Morgan Aero 8

Debut: 2001
Maker: Morgan
Predecessor: Plus 8
It is hard to imagine Morgan’s cars remained largely unchanged since 1936 yet enjoyed the industry’s longest waiting list. The answer is simple: Morgan is a timeless icon. Look at that classic shape, chromed details, wooden chassis frame ... nothing can be more special to own. Because of this, Peter Morgan did not bother to make any big changes. Nevertheless, his son Charles Morgan - the third generation of the family business - wants to explore a new territory where his father never dare to. He hired the best men to design an aluminum chassis. He restyled the classical shape by himself, modernized it while - for the first time - taking aerodynamics into consideration. He contacted BMW for sourcing a V8 engine, and he was surprised that the German giant was even interested in providing help in dynamics. Lastly, he submitted the car for full European type approval and got the certificate, a thing many British sports car makers do not manage. The result is Aero 8.

Aero 8 is to be the company’s top model rather than replacing the traditional Plus 8, the latter is still crucial as - predictably - not all customers can accept the radical approach of the new car. Take the exterior shape as an example, many people are not convinced with its aerodynamic-optimized front wings and 959-like headlights. It is a combination of classic and modern, but can also be criticized as neither classic nor modern, depends on whether you love it. But sitting inside still feels very Morgan. Firstly, you sit low and near the rear axle, looking forward see a long long bonnet rarely found in modern machines. Secondly, what surrounding you is still the lovely ash wood frames and leather tailored in good old tradition. Dashboard now has milled-finished alloy surface to enhance the sense of occasion unfound in other cars. The cabin is still narrow - thanks to the pre-war front wings that eat into cabin’s width - but everything feels good. Good driving position, reasonable legroom, supportive seats, good visibility from square and flat windscreen. The only complaint is the soft hood, which is leaky and inconvenient to operate.

The chassis is an aluminium tub, bonded by rivets and glue like Lotus Elise. Of course, it is many times stiffer than Plus 8’s ancient steel ladder chassis. This seems a big contrast to the wooden frames which support the aluminium skin. In fact, Charles Morgan preserves the wooden frames for customer satisfaction rather than technical reason. It is the rigid chassis rather than the non-stressed skin that withstand crash test. The skin, however, is designed to optimized aerodynamics for the first time. Morgan will never reveal the drag coefficient of the old cars, but the new car’s 0.39 is undoubtedly a good work for a classical-shaped open-top vehicle, especially when you consider that pre-war windscreen. Aerodynamic lift is not a problem as well, thanks to the little spoiler on the boot lid and the diffuser under the tail.

The Aero 8 weighs just 1135kg, this makes a standard BMW 4.4-litre V8 (286hp and 324lbft) powerful enough to launch it to 60mph in sub-5 seconds. Unsurprisingly, the BMW engine is creamy smooth and almost too quiet for a sports car. It pulls strongly at any rev, providing a superior mid-range or in-gear acceleration than many real sports cars. So, next time when you see this strange-looking Morgan in the mirror of your 911, you’d better to move to the slow lane. The 6-speed manual comes along with the V8, so shift quality is still in BMW’s tradition.

Some words to say about the V8: it is amazing how Morgan fit the V8 into the narrow engine bay of the car. Open the engine lid and you’ll see it is tight fit - so tight that I’m afraid the newer, more powerful Valvetronic V8 will not fit. One of the reasons why Morgan decided to try BMW’s engine is to prepare for the death of Rover V8, so it must make sure that BMW can supply its V8 in the foreseeable future. Anyway, as the new Range Rover will also use this BMW 4.4 V8, supply seems guaranteed in the future.

The Aero 8 is effortless and enjoyable to drive fast, thanks to the superb engine. Its ride is also a big improvement from the rock-hard Plus 8. As the chassis is very rigid, suspensions are tuned more absorbent to road irregularities yet body control remains flat in cornering. However, being a good ground-covering machine is not necessarily a good sports car. Although it has some good ingredients - lightweight, strong power, stiff chassis for example - its steering is not very communicative, also lack of self-centering. This makes the car difficult to be placed accurately. Brake feel is not very consistent too. Autocar’s road testers are especially critical about its handling.

Anyway, Morgan has never pretended to be a real sports car. It is sold to those enjoy laid-back motoring and admiring sights. Buying this revolutionary Morgan just add more flexible power, refinement and ride comfort to enhance those traditional values. Then any gain in performance and handling is just a bonus. I think Autocar has misunderstood the best-ever Morgan.
The above report was last updated on 11 Nov 2001. All Rights Reserved.
 

