Dropped my Plus Four off at the dealership today for a service and was shown the brochure for the new 2023 MY Plus Four. Interesting. As expected, driver and passenger airbags, so no Moto-lita steering wheel. Totally new dashboard, but not sure if I like it. Possibility of uprated brakes.

And traction control? If so, assume that makes more sense for the Plus Six. Someone also told me no wood option for the dash due to the airbag - can anyone confirm that?

Yes on the TC

Yes, I did spot traction control. I'm all for modern goodies, like heated seats, but not so sure I like the way this is going.

Seems to me just a function of wanting to more fully push into the US market, so I kind of understand that. Also understandable that it’s hard to justify that TC and airbag aren’t relevant safety measures everywhere else too, but the consequences may not align with the expectations of owners (either now or in the future). Only time will tell … inc whether MMC manage to innovate and fulfil both audiences at the same time.

I was told on the factory tour when I picked up my Six that airbags, traction control and new dashboard were going to be introduced to comply with US regs for a category known as "Specialist Manufacturers", Morgan believe this will enable them to sell the CX range into the US market.
Personally I am glad that my car has none of these options and I expect there to be a strong pre-loved market for the early "unimproved" models going forward. The steering wheel issue alone will put potential buyers off, I am guessing. A Mota Lita or similar is a must for a Morgan IMO.

Agree completely but then many trad owners seem to be similarly about the CX cars. But for me though, the increased cockpit size of the CX was a game changer. Having a viable car for US market is probably the same for MMC.

Being a greedy bugger,I also have a modded 4/4, which scratches both itches.

Having traction control will satisfy certain US regulations, but in New Zealand we are required to Electronic Stability Control. Is this included in Traction Control?
Kerry

I think it is just a name and they are the same thing, but I could be wrong,

Morgan seems to be revisiting the Aero Series 2, which was modified to allow sales in the USA, so it has airbags and ABS, features that were retained until the end of Aero production.

I have always said the Plus Six needs Traction Control and Stability Control, all BMW cars with the same motor have these features, so all MMC has to do is pay for the system to be recalibrated for the low weight of the Plus Six.
Airbags? The Aeros have them, but they are very early and primitive. A number have had them removed and the control software deactivated.

I think traction control will spoil the Plus Six personally. But it would undoubtedly be safer for many drivers so I understand from Morgan's point of view that this is a selling point and their way into the US market.
But it does take away one of the reasons I bought my car, which was precisely because the other cars that use the glorious B58 are packed with driver aids and that is not what I wanted.
TC will both attract and deter potential buyers, but if you prefer cars you have to actually drive yourself, then post 2023 you will be looking for a 2nd hand. early model.

But I guess there will be a TC off button as well

Does anyone have an image of the MY23 dash? If not, assume will be available soon enough.

I don't have an image but I understood the the small screen design has changed & works if you are using polarising sun glasses

Blimey … a screen that works with decent sunglasses … there’s progress

https://www.just-auto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2022/05/MorganSennheiserContinental1.jpg

You can see the dash changes in drawn form here (or at least illustrative changes) - from the Morgan and Sennheiser press release earlier in the year

I will prefix my statement by saying that I was once the proud owner of a restored 1967 Maserati Quatroporte that had a lovely V8 adapted from a race engine for road use, 240 plus hp and a top speed of about 250 kph in a car that weighed something over 2 tons. In its day it was the fastest production 4 door on the market.

For a brief moment, on a clear expressway I had it up over 200 and it was still accelerating hard, I then backed off for love of my licence and liberty

Given modern traffic and police speed controls I have never seen the sense in something more powerful than that unless you want to haul several tons behind you. Couple that to the fact that a turbocharged engine develops full torque from very low revs even a 250 hp car in a 1 ton package has more than enough to win most traffic light Pran Prix, and there are very few places or times when you could explore the upper end of the current crop of supercars (a different thing altogether from a sports car).

