Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Why can them, why not Morgan????,

This is a topic that does come up from time to time. For a person who is not wealthy owning a big engined and powerful car in Italy is very expensive, and I imagine many other European countries are too.

The trad Morgan entry point 4/4 is probably affordable to many young people, and certainly they all admire a trad. But would they want to buy one? By and large I think not. I think that the Caterham probably appeals more to some with its more powerful engine options and more modern suspension etc.

Maybe I am way off track but I agree to a large degree with Mr. 1560 except that I think the car would need a completely new platform without the complication of the Aero suspension and possibly with a different chassis. I don't really see an Aero with the V6 engine (though that would have very low development costs as the platform already exists). Even Ford are moving to replace the V6 with 4 cylinder turbocharged engines.

The car I would envisage would be more or less a Morgan bodied Caterham with some luggage space behind(enough for 2 overnight bags), all round independent suspension and a 2 litre turbo charged 4 cylinder engine. The body style I envisage would be essentially similar to the Aero Coupe but also in a soft top.

Naturally all this has to be weighed against development costs. Any new model that Morgan produced would possibly need to meet American safety and emission requirements. This means a USA model would probably need the expense of airbags and that involves high development costs. However there is a huge market there just waiting to be tapped.

My dad had a very rude name for them. P***y Pelmet

There are lots of things that require wealth in order to own.... It's not the job of manufacturers to make their products cheaper but to stay profitable and desirable. Cheaper goods might be a route for some, brand integrity might be the route for others.

There is a risk with a smaller car maker that it becomes a jack of all trades but a master of none by attempting to appeal too broadly. It's probably why McLaren don't make a family saloon, but Audi can. Scale and gearing.

If I were running MMC I'd be concentrating on getting the core product right.

I think an Aero 6 makes excellent sense, or even using the trad looks on the Aero chassis as per the new(ish) Plus 8. Call it a Plus 6!

But I expect that would need to cost too much. I bet the Aero chassis costs too much to build...

Or even two tandem V2's from the 3W to make a V4. That should rattle a few teeth! Mind you a 4 litre V4 might not be quite the right direction...

Or perhaps an electric vehicle might be more appropriate - can't see hybrid fitting in any Morgan.

The Roadster 3.7 is the perfect Morgan in my view - a great combination of classic charm and endless torque - a better all-rounder than the old Plus 8 (which was still a fantastic car, I admit). Morgans classic chassis can take the power - there is no sign of my car falling to bits under the stress - at least not yet.

A trad look alike Aero called the Plus 6 !!! No, I can't see it. Why make a car that looks and performs exactly like the Roadster V6 (albeit with a different suspension) and put it in the same price bracket ! No one would buy it.

The Aero range makes sense only because it is sufficiently separated by design, looks, price and performance from the Classic range.

...but maybe the trsd range is too trad for too many going forward. Just met a new DB9 convertible owner - for a brand new £130K he's pretty chuffed but I can't wait to see if it's good...

Nice. I am sure he will be thrilled.

Re the v6 Aero I think it would stand a better chance of success if it looked like a " Baby Aero" rather than mimicked a Trad like the Plus 8. I could possibly see a market for that but I don't think Morgan will do it due to the development costs and the fact that in performance terms it will be to close to the Roadster. Morgan insiders have told me that Morgan deliberately "dumbed down" the 0-60 time of the Roadster 3.7 in its advertising material because it was actually well below 5 seconds in many tests and therefore too close to the new Plus 8 and could therefore damage sales. It would be the same with a Baby Aero. I think there needs to be plenty of clear blue water between the Classic and the Aero.

Surely the current Roadster and Plus 8 are really completely different cars that would appeal to a different buyer. I'm not so sure that performance in a straight line is a criteria that would effect the choice.

There is a significant performance difference between the Plus 8 and the Roadster 3.7, as we discovered on our recent trip. However, and it's a big however, the Roadster is bloody quick, and significant difference doesn't mean the Roadster driver "wouldn't see which way the Plus 8 went" or anything ridiculous like that.

These days as cars get quicker and quicker the actual envelope shrinks and variances are less noticeable. I would also say that as 0-60 is also very dependant on traction and gearing, I wouldn't be too surprised if those acceleration times were close (I would suggest the Plus 4 must be six point something seconds also) as the plus 8 isn't sub 4 seconds (you'd need traction and automated box for that I would suggest). However, that isn't the whole story by a long chalk.

Where the Plus 8 is further very different (and I am aware that I am biased) is for the sound, the glorious sound, and the far superior cabin and ride (plus of course airbags and ABS but I know that won't appeal to many ).

It's no secret that the Roadster was my least favourite car for the Nordkapp Trip. The engine was fantastic but the cabin and driving position was most uncomfortable. I'm quite happy to accept it may well have been my shape more than the cars that caused this but, for me this is a fact.

As such, and bringing the thread back on topic, a Plus 6 (coupe or 'roadster') on the Aero chassis makes sense to me. Are there enough buyers as the cost will rise (Aero chassis plus bags and ABS will undoubtedly increase the cost)? I've no real idea. I'm guessing it won't be a lot cheaper than a Plus 8 but I guess if taxation is softer it would be a more economical choice for our European friends?