Aeromax

A Morgan Aero 8 is normally sold for £62,500. If you consider that as overpriced, what about the £110,000 Aeromax ? Absurd ?

The Aeromax was developed under the request of a special client (who eventually ordered 4 cars). Basically it is an Aero 8 with a fixed roof and a tail that resembles the classic Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic of 1935-37. Many classic car collectors regard the Bugatti as the most beautiful car ever built. What a pity it is no longer possible to replicate its beauty in modern packaging. If someone succeed to do so, it must be Morgan, because Morgan is not so modern.

Morgan launched its 4/4 in 1936, just one year later than the Bugatti. Today, the old fashioned architecture of 4/4 still lives under the aluminum skins of Aero 8, no matter the proportion, the style or the wooden frame chassis. It didn’t take Morgan too much efforts to convert it into the head-turning Aeromax. A roof made of ash wood frame and aluminum sheets, split rear windows and LED taillights borrowed from Lancia Thesis complete the job.

This car is definitely one of the most spectacular-looking cars on the road. It is simply a living history. It has that exclusive feel of a coach-built car. Indeed it is. Made largely by hands and only 100 units will be built, it is more exclusive than many supercars costing multiple times. From this viewpoint, the £110,000 price tag seems totally reasonable.

The rest of the car is identical to Aero 8. Its latest powertrain is BMW’s 4.8-liter V8 and ZF 6-speed automatic transmission. A combination of 367 horsepower and 1180 kg dry weight results in a modern performance level - 170 mph top speed and 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Its handling is also far sportier than you would believe, though you have the right to expect more from a
£110,000 sports car. However, the highlight of this car has never been absolute performance, ride or handling, but its marvellous design.
The above report was last updated on 18 Jul 2008. All Rights Reserved.






Specifications




General remarks

Aero 8 (S1)
Aero 8 (S2)
Aero 8 (S4)
Layout
Front-engined, RWD
Front-engined, RWD
Front-engined, RWD
Chassis
Aluminum tub
Aluminum tub Aluminum tub
Body
Aluminum skin on wooden frames
Aluminum skin on wooden frames Aluminum skin on wooden frames
Length / width / height 4120 / 1770 / 1200 mm 4120 / 1770 / 1200 mm 4120 / 1770 / 1200 mm
Wheelbase 2530 mm 2530 mm 2530 mm
Engine
V8, 90-degree by BMW
V8, 90-degree by BMW V8, 90-degree by BMW
Capacity
4398 cc
4398 cc 4799 cc
Valve gears
DOHC 32 valves, VVT
DOHC 32 valves, VVT DOHC 32 valves, VVT, VVL (Valvetronic)
Induction
-
- Variable intake manifolds
Other engine features
-
-
-
Max power
286 hp 325 hp 367 hp
Max torque
324 lbft 330 lbft 370 lbft
Transmission
6-speed manual
6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Suspension layout
All double-wishbones
All double-wishbones All double-wishbones
Suspension features
-
- -
Tyres front/rear
F: 225/40ZR18
R: 245/40ZR18
F: 225/40ZR18
R: 245/40ZR18
F: 225/40ZR18
R: 245/40ZR18
Kerb weight
1135 kg dry
1132 kg dry
1180 kg dry
Top speed
151 mph*
160 mph (c)
170 mph (c)
0-60 mph (sec)
4.8*
4.4 (c)
4.1 (c)
0-100 mph (sec)
11.7*
-
-
Performance tested by: *Autocar



Aeromax


Layout
Front-engined, RWD


Chassis
Aluminum tub


Body
Aluminum skin on wooden frames


Length / width / height 4120 / 1770 / 1200 mm

Wheelbase 2530 mm

Engine
V8, 90-degree by BMW


Capacity
4799 cc


Valve gears
DOHC 32 valves, VVT, VVL (Valvetronic)

Induction
-


Other engine features
-


Max power
367 hp / 6600 rpm


Max torque
370 lbft / 3400 rpm


Transmission
6-speed automatic


Suspension layout
All double-wishbones


Suspension features
-


Tyres front/rear
F: 225/35ZR19
R: 245/35ZR19


Kerb weight
1180 kg dry


Top speed
170 mph (c)


0-60 mph (sec)
4.1 (c)


0-100 mph (sec)
-


Performance tested by: -






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