We have seen that quite a few PlusSix cars have been written off by over enthusiastic drivers so one almost has to question why they even exist let alone whether or not they should have driver aids.

Just my not so humble opinion.

Yep, but sadly all too often it comes down to bragging rights, I suspect. There are always people who want to be seen with the biggest/fastest/most expensive.

We've known for decades that it's easy to design and build a car too powerful for even above-average drivers to safely master. When this package is delivered in an expensive car normally purchased by people in their 50s and older (with all the declining physical attributes this implies) then you have a risky proposition indeed.

There are always going to be a small number of experienced and skilled drivers who are both able to handle these cars to their potential and are wealthy enough to be able to buy them, and jolly good luck to them too. But for lesser mortals like myself I reckon it's much better to have a lower-powered car that you can lark about in without risking life and limb. Why chance going backwards into a hedge at 90mph when you could be doing it at 50?

The door locks are wrong , they are changed to rifl bolt style

I test drove the plus 4 (manual) and the Plus Six back to back at Malvern and in my opinion the Six is a better car on the road and definitely a lot more fun to drive than the manual Plus 4, My decision to buy a Six was based purely on that and had nothing to do with chasing status. The Plus 4 long ratios took some of fun out of the drive for me and the Six felt more planted.
IMO the six has every reason to exist, it has its place just as the Plus 4 does.

Yep, like I said there are drivers like you out there with enough skills and experience to handle a Plus 6 well and safely. I suppose I'm painfully aware of my own limitations as the years go by (The older I get, the faster I was) and when I see the reports of Plus sixes being written off seemingly by over-enthusiastic application of the throttle I do wonder whether they are a bit much for the average driver.

Remember back in the 1970's when bikes like the Kawasaki 750 two-stroke triple (and other Japanese bikes with powerful engines and flexible frames) got a reputation for being a bit too wild for the average rider? We all wanted one but deep down we knew that if we were to actually ride one it might prove a bit unwise.

You should have tried a Plus Four auto - ratios are much better than the manual, which is also slightly detuned compared to the auto.

And now shown in these. Like I say that sketch was much earlier in the year so probably was more of a hint of what was coming.

https://twitter.com/morganmotor/status/1587055293032267777?s=46&t=ZlUCwQor0rJ25m696dkYmg

Wow, are the world-beating "jewel-like speaker grills" still there ?

Not a good picture but this is what the dash should look like

That will never work, they have put the steering wheel in the wrong place.

The steering wheel is exactly the same as on Tarka....
As is most of the dash, including the AirBag door....
Evolution or Reincarnation?

Sorry but the steering wheel is on the right place

[You should have tried a Plus Four auto - ratios are much better than the manual, which is also slightly detuned compared to the auto.]

I agree entirely, hindsight is a wonderful thing but it is a bit late now unfortunately. I still haven't driven a Plus 4 auto yet and am looking forward to it, but my Plus Six suits me down to the ground so no regrets.

it looks like its factual, Sennheiser Audio may be an option... here is a link https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkyANYquuip/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

It certainly is. £2,995.00!!! Standard bluetooth system - £395.00.

I’m young, (at heart) I like driving fast, I like booting my plus 6. I like the engine sound and roar, I like the adrenaline rush it gives me when I can get away with it, giving her full chat for just a few seconds, or when driving home from South of France up Route Neapolitan, raw power , noise, dry mouth and heart palpitations. I drive it a lot , the dry grip, if you keep the power on is pretty damn good, in the wet, you just have to really back off. It’s loose! Bring on traction control. My wife is in her 40s. She drives it well, but Clare once booted it hard on Leominster bypass , in the dry and it did bite. A laughable mini drama because we got away with it. But in the wet she drives like in the film, Driving Miss Daisy. So we are definitely on for traction control in the future.

Meant Route Napoleon above, not Neapolitan. Was that chocolates when I was born in the 70s🙈

I remember the three colour ice cream block: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry (I think it was supposed to be strawberry!)
You gave me a good laugh this morning Jono