Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Reflections on a possible PlusFour

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/morgan-ditches-traditional-ladder-chassis-next-gen-frame

Pretty much as expected including the "special" limited series of the final Plus 4. I don't know why they bother to keep the engine "secret" as it is fairly obvious it will be a BMW. Interestingly they specify a manual gearbox but I would expect auto as an option because some markets, China for example, demand an auto.

Question: will they also release a 3 cylinder version at Geneva?

Peter - I agree a Plus Four - would surely have a BMW engine.

A 3 cylinder engine - in any car does nothing for me, wrong on all levels (I am an engineer - and hate the thought of imbalance!)

Manual 'box !

Interesting comment re the 3 cylinder engine.

I’m not in any way saying you’re wrong (I’m not an engineer by any stretch of the imagination) but I always thought that a triple with a 120 degree crank gave perfect primary balance? Laverda used to claim this when they launched the 120 Jota....

Re stopping the ladder chassis, well, I’m not surprised really especially given the other comments here. It was however interesting that the R and D is being taken off site, I’d not seen that one coming! (Just due to cost of setting it up elsewhere).

Is it a sad day when ladder chassis production stops? Certainly on one level, but the company must move with the times. I see it as as big a watershed as when Porsche changed from air cooled to water cooled engines in the 911. The older models are still highly sought after yet the water cooled cars have always sold well despite the cries of “heresy” at the time.

Good luck to the factory I say, but boy am I glad I’ve got my trad - which I don’t see parting with!

MMC Facebook :


NEWS: In yet another significant announcement for our 110th year, we are excited to reveal that new models on our CX-Generation aluminium platform will be launched in 2020. New models will feature smaller engines than the 3.0 litre inline six cylinder found in the Plus Six, and we can confirm that there will be a manual transmission within the range.

The introduction of these new models will mark the end of Morgan using the traditional steel frame chassis, a variation of which has featured in Morgan models since 1936. We look forward to celebrating the significance of the traditional steel frame chassis as the final models roll off the production line in 2020.

As we continue to create Morgan sports cars for the 21st century, the introduction of the CX-Generation aluminium platform across our core range is hugely exciting.

Well the factory is definitely making decisions and moving things forward. I am surprised by the decision to totally can the trad chassis as the trad driving experience does seem to be a very large part of it for many of the people on the board. I guess future markets are what will keep them all in employment moving forwards and at some point they had to make a decision. The second hand market just got a boost then!

Of the recent 3 cyl cars I have driven a couple have actually sounded quiet nice (Mini, Ford) but been a little gutless and clearly living on their turbo for low down torque. They make a more fruity noise and feel more fun as you do have to drive them to get the best from them. In a light car I think they would do quite well but in a modern bloaty super-mini they felt a little overworked and gave poorer economy than a good four as a result.

Maybe not the best day to do the announcement if they wanted any other coverage given the feckless crap in the press otherwise!

Given they bought the M3W back after XX years any of us looking to buy a Trad in the future just have to wait a little longer for the re-introduction of the Trad chassis again?

I wonder if a 'CX' aluminium type platform will be developed to replace the space frame construction of the M3W...

and a fourcylinder engine?

Without a doubt. If they are clever they will not go for the most powerfull engine available as such an engine would put it too close to the PlusSix and also, in some countries, move it into a higher tax bracket. It is, after all, the low to midrange torque that really equates to exciting performance in a road car.

Regarding three cylinder engines I have owned and ridden a fair number of Laverda in both 180° and 120° crank versions. I absolutely loved the 180° crank engine in the 1200 Mirage. It purred like a cat and growled like a tiger when you opened the throttle. There was some vibration but it was not unpleasant. My passenger at that time seemed to quite like it too