Home - Automobile Reviews - Morgan Revives 4-Seat Roadster, Improves Aero 8


Morgan Revives 4-Seat Roadster, Improves Aero 8

Key Improvements Give Morgans Range a Boost

For Morgan, a tiny boutique sports car maker from Malvern, England, 2006 is shaping up to be one of its biggest years to date. Unlike the many small independent carmaking firms that have appeared and disappeared from one decade to another, Morgan and its unique products have stood the test of time, bringing a piece of old-world British charm to the modern-day automobile. As of late, weve been paying close attention to Morgan, as the storied marque, like Lotus, has re-entered the North American marketplace. Earlier last week we covered the 4/4 70th Anniversary Edition, but theres much more to this brand, as youll soon see.

After
This is a 4/4 70th Anniversary Edition Roadster, Morgans classical two-seat sports car. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
being absent for eighteen months, Morgan announced that it will be bringing back the +4 model, which, aside from being old enough to claim pension, was well sought after by Morgan enthusiasts. For the longest time, the +4 model was a modified version of the two-seat 4/4 model, powered by the same engines, using the same gearboxes, and the same antiquated horse-drawn carriage suspension
Heres the new +4. Its quite different in that it seats four people, and not just two. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
system, the only differences being that it was longer and bigger which gave it the ability to share classic motoring with two more people than the 4/4.

In the time that the +4 was absent from the model lineup, Morgan claimed to have significantly changed it. So, whats new about the 2006 +4? A look down the specs shows that it still has the same ladder chassis, and they havent even changed the way that they make it; the frame for the body is still hand crafted
+4 now features greater legroom, and an optional full-length center console. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
out of ash wood by a man in a shed at Morgans Malvern factory. The brand has changed the look of the car, ever so slightly, with different fenders, new headlamps, and a more aerodynamic grille, but unless youre a true aficionado, it still looks like a grand old 1930s car. For that truly tweedy look, buyers can have their +4s fitted with new 18-inch stainless steel wire wheels.

Morgan has also addressed issues that its customers had with the interior of the old +4; it was simply too small, and too uncomfortable. After repackaging the rear half of
Aside from the high-performance sports tires, the only modern thing about the +4 are the new Ford engines. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
the car to improve legroom, they also re-worked the roof for better headroom, and for easier operation. But wait, theres more: the rear bucket seats, for the first time, offer ISOFIX clip-in attachments for child seats, and they also flip down for improved cargo carrying capacity. Talk about revolutionizing for the times! Buyers can also specify a new console that stretches the entire length of the car, which strengthens the cars rigidity and adds beauty to the interior.

Another reason to celebrate is that the +4 features a new lineup of engines. After the demise of MG-Rover, Morgans previous supplier of engines, the brand
One of the main changes is the roof, which allows for better headroom and easier operation. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
switched over to powertrains produced by Ford. The base +4 features a 2.0-liter 145-horsepower inline-four, described by the brand as lusty, while the top of the line 223-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, to replace the old Buick-derived MG-Rover V8. These two engines are probably the most modern components featured in the car, using such newfangled technology as fuel injection and dual overhead camshafts. Nevertheless, Morgans have always been quick machines, and the new V6 +4 is no exception; it possesses one of the best power to weight ratios of a four-seat open top car.
Like the 4/4, Morgan will not be selling the +4 in North America for many different reasons, but chiefly because the +4 could not pass federal safety
And now for something completely different... The very modern, very slick 2005 Aero 8. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
standards without a serious overhaul. It features no airbags, no side-impact protection and crash safety hinged on not hitting anything (ie. a hope and a prayer). Remember, this is a car that was designed in an era where other cars still looked and weighed much the same. For the curious, prices for the +4 start at £32,020, which is equal to $55,470. Because the car is entirely hand-built, theres a waiting list of between six to twelve months.

Though its nice to see a manufacturer still building vehicles from its glory days (literally), progress is marvelous. Back in 2001, when Morgan introduced the Aero 8, it shocked the world (or at least, the part that was aware of Morgan) because it was the first new car that the company had engineered since the original +4 and 4/4. The innovation that the
2006 Morgan Aero 8 features BMWs finest V8 engine, a lightweight chassis and the worlds first cantilever suspension. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
Aero 8 featured was simply astounding, and Im not saying this just because its a Morgan. Through the extensive use of aluminum, the car was so light that the wheels alone made up 10 percent of its weight, and it featured the worlds first cantilever rear suspension, which is currently waiting in line for patent.

And then theres the styling, which is an artistic, modern-day interpretation of what a 21st century Morgan ought to look like. Its an epic machine, with an enormous nose that sticks way out in front, squeezed between two oversized teardrop fenders, and a cabin that puts the drivers bottom over the rear axle. And to drive? Its been said that it captures all of the Morgan Sunday driver, open-air experience, but its got the performance and capability to hang with Porsche 911s and other bests that the market has to offer. Of course, it would be a no-brainer that with all this, the
MINI Cooper sourced headlamps give the Aero 8 a less cross-eyed look. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
brand would export it to the United States, and so it did last year.

Unlike the +4 which looked as if it would fall apart on the way to the wall in a crash test, the Aero 8 not only withstood the federal governments bash, but it surpassed their standards; although not before a few important tweaks. The cabin was widened to make it more commodious and to alleviate width-related cramps, not to mention a new ZF variable-assist steering system, bigger brakes with AP pistons and a Bosch ABS system, and the all-important driver and passenger airbags. On the side of luxuries, the Aero 8 gained central locking, a tire pressure sensor and power windows, the sort of things that dont clash with the Aero 8s quilted leather and burled wood.

For this years Geneva Motor Show, Morgan unveiled the new 2006 Aero 8, with one key improvement - they fixed the nose. The biggest criticism against the 8 was the fact that its headlamps made the car look cross-eyed, to the point where it truly
Heres a Morgan that you can actually buy. The 2006 model is pictured here with optional hardtop roof. (Photo: Morgan Motor Company)
split opinions. The new car draws on last years Aeromax concept, a one-off hardtop coupe version of the Aero 8, nabbing the alterations made to the front end. In place of the canted headlights are self-cleaning xenon units that point straight ahead, as well as fog lamps, all borrowed from the MINI Cooper. The new Aero 8 also gets a revised front air dam that features a smaller intake, and the option of a hard top.
Page:  1

ADD TO:
Digg
Del.icio.us
Google
Blink
Furl
Simpy
Spurl
Y! MyWeb

Add to Technorati Favorites

Your Comments
Enter review title
 Choose a star rating
 Type in your review
Your Name (optional)
 Your Email (optional)


Relatd Vehicle Listings
User Tools
Discuss in our Forums
Photos of Morgan 4/4
Print this Auto News
Email this Auto News
NEW Morgan PRICE QUOTE
Get a FREE, No-Obligation Internet Price Quote for Morgan !
Find Morgan Dealer | Search Auto Listings for Morgan



Acura   Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo