The David Bache and Spen King designed Rover SD1 appeared in 1976. The Vitesse was the most exciting version, launched at the 1982 Motor Show. The Vitesse featured alloy wheels, front and rear spoilers and 'Vitesse' decals. It was a limited production model, only available to special order and in a choice of four colours. A fuel-injected V8 engine gave the Vitesse its remarkable performance and racing versions were developed by TWR.

The Vitesse alloy wheels, front and rear spoilers and 'Vitesse' decals. It was a limited production model, only available to special order and in a choice of four colours.

In 1985 a revised engine with a twin-plenum air intake chamber was made available, to satisfy a homologation requirement for the saloon car racing. Torque was improved, although power output remained the same.

Total production of the Vitesse was 3,897 and this was the last SD1 to be manufactured.