Here, in brief, are my initial impressions of the 2012 Morgan +8;  The first things that impresses you about the reborn Plus 8 are both the ride quality and steering feel. After spending many hours behind the wheel of a standard Aero 8, an Aeromax and a variety of Classic Morgans, the new +8 went straight to the top of the pile in terms of steering precision.  The poise is aided by the chassis being closest to the Series 1 Aero and thus with the minimal overhang of the Plus 8 bodywork, the car feels both nimble and lithe (this is also helped by the fact the 2012 Plus 8 will have an excellent power to weigh ratio).
This power to weight ratio also meant the Plus 8 felt extremely quick – acceleration was always rapid (no need for the right gear or the right RPM, the torque seemed to mean the power was always on tap) and it was only the rules of the road that restricted your ability to proceed at a physics bending pace; all the above was only exacerbated by the superb handling adding huge confidence, even on a slightly damp British winter road. A quick nod should also be made to the exhaust note, which in typical V8 fashion is there to egg you on – in the new Plus 8, you cannot help but fall in love with the idea of pressing down on the accelerator, simply to hear the tune it plays.

Aesthetically, the 2012 Morgan Plus 8 is a very purposeful looking Classic. The rear and the front perspective afford it a wonderfully wide stance; in the Black bodywork of the development car, the Plus 8 possesses an attractively menacing quality, more subtle than many performance cars but with plenty of presence. The profile is more difficult to judge because I simply don’t like the wheels on the development vehicle and therefore, tried to imagine it with another set in situ. Were a set of Classic Morgan wheels fitted, I think you’d be hard pressed to tell it apart from the rest of the range from afar (which given the heritage of the profile, is certainly not a bad thing!). I will watch, with interest, which wheels MMC choose to fit to the production cars because I believe getting them correct is essential to completing the package. I’m sure the company will devise a suitable solution; their Sport line for the Classic range has proven they understand simple beauty and the elegance of clean lines.

Whilst not fair to judge a development vehicle on fit and finish, the interior was a nice place to sit, the cut down doors adding to the elbow room. The dash was still a work in progress but was coming together nicely: blending Classic and modern with panache. The hood seemed substantial and consideration has been given to the side screens and the fit of them when the Plus 8 is at speed. As it stands, the development car was rattle free and felt very solid and well put together. I look forward to sitting the finished product but all signs point to another Morgan cabin that is a pleasure to spend time in.

I believe that gives a fair reflection of my opinion on the new Morgan Plus 8. It is quite easy to fall under the spell of this wonderful vehicle and even in development form, it is an extremely attractive package. Once the development process is over and the car has reached the public,  I believe the Plus 8 will sell itself;  the words of others, such as myself, will become superfluous to the individuals experience behind the wheel. This is a Morgan which needs to be driven to truly appreciate the depth of its potential and the magic it is capable of.

This new Morgan 4/4 Sports car is being offered in 3 colours: Sport Black, Sport Red and Old English White. All come with black perforated leather interior, carpets, hood and wheels. The dashboard is polished Tawny ash and a Mota Lita wheel is standard. The combination of the Ford sourced 2.0 engine from the Classic Plus 4 and the narrow wings of the standard 4/4 should make for a very spirited drive. The car is available for £38,750 + on the road charges from Morgan Motor Company and their associated dealers. To discuss the 4 4 75th Anniversary specification photographs and information, or to see more photographs of this exciting Morgan sports car, visit Talk Morgan.

“At the 1950 Earl’s Court Motor Show Morgan introduced the 2088cc Plus 4 car to the world. This highly capable machine became the platform for annual innovative performance upgrades within the company. The perfect balance between engine size and weight was the catalyst for the birth of the Plus 4 Super Sports race ready car. This car introduced the infamous low-line aluminium body and a highly tuned mechanical specification taking Morgan to victory in their class at the 1962 Le Mans 24 hour race. This ground breaking success encouraged Peter Morgan to introduce many permanent additions to the Plus 4 which has continued to evolve to this day.

To celebrate this on the sixth decade of the Plus 4, Morgan Motor Company is proudly reintroducing the limited edition Plus 4 Super Sports.

Like it’s sixty year old predecessor, the 2011 Plus 4 Super Sports features a carefully considered specification including an array of performance upgrades, track inspired accessories and fashionable sixties themed aesthetics. This truly versatile car contains all the reliability of the modern Morgan but with a large injection of legendary 60s racing spirit.”

The key aspects of the new +4 SuperSports are 200bhp 2.0 variable cam engine, upgraded throttle bodies, performance exhaust, uprated sports suspension, 3.73 limited slip differential and 3-turn steering rack. The list price of the new 2011 Morgan Plus 4 SuperSport is £49,995 inclusive of VAT. The full brochure can be found on Talk Morgan – MMC and dealers are now accepting orders for this Morgan sports car.

