Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax confused

are Morgan stopping production of the Aero 8?

if the supersports is the 8's successor, why
are they limiting production to 200???


if i've got this all wrong, please correct away

Ta

I must admit it has not been "over-communicated" and does leave room for some confusion.

I was told when meeting a dealer recently that the Aero 8 production is going to be finished off at the end of this year.

The new Aero SuperSports (has anyone told them that the initials SS are still not the best to use in some places) will be limited to 200 units and is also twice the price. Depending on your viewpoint it either makes the ASS (bad combination also, wake up Morgan) expensive or the Aero S1-4 wonderful value for such a special car. My money is where my mouth is and I am in the processing of buying an S2 all being well.

I think if you look at the market around £120k it is a little odd but perfectly fair to charge this for the AeroSS (about the best name I can find to use). Given that the main difference between a mass production MB SL55 at £80k and a Bentley at £130k is exclusivity and style, game, set and match to Morgan.

Leaves a big gap in the middle ? 100th Anniversary, already produced one new rabbit out of the bag, another one would be too much to ask ?

If I had enough organs to sell I would buy a new S4 right now.

Actually I lie - I would buy an AeroMax without question. Bentley Continental GT or AeroMax, not even a competition.

i think it comes down to supply and demand.

The aeromax was a huge success, and with limited resources, Morgan would be crazy not to continue to produce 120k cars if people are willing to pay that - which they clearly are.

I don't think we'll see any more models, the Aero8 SS is enough for one year and will occupy the factory quite nicely in 2010 I' sure. After that it's anyones guess...

The SS uses the current S4 platform and therefore, it is logical to theorise that the 200-units will give MMC resources and time to develop the next Aero-type Morgan.

This is just speculation but it would seem to make some sense.

I notice there has been some discussion about a roadster model, it would make a lot of sense. For a small change they can make another 200 units as a premium model and it maintains the profitability the company deserves. There is a place for this and I would really like to see the halo aspects of the business support other developments.

I would like to see something in between however. If we could buy something like the minimalist structure of the Lifecar on an Aero8S4 chassis with the 4.8L at around £60k you could target high end Cayman or second hand 911 owners easily.

Now that would be worth saving for.

I think we may well see an aero replacement - but it will be in the same price range as the Aeromax / supersports.

With the current factory I don't see that there is capacity to build a third model line, and spending significant $ to add a new model that retails at the same cost as the aero, which they could happily have continued to sell with 0 investment makes no sense.

The only possiblities I see are

a) lifecar - need to make sure average emissions from morgans fall under a certain CO2 limit - so put out a limited numbers electric / hybrid car.

b) Trad finally sucumbs to regulations, and need is there to deliver classic shape on modern chassis.

Otherwise, keep building trads, and selling low volume high cost specials based on Aero 8 chassis. Achieve this by locking Matt Humpries in a 30's mansion surrounded by Art Deco furniture, posters and shiny things and watch the orders roll in.

Mr Tony talks sense...

I happen to agree with the huge price hike from Trad to Aero.... Its only my opinion and is detailed under.

When I was a kid, I always wanted a Porsche 911, it was a dream, the car was unaffordable, in my head as a boy, it was always going to be unaffordable, it was always always going to be out of reach.... Porsche didn’t have many variants’ to choose from either. Occasionally they’d bring out a special, but the daddy was the 911......Of course now the brand and the prestige of ownership has been ruined, they are now common place, and ridiculously affordable, with so many models, from Boxters to Caymans, to Cayenne’s to Panama’s..... and now a F***king diesel engine.....That’s not the Porsche I remember. What they did was get greedy.

MMC has made its foundation and its 100 year success based on the trads. It introduced variants along the way, (making some mistakes) and through the evolution of the company introduced limited edition models.

Its only clever marketing.

The up and coming 'Supersports' will be limited to a manufacture of 200 vehicles. ..If I am correct, the company has been making Aero 8's for 7 years covering 4 series of changes, including a different engine size...... and the total number of Aero's sold in 7 years isn't that many

So, it’s hardly limited is it ?

The marketing men were right to produce a 'Special' for the Centenary. They were right to limit that 'Special' to 100. They were proved right at the success and speed of sales of that 100. But most of all they were right to dip their toe in the +£100k market.

Although the Aeromax WAS that successful, it was inevitable they would look at a targa or rag top version. The problem comes in the pricing and of costings of that version. Naturally it has to be more expensive than the coupe.

The company know the safe ground of the trads, it now realises that there are people out there willing to pay over £120k for the Morgan mark.

If Morgan keep the choice down, concentrate on their historic brand, and every now and then feed the rich and hungry they will be here for another 100 years. I don’t think it will be long before a ‘Special Super Dooper Trad’ that will fill the gap..... IMO ‘ Best be top of the small boys than bottom of the big’

AS far as the Life Car goes..... IMHO, I don’t think many of us will be alive if and when the 'life car' comes to production and economic fruition...... I personally hope that it will be put on the back burner for many years to come.

Yes I agree with progression, but I see it similar to how I see the channel tunnel. We built (or dug) the tunnel not because we needed it, but just because we could. I’m sure the company and every other motor company in the western world (apart from GM) will also be obtaining the ‘Green thumbs up’ from those that hand out the ‘Green thumbs up’ awards....but for me, leave it for the next generation



dmat

They started with these



They've gone full circle

That said, and without digressing too much, I drove a 997 GT3 RS a few weeks back (on track) and as I've always said, as long as they still build the GT3 and the RS, they can sell as many compromised cars as they want to fund it.

Re Morgan, my hope is that we see a logical progression of line up: -

Keep the Trad 4
Keep the Trad V6

and add a new Trad V8 based on a new aluminium bonded chassis. If they need an idea of where to get the engine, I'd like to put forward this .

Okay, perhaps that is a little too much... still, we can dream!

I'd love to see a Matt Humphries designed Trad V8 - a bridge between the Aero and the 4/4 Sport in terms of style (smaller than an Aero and more technically advanced than a Sport in its construction). I do not believe a 3rd product line is required as the chassis and other updates could be used in ensuring the Trad line has long and prosperous future by avoiding the legislative hatchet the government wields under the guise of H&S and the environment.

Something light and nimble but with good grunt (and sound) would appeal to me (it is what attracted me to the Aero 8). In fact, as I'm thinking while typing, I'd be quite happy with a very efficient V6 that made the right noise. This would keep the V8 for the 'Aero-style' range and make a clear division in product line.

Hmmn... whatever the outcome, it is rather exciting to consider what the next Morgan will be.

I am hoping MMC would oneday uses Aero8 chassis and V8 with a trad like body(similar to Aero8 prototype)cost in the region of £60k. i would be back in the frame then...

Don't worry Kin, you're in my 'good books' with your plutocrat motor.

If you go back to the Prius and your holier than thou eco ways, I may give you the honour of being the first person to be banned from TM