2020 Morgan Plus Six & Morgan Plus Four

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Morgan's first all-new model in 19 years./

Morgan Plus Six

In its landmark 110th year in business, the Morgan Motor Company introduced the next generation of Morgan sports car which debuted at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. The all-new Morgan Plus Six is, without exception, the most dynamically capable Morgan ever produced. Further extending Morgan's unique blend of craftsmanship and technology, the Plus Six celebrates Morgan's timeless design, underpinning it with the newly introduced CX-Generation aluminium bonded platform and the latest BMW powertrain.

An expanding in-house Research and Development team, a growing list of strategic technical partners and an extensive testing programme ensure the Morgan Plus Six is the most thoroughly developed Morgan product to date.

The Plus Six represents several firsts for Morgan, most notably the first time the company has utilised a turbocharged engine. The BMW 2019 B58 TwinPower Turbo inline 6- cylinder engine is a latest generation BMW powertrain and Morgan has worked alongside BMW to fine-tune the performance capabilities of the Plus Six.

A closer look at the iconic Morgan silhouette gives a number of clues to just how radically different the Morgan Plus Six is to any other Morgan model before it. Subtle vents provide a hint of the raw power and performance that underpin the beautiful flowing lines of the exterior. Make no mistake, whilst familiarly Morgan, almost every part of the Plus Six has been refined or redesigned, with less than one percent of the 4,000 parts being shared across other Morgan models.

A completely redesigned cabin celebrates the natural materials used within Morgan craftsmanship, as well as offering greater levels of personalisation than ever before. The new cockpit is more driver focussed and encompasses appropriately introduced technology, whilst also allowing customers more leg room and increased stowage space.

The Plus Six is one of the cleanest vehicles within the Morgan range. The introduction of the new powertrain has led to a CO2 figure of 170g/km and a combined MPG figure of 38.2mpg. The achievement of a more fuel-efficient vehicle allows the Morgan Plus Six to compete in key European markets, which have previously proven prohibitive for high-performance Morgans due to tax reasons.

CX-Generation Bonded Aluminium Platform

The Plus Six represents the first model to feature Morgan's newly designed architecture. The all-new CX-Generation bonded aluminium platform has been designed and developed in-house and is introduced with intention for use in future premium Morgan models throughout the next decade.

Morgan, who developed its first bonded aluminium platform for the start of the Millennium, has been working on the latest CX-Generation architecture for over three years. The CX-Generation bonded aluminium platform is stiffer and lighter than the previous generation, that spanned an 18-year life and featured most latterly in the Plus 8 and Aero 8.

Torsional rigidity has been increased by 100 percent over the previous generation chassis, and weighing in at just 98kg, the latest CX-Generation bonded aluminium platform carries no extra weight penalty. The wheelbase of the CX-Generation architecture receives just a 20mm increase whilst adding 200mm of leg space for occupants along with a 31 percent increase in stowage space.

The complete CX-Generation architecture has been designed by Morgan in-house and the bonded and riveted structure which underpins it is fabricated from aluminium.

The all new Morgan Plus Six is, without a doubt the most dynamically capable production Morgan ever. A contributing factor to this moniker is the corner packaging. The suspension architecture on the Plus Six features an adaptation of a MacPherson strut setup at the front, and a compact 4 bar linkage toward the rear.

Each damper, coil over and wishbone has been developed to deliver the comfort, compliance and performance targets specified for the vehicle. Further dynamic enhancements are delivered through engineered track rod ends, radial stiffened bushes and the system is stabilised by the addition of a front anti-roll bar.

Geometry, handling and ride characteristics have been optimised for many surface types and driving styles. The time spent on engineering and tuning the system has led to a flexible and versatile setup that compliments the added rigidity of the CXGeneration platform, whilst demonstrating confidence during fast cornering, compliance over irregular road surfaces and stability at high speed.

Continuing to celebrate the art of 21st Century coachbuilding at its finest, the wooden frame has been refined to ensure it remains relevant rather than just symbolistic. Hand crafted by the skilled artisans in Morgan's wood shop and made of English ash, the frame is now thicker than on the Plus 8, to offer increased strength and a wider body aesthetic.

Latest BMW Powertrain

The introduction of the latest generation of BMW engines heralds a new era in performance for Morgan's flagship models. The BMW 2019 B58 TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine produces 335 Bhp, 369 Lb/ft of torque. Also used in some of BMW's much adored performance models, the B58 engine used in the Morgan Plus Six is a TU1 specification engine, signifying it's one of the latest BMW powertrains.

The Plus Six is the first production car to use an inline 6-cylinder engine and the first to use turbocharging. The seemingly instant acceleration from the engine propels the Morgan Plus Six from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds, continuing to a top speed of 165mph. The raw power of the engine is managed through a ZF 8 Speed automatic transmission, complete with Sport and Plus modes. Manual shifting through the eight gears can be achieved using the paddles or gear lever.

https://www.netcarshow.com/morgan/2020-plus_six/

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Morgan Plus Six is marque's first all-new model in 19 years

New 110-year anniversary car makes the switch from V8 power to a BMW turbo six

Morgan has unveiled a new £80,000 roadster, called Plus Six, as the first of a planned series of models to use the company’s brand-new ‘wide body’ aluminium chassis.

The Plus Six, shown for the first time at Geneva, retains the distinguishing features of the outgoing Plus 8 – flowing front wings, running boards, round headlights and the famous ‘waterfall’ grille – but is a new design in every detail.

The Plus Six is the first all-new Morgan since the Aero 8, revealed 19 years ago. It is powered by BMW’s latest B58 in-line petrol turbo six, producing 335bhp and driving through an eight-speed ZF paddle-shift automatic. There is new Morgan-designed suspension, all independent by double wishbones in the front and a five-link system in the rear.

