LS
Lore
The 4th generation of the Meteor launched in 1987, and saw the completion of its evolution that started in the previous generation - from a sports compact sibling to the Helvetia, into a still sporty but much more well-rounded/practical car for everyone. Despite sounding simple, this was a rather monumental task. While still honoring the legacy of the Meteor and Munot as a whole as a fun car, it had to be even more refined and graceful than before, and easily accessible price-wise, all without being too generic or numb. Oh, and not to forget the strict Swiss emissions and safety regulations! In essence, this Meteor would need to be a revolutionary, universal car - in the words of head designer Dr. Rudolf Marti - to stand out in the great automotive sea.
Compared to the previous generation, Munot’s Meteor engineering team led by Dr. Rudolf Marti refined the aggressive aerodynamics and retained the fastback styling that was the Meteor’s trademark, but increased the passenger and trunk volume. This combination of requirements led to this Meteor’s very distinctive profile, with a tall rear and sharply sloping front, yet the advantage was undeniable - the Meteor had a Cd of under 0.33. Inside, the Meteor carried a less lavish yet still stately version of the ergonomic “fighter jet” dashboard that was classic of all late 80s-90s Munot cars. This also included the digital Auto Information Computer (AIC) located next to the analog gauges - a high tech yet safer and more reliable alternative to a full digital dash. Eight-way powered upholstered seats - softly bolstered for ergonomic support - with 4-position memory and automatic climate control was present up front, along with a high quality anti-theft AM/FM cassette stereo. The driver had an airbag as standard, and on US export models automatic seatbelts were also standard. An anti-theft system was integrated into all models. The rear seats could be folded down in any combination to further increase the amount of available storage space.
Drivetrain-wise, the Meteor relies on the classic five-speed manual system shared with the Helvetia, with a standard open diff but LSDs available as an option. To meet strict Swiss (and later American) safety requirements, ABS was included as default. As with the Helvetia, the Meteor retained the DOHC FI inline-five but with the more complex 20 valve engines now being the standard, for greater power and efficiency in all power regimes. Displacements also crept up; the standard Meteor engine was now 2.3L, with a 2.45L from the Helvetia available on the 54LS and a 2.2L turbo for the turbocharged models. This was also important since 1987 marked the start of catalytic converters being mandatory in Switzerland; having been phased in on the previous generation, the 4th generation Munots became the first generation to not have any non-cat versions available. High quality muffling kept interior noise to a comfortable level, even if it took away a little from the sportiness of the car.
Aside from all of the refinements, the Meteor saw innovation as well despite not being a halo model. Most important was it introducing the first Munot adaptive suspension system on metal springs, with three settings - drive, sport, relaxed - allowing the driver to adjust the car to taste. This suspension wasn’t retrofitted to the Helvetia and Millennium until 1988, after receiving initial feedback on it. The Traction Restraint System (TRS) from the Helvetia and Millennium also found its way onto the smaller Meteor; this entirely mechanical system used a series of cables and pulleys to restrain the seatbelts, and retract the steering column in the event of a collision.
Four trim levels of the Meteor were planned, with a fifth one added in the 1991 facelift. These were the 54A which was the basic model; the 54K with a more powerful engine and which had the leather seats and power windows as standard; the sport-oriented 54LS (“Leichte Sport”) with an even more powerful engine, more aggressive final drive ratio, aerodynamic body package, 15 inch wheels, and the viscous LSD as standard; and the AWD 54 Turbo with a four-seat sport oriented range topper. The additional model was the 54 Turbo Super, running on super premium fuel for maximal performance. Compared to the less sportier trims, the 54LS and Turbo/Turbo Super models also featured an oil temperature meter, stopwatch, and a voltmeter under the stereo.
Additional options available for all trims included Munot’s Kvadrat AWD system (which came with a geared LSD by default), a 4-speed computer-controlled automatic, a sunroof, and for the 54A & 54K trims, a viscous LSD if the Kvadrat system wasn’t optioned. The 54A could option in the 54K’s additional comfort features, both the 54A and 54K could option in the 15 inch lower profile wheels, and the 54A/K/LS could all option in special performance tires. Prices ranged from the mid $20,000s to the low $30,000s, depending on the trim and options.
The 54LS shown is a good representative of the Meteor; this option was conceived as a higher-end sporty competitor to the 325i/190E 2.3-16, for those who wanted more performance without paying a ton of money - and sacrificing practicality - for a turbocharged model. The 1987 model has a 2.45L fuel injected I5 engine making 156 PS, shared with the Helvetia for commonality. As shown, it is not equipped with any additional options; with a base price of $28,800 it can accelerate to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds and has a maximum speed of 227 km/h, while still remaining in reach for a lot of lower-end buyers.
With the economic boom of the 80s having reached its peak, untold millions of moderately well-to-do yuppies prowling the streets, and the sports sedan craze in full swing worldwide, Munot’s engineers hoped that this new Meteor would appeal to new buyers and old Munot fans alike.