At a time of global conservation with a drive towards improved fuel economy the Morgan Motor Company introduces a new concept for a sporting family, the Morgan EvaGT. The four seater Coupe takes its inspiration from the British sports saloons of the early 1950’s. Among these were the Bristol 400 series and the Frazer Nash BMW 328. After the Second World War rationing forced designers to conserve and make the most of the materials at their disposal. However the pressure cooker of war had also led to an abundance of innovative engineering ideas. Steel was scarce so lightweight aluminium was used for bodywork. Smooth “in-line” straight six cylinder engines were fitted to give long distance comfort and reliability. Because the engineers had often worked on aircraft development during the war aerodynamics contributed to high but economical cruising speeds.

The Morgan Motor Company is the last survivor of these British sports car manufacturers. Of course the company is lucky enough to have 100 years of continuous success behind it and like Bristol and Frazer Nash; Morgan has a history of successful collaborations with German suppliers BMW, Siemens and Bosch. But Morgan also works with a number of young engineering companies in the United Kingdom and with world class British university research departments.

The new challenge is to make cars that are more efficient than any we have seen so far. The Morgan Motor Company is in a good position to respond to this challenge because the company is small and flexible with a proven track record of fast development cycles. It currently manufactures one of the greenest sports cars in the world, the Morgan Four Four Sport. Morgan achieves this result with the use of the new Ford 1.6 Sigma engine coupled with a light chassis. Morgan currently has a young well qualified technical team working towards a potential 5 engineering PHD’s, who will make full use of research departments at the University of Oxford, Cranfield and Birmingham City to tap into a technical knowledge network to make more efficient cars. This team is helping to develop a high torque electric motor twice as powerful as others of the same weight and size and a powerful lithium phosphate battery with a higher charge density to achieve the most efficient performance for weight so far.

The dynamic team at Morgan has made a commitment from 2010 that they will bring out a new model every two years. The legendary sports car manufacturer will target new niches…..electric sports cars, a fun weekend vehicle and the first of the new cars will be the Morgan EvaGT, a four seater Coupe aimed at young families, with a bit of drama or automotive theatre as we like to call it. This is a revolution for a car company famous for making the same car for 50 years!

The Morgan EvaGT
Brief provisional specification

Chassis:
The Morgan EvaGT makes full use of clever technologies that the Morgan Motor Company has developed to manufacture a lightweight car. Morgan was one of the first car companies to see the advantage of a bonded aluminium chassis to give rigidity but also to save weight. The EvaGT uses a further developed version of the bonded aluminium chassis of the Morgan Aero SuperSports, a chassis that successfully competes in International GT3 Sports Car Racing. Compliant with European and US safety approvals.

Bodywork:
Morgan was the first car company in 1995 to see the benefit of superformed aluminium, an aircraft technology, to manufacture smooth accurate body parts. Morgan Design have sculpted a new shape for the Morgan EvaGT that focuses on natural materials and understands their unique technical properties. Using computer technology in design and in manufacture to ensure accuracy, the parts are then hand finished to make sure they feel as good as they look. A perfect “A” class surface, minimal shut lines, hidden wipers, flush door handles and sharp creases deflect air over the surface of the car. The new Morgan EvaGT represents a philosophy of lightweight luxury that embraces authenticity, sustainability and innovation achieving its final result through the process of skilled craftsmanship.

Technical Specification (subject to change):
BMW 3 litre straight six mono twin turbo with direct petrol injection 306bhp and 400nm torque

• Euro 5 and 6 compliant at 200 gms Co2/km, US FMVSS, CARB and EPA approved.
• 40 mpg / 7.06 litres/100kms
• 6 speed sport automatic or 6 speed manual gearbox.
• Rear wheel drive with fully independent intelligent suspension
• Aluminium body panels with a laminated internal safety structure.
• Predicted weight of 2755 lbs/1250 kg
• Predicted 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds/ 0-100km/h 4.5 seconds
• Predicted top speed 170mph / 273 km/h

Launch
The first public view of the Morgan EvaGT will be at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Carmel, California, USA on the 15th August 2010.

The Morgan Motor Company will be taking orders worldwide with a request for a deposit of £5000 from prospective clients for an allocated build slot. The first 100 cars of a limited run are planned to begin production mid 2012 and the “on-road” price will be competitive for a car of this class.

Following on from the rapturous response that LIFECar received, Morgan Motor Company has decided to take LIFECar from a prototype, to a fully fledged production vehicle. There have been some changes to the original brief, making the car more practical, while retaining the revolutionary features that made LIFECar unique.

In the place of the original hydrogen fuel cell is a super-efficient, series hybrid drivetrain, developed using some of the countries best universities, making use of the wealth of knowledge in their research departments. The drivetrain will power a vehicle that epitomises Morgan core value of innovation. The use of sustainable lightweight materials will ensure that not only is the vehicle fuel efficient with a low carbon output, but that at the end of its very long life, it will be easily recyclable.

