After an absence of almost a decade, the Morgan Plus 8 has reappeared as a new and fully-fledged model at the Geneva motor show.
Two versions of the new ‘classic’ Morgan are on display on Morgan’s Geneva stand: the production version, powered by BMW’s 4.8-litre normally aspirated V8, and an all-electric prototype christened ‘Plus-e’, built to gauge public reaction before a decision is made on production.
The production Plus 8 slots back into Malvern Link’s showroom range underneath Morgan’s all-aluminium ‘Aero’-series flagship cars, and above the six-cylinder Morgan Roadster. Morgan development engineer Robert Gibson told Autocar this morning “it’s a car customers have wanted us to build for ten years,” since the introduction of the Aero models.
The new Plus 8 uses the same bonded and riveted aluminium chassis as the more expensive Aero cars, rather than the galvanized steel ladder chassis of Morgan’s Roadster and Plus 4. The classic-style body, though, is lighter than the Aero’s, allowing for a lesser kerbweight – just 1100kg without fluids.
Morgan describes the new Plus 8 as its “most comfortable classic model”. It comes as standard with air conditioning, a leather upholstered cockpit, a high quality audio system and a double-lined convertible roof. The car’s V8 engine, available from the factory with as much as 390bhp, can also be teamed with an optional six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Both manual and auto versions of the car hit 62mph in just 4.5sec; the automatic is marginally the more frugal, returning 26mpg on the combined cycle.
Thanks to: Autocar
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