We have a huge soft spot for Morgan, the quirky British automaker known for building brand new sports cars that look like they were made in the 1940s. After a nearly 13 year absence, Morgan finally returned to the US with its Plus 4 and Roadster models. Unfortunately, Morgan isn't allowed to sell the cars with an engine, so owners have to source a Ford engine on their own.
Even though Morgan has just returned to the US, the company is currently in a state of transition. In Europe, Morgan has recently rolled out a special edition of the Plus 8, which will be the company's last model to use BMW's 4.8-liter naturally aspirated N62 V8. According to Autocar, Morgan is now working on an all-new sports car, which will move the company forward by several decades.
The new sports car won't arrive until the mid-2020s, but it will come in coupe and roadster forms. Unlike Morgan's current sports cars, which feature 1930s and '40s-era styling, this new model will derive its styling from the 1960s and is expected to be priced near the Aston Martin Vantage, which starts at around $150,000 in the US.
Along with new styling, Morgan will have to find a new engine now that the company's contract with BMW has ended. Morgan is quiet on the details regarding power because there will likely be several different powertrains available. Early models are expected to use a turbocharged inline-six producing around 350 horsepower going out through a six-speed manual or paddle shift transmission.
Underneath the body, Morgan is also developing a new front-engined, rear-wheel-drive architecture with a bonded and riveted chassis. The chassis will make its first production debut on Morgan's 110th-anniversary models and will continue to be used for many years. Morgan says the new chassis will be similar in weight but will be twice as stiff. This new sports car is still several years away, so it's too early to tell if Morgan will bring it to the US. Either way, we can't help but be excited.
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