It's a big deal when Morgan unveils a new car, the company is known for its designs that go back to the 1930s
The rush from quaint ivy-lined factory to busy European city is nothing new for British sports car builders running behind schedule and with an auto show press conference deadline to meet. For the reveal of the latest, all-new car from Morgan, things were a little bit backwards. To show off the new Plus Four, the company first had to rush it from Geneva back to Malvern, UK.
That’s because while the Geneva show may have been cancelled at the last minute, the reveals still go on. Why not take advantage and turn it into a bit of an adventure to show off your new car.
Under #GenevatoMalvern, Morgan employees drove the car back home along the Swiss/French/German border instead of the boring highway route. Instead of showing off the full car, we just got a look at the long nose that we know and love from the tiny automaker. And a look at the gearchange.
It’s a big deal when Morgan unveils a new car, the company is known for its designs that go back to the 1930s, and still include a not-insignificant amount of lumber in their assembly. The Plus 4 was originally introduced in 1950, and with just 3 percent of parts carrying over from last year to this car, this is the biggest change ever.
An all-new aluminum platform, shared with the Plus Six, is now in use. It’s more rigid – which wasn’t a tough demand – it’s lighter, and it’s more powerful. It’s also narrower than the Plus Six by 8 cm.
Yes, the bodywork looks the same, but it’s not. The shape has been gently finessed to give it an update without doing away with the company’s raison d’être, that classic look it does so well.
Power for this latest roadster comes from a BMW 2.0L turbocharged four that gives it 255 hp. In a car that weighs just a hair over 1,000 kg, this is a car that’s as quick as the old 3.7L V6 but has emissions 30 percent less than that engine. A six-speed manual is the right choice, but there is an eight-speed automatic available as well. Imagine, paddle shifters in a Morgan. This all-new car still uses ash wood in its construction, after all.
In a bit of a shock and a sign of the times, the Plus Four (and yes, they’ve changed from 4 to Four with the new car) gets central locking, LED lights, and ABS. A mohair roof and sun visors are standard and there’s more space in the cabin and for luggage. Add the Bluetooth stereo and it’s almost sadly current. The Plus Four is on sale now.
Keyword: Morgan Rushes 1,600 km Home to Reveal All-New Plus Four