Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax About the Frame : Plus 8 vs Aero 8

Hi everybody,

Maybe someone could help me. I would like to know if the wheelbase of the Plus 8 is the same than the old and new Aero 8 ? I know that Plus 8 and Aero 8 share the same frame. Other thing, is it really the same suspension ? I've watched a lot of pictures of the two cars and specially technical pics, but about the frame impossible to know the differences between the both. I read "TalkMorgan" for many years but i find nothing about it


Six months ago, i drove an Aero 8 S4. I was impressed by the ride comfort. I loved it. To be honest, astonished but every time I read a Plus 8 review, it says the car is bumpy. Someone could confirm that ? I'm thinking to purchase one but I wouldn't done a mistake

In 2016, maybe the Plus 8 will be fitted with the new Aero 8 frame, with the new front frame. I don't know if it needs new crash tests. I'm a little be worried that soon, V8 Engine will cancelled due to the regulation.

Thanks for help

Bonjour!

I can't comment on the technicals too much other than saying I would assume that the wheelbase for the 4.8 Plus 8 is likely to be identical to the Aero 8 as the chassis is the same. In terms of being 'bumpy'..... I don't think so. The car is stiff, but stiff in a good way, in a way that a performance car is stiff. I doesn't wallow like a Range Rover might, it's a direct drive experience. On major roads it's as smooth as silk - on lovely French roads it will be a dream.

The suspension has, I believe, changed very slightly between the 4.8 Plus 8 I have (2015 car) and the new Aero 8. Some say they can feel no difference, others claim it's improved.

My advice would be to buy one. I love mine.

I love the way the plus 8 drives, yes it's firm but it's still smooth over rough surfaces.
The chassis are slightly different at the rear and the fuel tanks are different. The suspension and running equipment are common.

I may be wrong but I suspect the spring and damper rates that were developed for the heavier Aero 8 , have just been carried over onto the lighter +8 .
Therefore it will "bounce" more than the Aero 8 does, nothing that a bit of development with changing springs and dampers cannot cure, but perhaps annoying that it is not optimised.

Each time I have test-driven an Aero I have been very impressed by the ride over poor road surfaces, mind you that is in comparison to my trad +8.

I was once travelling along the M20 at pretty high speed trying to outrun a Javelin train along the high speed track adjacent to the motorway, just before the Leeds Castle exit. I was delighted to see an Aeromax coming up behind me fast. Accepting that my top speed was vastly inferior to his, I pulled over, and let him go past. As he went by, I was intrigued by the amount of vertical movement on the wheels, especially the rear. On a flat motorway surface it was going up and down a lot over each of the "joints". My +8 with its live axle suspension was hardly moving but I did feel a slight jolt over each joint , but the driver of the Aeromax was probably well isolated from the road imperfections.

Hi, with the benefit of 14 months ownership of a Plus 8 and a lot of research my personal understanding of the evolution of the Aero chassis is as follows.

1. The basic alloy tub and front and rear suspension are unchanged since the S2 Aero 8 up to the introduction of the 2016 S5 Aero 8.

2. The tub, behind the mountings for the rear suspension cassette has been changed to reflect the different rear end structures. The Plus 8 is significantly shortened.

3. The spring rates and shock absorber units have evolved and been modified to optimise responses, but the basic layout has not changed, until the S5 and 2016 Plus 8.

I agree with Neil, the cars ride amazingly well and on modern, smooth roads are simply sublime. My point of reference is a 2008 Mercedes SLK 300 Sport: in comparison the Merc is harsh, noisy and never restful.

I’ve also driven a S2 Aero 8 and an S4 Coupe and they have a slightly different ride and drive experience to the Plus 8.

For 2016 cars Morgan made significant changes to the front and rear suspension. They have done this, it seems to me, for 3 reasons:

1. To make the car ride better: whilst there is nothing wrong with the ride the handling was influenced by the wish to take the Aeros racing. The 2016 Aeros have been optimised for ride quality and predictable handling.

2. To reduce cost: Morgan wanted to reduce the costs of making and assembling the rolling tub. It is rumoured that this has been achieved.

3. To future proof the tub. Morgan has about 120 of the last batch of 500 BMW N62 V8s left: they are Euro 6 compliant but when they are gone, probably in 2017, it is very unlikely that they will buy another batch. The Engine dates from 2005 and is a bit of a delightful dinosaur.

The changes to the front suspension free up nearly 40cm: my personal belief is that we will see a version of the N55 or BMW B58 motors, probably the new B58 as this can use an air to water intercooler which would be much easier to fit. With about the same power and torque as the venerable V8 it would suite the Aero perfectly.

Of course if the B58 engine fits then the BMW inline B48 4 cylinder motor would be possible, opening up many markets where the car tax on a larger motor makes the V8 virtually unsaleable.

An even more heretical thought: the B58 has a sister diesel, as does the related B48.

The present Aero8/Plus 8 is great, the 2016 ones may be better. But if you want a Morgan with a V8 the clock is ticking.

Cheers,

Peter

You will be pleased to hear that the springs and shockers are optimised for the Plus 8 Andy, as it is over 100 kgs lighter than the equivalent Aero 8 and thus the poundage of the springs is completely different.

On a separate topic Corsu, the chassis of the Aero and the Plus 8 is the same apart from at the rear, where the Plus 8 chassis is similar to the Series I Aero whose boot was formed in wood, rather than later iterations where the boot supports were aluminum formed. Both the new Aero and the Plus 8 benefit from the new steering based on BMW parts, which I and others, think is a big improvement.

Erm I think Diesel would be very short sighted by Morgan going down that route - they are a dead end as far as personal cars go the axe is swinging and VAG have done little to help that.


Plus you'd have to increase the weight of a Mog dramatically which goes against their ethos.

I would not be at all surprised to see a Ford powered Aero 6!

Don't worry Mark, I think the Diesel engine is just Peter being mischievous!

I know that MMC have no plans to go down that particular route or to put a Ford engine in an Aero chassis!

Delighted to hear it Brian , and thanks for clearing this up.
I also like the idea of a new steering mechanism because that was on feature that I didn't like on my test drive of the Aero+8. It just seemed over-assisted and slightly "dead" around the straight ahead position.

@Peter J, re "Morgan has about 120 of the last batch of 500 BMW N62 V8s left"

When I asked how many S5 Aeros would be built, I was told - by 2 different people - that Morgan had *up to* 300 V8s, and the number of Aero 8s built would depend on the Aero/+8 sales mix.

Now, I'm learning that there's a lot of smoke & mirrors around Morgan demand & production timings. The Aero 8 launched with the suggestion that there would be around 200 built... presumably at the time [March '15] Morgan though they had secured that many engines.
Perhaps not?