Morgan’s dazzling road star
ACOUPLE of weeks ago the last steel chassis Morgan Roadster rolled out of the Malvern factory’s doors.the end of an era and of a car that hadn’t changed significantly in seven decades. It has been replaced by this car, the new Morgan Plus Four.
The Roadster, apart from having an old-fashioned steel-ladder chassis, also had drum brakes at the rear and sliding pillar front suspension that had hardly any travel, with the result that the ride was back-breaking and the handling skittish.
This new car couldn’t be more different. It uses a version of Morgan’s new bonded aluminium chassis that made its debut last year on the new Plus Six.that car is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo BMW six-cylinder engine as used in many BMWS and in the Toyota Supra.
The new Plus Four also uses a Bmwsourced engine, as the car’s name suggests, a four-cylinder unit. It’s also turbocharged and is used in many BMWS including the 330i. Power output is 255bhp against the six-cylinder engine’s 335bhp. Unlike the Plus Six, the Plus Four is available with a manual gearbox (automatic is an option).
Thankfully, our test car is so equipped. It feels wrong to have an automatic Morgan – although apparently many buyers prefer two pedals.the Plus Four is 78mm narrower than the Six which makes it feel more manageable along country lanes.
Although 255 horsepower might not
I£62,995 Petrol – 2.0 255bhp 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds, 149mph top speed sound a huge amount in modern terms, in a car that weighs only 1013kg it provides vivid performance, with 0-62mph taking only 5.2sec.that’s more than fast enough and so is a top speed of 149mph.
An aluminium monocoque chassis (which Morgan calls the CX platform) and state of the art BMW engine might propel the Plus Four into the 21st century but there’s still plenty of Morgan-ness left.
NTERIOR is virtually the same as the Plus Six’s with a mixture of analogue dials and modern switchgear. Shame the speedo is over to the far left. I’d swap it with the rev counter which you don’t really need to see, or have at all.the car is at its best with the roof down and the sidescreens removed.
If you’re used to electrically-folding soft tops you’ll find the Morgan’s roof a bit of a faff but it’s been decades in production and is well sorted. More or less waterproof, too. We haven’t mentioned money yet.
But we better had as there’s a shock in store.the Plus Four costs from £62,995. Expensive for a retro roadster with none of the gadgetry of a modern car; doubly expensive when you consider the outgoing Roadster cost from just under £40k.
Several things need to be taken into account here.
For starters the new car is vastly more advanced than the old and much more competent. Second, Morgans have very low depreciation, so although it looks very expensive next to a Porsche Boxster, in 10 years’ time the Plus Four will look like a very sound purchase.
Another thing to note is that the Plus Six costs from £81,995.The Plus Four is not just considerably cheaper, it is a better car.
The lower weight of the four-cylinder engine gives the Plus Four nimbler handling and a much nicer feel through the steering.
Also, the four-cylinder engine sounds surprisingly fruity and powerful and there’s the excellent six-speed manual gearbox and well-weighted clutch.
You have to approach a Morgan with a different mindset.
You’re buying a lifestyle and experience, from when you choose the colour and specification, to when you see it being built in the factory and the ash frame (there’s more wood in these ‘modern’ Morgans than in the old ones) being fitted, to when you go touring in the car and perhaps meet with other Morgan owners on club rallies.
The old Roadster gave you all of the above benefits and rewards but felt like you were driving a car from the 1930s.
Uncomfortable, terrible ride and distinctly vintage handling.
Morgan’s new Plus Four retains all of the Morgan spirit but is a far better car to drive and live with.
The 1980s Plus Eight is the most exciting Morgan that I’ve ever driven; this one is the best.
39.0mpg 165g/km Caterham Seven, Lotus Elise
9/10