The new car is very light: its extra equipment and crash structure add almost nothing to the 1075kg kerb weight of the outgoing V8-powered Plus 8. This should make the Plus Six the fastest production Morgan in history, pushing the top speed into the 170mph bracket. Despite this, the CO2 output is an impressively low 170g/km.

Morgan has named its new chassis CX, Roman numerals that mark the firm’s 110-year anniversary. The new structure uses the same bonded aluminium construction principles as its predecessor but includes more sophisticated crash structures front and rear, and integrated rather than bolt-on suspension mountings for rigidity and weight saving.

The new CX chassis provides around 20cm more cockpit length to accommodate bigger drivers, allows bigger doors and leaves decent luggage space. The car’s length and width are almost identical to a Plus 8's, but the wheelbase is 18mm longer. The body is supported, according to Morgan tradition, by an English-grown ash wood frame.

As per Morgan’s traditional nature, ABS is the only electronic driver aid on offer, although the firm says others can be specified later. Cockpit design is traditional, with the separate round tacho and speedo dials mounted centrally, but with a configurable TFT screen ahead of the driver.

Morgan will offer its usual wide choice of colours and textures with the Plus Six and has just started building cars for a spring launch. Production is planned at around six cars a week and the company aims to have 200 Plus Sixes on the road by year-end. The first 50 will be fully loaded launch editions priced at £89,995, after which regular production will start.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...plus-six-marques-first-all-new-model-19-years


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Morgan boss on how investment will boost company

British company's chairman says cash infusion will lead to new models and expansion – but promises Morgan will remain a small-scale firm

British manufacturer Morgan caused a major stir at the Geneva motor show, when it was revealed that an Italian venture capitalist firm had taken a controlling stake in the company – providing it with a welcome cash infusion.

While the amount that Investindustrial, which previously took a major stake in Aston Martin, has invested has not been disclosed, the 110-year-old firm says that is a “significant capital investment” that will allow it to introduce new models and potentially double its sales.

Autocar spoke to Morgan chairman Dominic Reilly at Geneva, where the firm also launched the new Plus Six, about the deal.

Why has this deal happened?

“Look at other businesses with significant capital investment. The long-term benefits of new capital allow us to build our dealer network and invest in new technology. The industry is becoming increasingly technological, with safety and other technology – our R&D can benefit from this investment of capital. We’ll never be large scale but we can develop.”

What interested Investindutrial in Morgan?

“When they came to Malvern Link they were extremely impressed by the factory, history and craft skills, and they don’t want to change that. But they do want to invest. There are areas we can invest but retain who we are. We can invest in people. We’ve got plans for a new visitor centre, too. The factory is less than half of the 10 acres we have so there is room to grow. There’s a big opportunity with the museum and other areas, and the council is very supportive. They say we’re the jewel in the crown of Malvern.”

Will they shake things up with management?

“The investment is not happening without the management team to back. They key is the capital to back the management. [Morgan boss] Steve Morris and the team are so important to the investment. Without him, it wouldn’t happen.”

Private equity firms exist to buy and sell companies. What’s the long-term future?

“It’s too early to say on that. They will invest in the company and grow it, and double production. That’s the business plan. The family retain a share and the management team can share in the commercial value of the business.”

What new models are planned?

“In Jon Wells [Morgan’s design boss], we have an extremely talented individual. He dreams about new models. This will allow some of Jon’s dreams to become a reality.”

Are there more Morgan customers out there?

“There are six billion people in the world and we make 750 cars, so there have got to be more… People [dealers] are keen to promote Morgan in their country. We can now support them with people, PR and events all over the world. We sell 100 cars a year in each of France and Germany but we’re still unknown there. We’ve got the platform to now invest in and support sales and marketing.”

How have staff reacted?

“It’s been very positive. They want the investment and understand the company. Historically we’ve been very cost conscious, now there is a chance to spend sensibly and that excites the staff. Investment improves morale.”

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...morgan-boss-how-investment-will-boost-company
 
Morgan Plus Six 2019 review

Should I buy one?

Well, you’d certainly have to get used to the proportions of the Plus Six – likewise the slightly athletic entry and exit routine, the placing of the minor switchgear, and the intricate sequence of doing and undoing of steel pop fasteners and opening and closing of latches necessary to get the roof up quickly in a shower. So much of all of that feels akin to memorising the password for the manned door of the owner’s club. It’d all be a labour of love to get to know, I’m sure – and, for the lovers, the dynamic strides that Morgan has taken with this car will surely seem great.

For me, it’s what this chassis might go on to do that’s really interesting – because while the Plus Six is a lot better than you expect it might be in some ways, and in others quite honestly just a lot less bad than you might have feared, it now seems tantalisingly close to becoming a much better driver's car with the right kind of dynamic tuning. I’m not suggesting it’ll ever handle like a Porsche, Lotus or Alpine – and neither would anyone want it to. But it’s certainly diverting to wonder, for now, just how close it might get.

Morgan Plus Six specification

Where Malvern, Worcestershire Price £77,995 On sale now Engine 6 cyls in line, 2998cc, twin-turbocharged petrol Power 335bhp at 5000-6500rpm Torque 369lb ft at 1600-4500rpm Gearbox 8-spd automatic Kerb weight 1075kg (dry) Top speed 166mph 0-62mph 4.2sec Fuel economy 38.2mpg CO2 WLTP figures tbc Rivals Jaguar F-Type P380,

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/morgan/plus-six/first-drives/morgan-plus-six-2019-review

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Morgans have generally always been attractive things.... and this ticks the right boxes as well.
 
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