Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax MOG Mag Teaser

You keep on mentioning this elctric Morgan that nearly hit you on the Thrill Phill if it had a stonking V8 in it you would have heard it before seeing it.A V8 can be a safety issue simples.

Em

Are you sure you're not one of those hairy-arsed Hell's Angels who ride around on Harleys with open pipes? "Loud bikes save lives" and all that?

Tim that sounds good to me lets have some t shirts printed (Loud pipes saves lives)just for the record i dont own a Harley but might have a hairy arse.



Em

My point really is not contrary to the Aero 8. If you can afford it good for you, and good for Morgan. I think that my main concern is that the trad, other than forced engine changes etc, is locked in development phase that was even outdated in the 50s. It has its charms and we love our Plus 4 but, as they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and I, and I believe many others, would like something a little more updated under that classic skin.

Morgan has a real hole in their product range between the 150 hp of the Plus 4 and the 280 hp of the Roadster. The trouble is that it is not easy to find a naturally aspirated engine of around 210 hp that meets homologation requirements.

I actually came to Malvern with the intention of ordering a Roadster but it was a moment at which the 3 litre engines were finished and the 3.7 litre was not yet available. In any case I considered 280 hp a bit much for the trad chassis (just my thinking but I still feel that way). I tried very hard to get Morgan to fit the SS Mazda engine in a bespoke car for me but they would not consider it.

In any case, as I have said many times before, I see no reason why the trad could not have a redesigned chassis and suspension and still use the existing body. The SP1 has partially proved this is possible, it could have gone much further.

To get back to the Aero I remain convinced that an Aero, and for that matter the new Plus 8 would sell very well with an engine of about 250hp. BMW or Ford really doesn't matter much, and given that the Roadster doesn't have airbags perhaps even that complication can be left out. If I am correct in my thinking the final version of the Rover engined Plus 8 had about 220 hp.

Here is one example of an engine that would be good and has a lovely wide peak torque range 2.0L I-4 ECOBOOST ENGINE

I can't help feeling that this is a lost cause however and that Morgan fully intends to leave the trad development where it is and for the Aero range, when they have used up the contracted V8s they will switch to a powerful turbo charged 6.

You'll be suggesting that Morgan's future is a single "Aero" chassis - with 4 engines, 2 body types and 2 setups.

Pick one from each:
130/180/260/370 PS engine
Classic/Art-Deco
Touring/Sport

Imagine how much easier that would be for Morgan to produce?

A few years since we've been so maybe people just got richer and thought who cares I can afford it.

After the launch at Salon Prive, SP1 went viral and brought Morgan the most publicity they had ever had for a model, their words not mine. Despite some aspects of the design being somewhat Marmite, overall the response was very positive and even Top Gear was impressed and the article in the current edition also highlights the skill of some of the craftsmen involved in the factory. So a guy on a DG that I do not know does not like SP1 and keeps making barbed comments about it, probably thinking it will provoke an argument, his problem not mine as life's too short!


I couldn't agree more, luckily Morgan have access to the BMW V8 for now though if you remember the Eva was supposed to have the 3-litre twin turbo straight six! I realise that that model became still-born, but it just shows that MMC are open to alternatives and who know even a hybrid, at some time in the future.

As you know from your closeness to the factory, the Development Department is currently very busy and whilst the Aero 8 is the culmination of a lot of work, there are other projects being developed and we look forward to seeing these launched in due course. I'm sure that the next development is a Trad, so that should keep the majority on TM happy.

Interesting, though maybe based on two Aero platforms, a development of the current one for the bigger engined performance Touring/Sport model. Then a cut down Aero chassis or a shared platform with another manufacturer for the Classic/Art-Deco model.

This is not based on any great insight, but just a stab in the dark...

I don't know that you would need two tubs. As we have explored before the width of the Plus 8 would seem to be mainly in the width of the mudguards to cover the wider wheels. Though it would seem that with narrow wheels the "running board" would become quite vestigial if the current tub was used. A bit like motorcycles they all have to be tailored to fit the human body so some dimensions must remain the same. In terms of engine bay length there may be some scope to reduce it for a 4 but a 6 probably needs just as much space as a V8 and then you would also need space for the intercooler.