Some key figures for the LIFECar are:

• 1000 mile range
• Ultra lightweight (sub 800kg)
• 15 mile EV range
• 0-60mph in 7 seconds
• ~£40,000 Price

Universities involved with LIFECar2 are:

• Birmingham City University
• Oxford University
• Cranfield University

More information on this exciting project as soon as we receive it! in the interim, Talk Morgan has detailed photographs of the interior and exterior of the LIFECar in the member’s section.

Morgan Roadster Sport in Sport Teal

Hot off the press from Milan, we have just received photos of the wonderful Morgan Roadster Sport from Morgan Motor Company. The photos show the new Sport model in, the fresh for 2010 colour, Sport Teal.

MMC have this to say about the new Morgan sports car: “A new introduction for 2010, the Roadster Sport adds performance and luxury to the basic formula.

With a minimal range of options to add to the comprehensive specification, which already includes a mohair hood and tonneau, black coloured stainless steel wire wheels and tan leather upholstery, the Roadster Sport offers style – pure and simple. 220 Bhp, a wider frame front for more secure handling yet still with 225 g/km Co2 emissions, the new Euro 5 Roadster Sport delivers performance with responsibility (Editor – thereby following in the footsteps of the Morgan 4/4 Sport).”

For more information on the Morgan Sport Range, visit the Morgan Motor Company and see their list of dealers for Morgan sports car sales. To discuss these wonderful automobiles, view photographs and meet other enthusiasts of Morgan cars, visit Talk Morgan.

Morgan Aero SuperSports

Following in the footsteps of the instantly collectable Morgan Aeromax, Morgan Motor Company introduced the Aero SuperSports at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.  As of February 2010, Morgan are proud to announce that over half of the 200 limited production run of SuperSports have already been sold.

Innovations include the use of high tech super formed aluminium panels for the entire body. This process allows the most complex of shapes to be made in aluminium which are then fitted by hand over a traditional ash frame. Beautifully detailed inside, the coachbuilt ash frame proves that construction of the Morgan Aero SuperSports remains true to Morgan philosophy. Using this unique mix of technology and high quality materials, the car is assembled with care and dedication by the craftsman and women in Malvern. This method of construction offers a minimum of carbon emissions and maximum sustainability.

The body is bolted to the stiff yet lightweight AeroMax chassis which is fitted with the 367hp 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine. This gives SuperSports performance to match its name. For the first time a Morgan comes with an automatic gearbox as standard. The latest ZF 6HP 26 gearbox gives the fastest change in the world and endows the automatic with better acceleration and fuel economy than the manual thanks to its lock up clutch, low power loss and instant change characteristics. It also delivers lower CO2 emissions, 260 g/km, a figure not normally associated with a 0-62 mph (100 kph) capability of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 170mph.

Reassurance and security are provided by Electronic Brake Distribution, cruise control, ABS and Siemens electronic airbags.

The technically advanced engine and lightweight construction give the best of all worlds – performance, economy and low emissions, yet still with all of the safety systems one would expect in a modern performance car.

Morgan believes that with the Aero SuperSports it leads the way in exclusive bespoke low volume car construction. The production techniques use quality raw materials and advanced technologies that are not available to Morgan’s competitors in the world of luxury car production. Owners of the Morgan Aero SuperSports will be joining a very exclusive Club with a unique opportunity to share their motoring dreams.

A selection of photographs of this wonderful Morgan limited edition sports car can be found at the excellent resource, of information on all the Morgan cars, Talk Morgan.

New Morgan V6 Roadster Sport

Morgan Motor Company have launched the second model in the Morgan Sport Series line up with the Morgan V6 Roadster Sport.

The company have recognised that not all owners want to personalise their car at the production stage and therefore are offering a well specified car direct from factory. MMC have this to say: -

“Choosing the Morgan that’s right for you can be a daunting task, so we’ve make it easy. The Sport Series comes with a simple yet comprehensive and well thought out standard specification.

Few car manufacturers have actually increased production recently, however such has been the demand for the Morgan 4/4 Sport, that the Malvern based factory has had to add 50% to the annual production of this model.”

In order to capitalise on this appeal, the company unveiled its latest model, the V6 Roadster Sport, at the 2010 Geneva Motorshow. This carries the spirit of the entry level Morgan 4/4 Sport into the powerful 220Bhp V6 3.0 litre, with a few more luxuries on top.

Updates have included the latest Euro V 220 Bhp V6 3.0 engine, which gains 10% more power over the previous Roadster model with no trade off on CO2 emissions at 225 g/km. Changes to the front track give more sure footed handling, and minor revisions to the rear lighting and interior packaging complete the model year changes.

Both Sport models come with a choice of 8 exterior colours all designed to match the tan leather upholstery. On the Roadster, natural distressed tan leather, a black stoneguard and bonnet strap can be factory ordered if desired.

An extensive range of photographs of the Morgan Roadster Sport can be found at Talk Morgan, the web based enthusiasts forum for all cars produced by MMC.