In its landmark 110th year in business, the Morgan Motor Company introduced the next generation of Morgan sports car which debuted at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. The all-new Morgan Plus Six is, without exception, the most dynamically capable Morgan ever produced. Further extending Morgan’s unique blend of craftsmanship and technology, the Plus Six celebrates Morgan’s timeless design, underpinning it with the newly introduced CX-Generation aluminium bonded platform and the latest BMW powertrain. The Plus Six represents several firsts for Morgan, most notably the first time the company has utilised a turbocharged engine. The BMW 2019 B58 TwinPower Turbo inline 6- cylinder engine is a latest generation BMW powertrain and Morgan has worked alongside BMW to fine-tune the performance capabilities of the Plus Six.
Morgan believes its Four Wheeled vehicles exhibit one of the most recognisable silhouettes within the automotive industry. First introduced in the 1930s, the proportions, details and visual impression offered by the Morgan range have evolved and matured, whilst retaining the familiar character and quality synonymous with Morgan cars. The initial brief for the design and engineering teams was to develop an all-new platform which offered long term flexibility in considering a decade of upcoming technology, drivetrain, safety and legislative lead capabilities. In addition, the task was also to ensure that the packaging of all componentry must reside beneath the existing Morgan body envelope, whilst allowing for next generation body styles. The significant investment in the new CX-Generation bonded aluminium platform has allowed Morgan opportunity to carry forward the familiar styling language, whilst ensuring that future technologies and body shapes can be introduced throughout the life of the platform.
An expanding in-house Research and Development team, a growing list of strategic technical partners and an extensive testing programme ensure the Morgan Plus Six is the most thoroughly developed Morgan product to date. A closer look at the iconic Morgan silhouette gives a number of clues to just how radically different the Morgan Plus Six is to any other Morgan model before it. Subtle vents provide a hint of the raw power and performance that underpin the beautiful flowing lines of the exterior. Make no mistake, whilst familiarly Morgan, almost every part of the Plus Six has been refined or redesigned, with less than one percent of the 4,000 parts being shared across other Morgan models.
The Plus Six is one of the cleanest vehicles within the Morgan range. The introduction of the new powertrain has led to a CO2 figure of 170g/km and a combined MPG figure of 38.2mpg. The achievement of a more fuel-efficient vehicle allows the Morgan Plus Six to compete in key European markets, which have previously proven prohibitive for high-performance Morgans due to tax reasons. A completely redesigned cabin celebrates the natural materials used within Morgan craftsmanship, as well as offering greater levels of personalisation than ever before. The new cockpit is more driver focussed and encompasses appropriately introduced technology, whilst also allowing customers more leg room and increased stowage space.
The introduction of the latest generation of BMW engines heralds a new era in performance for Morgan’s flagship models. The BMW 2019 B58 TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine produces 335 Bhp, 369 Lb/ft of torque. Also used in some of BMW’s much adored performance models, the B58 engine used in the Morgan Plus Six is a TU1 specification engine, signifying it’s one of the latest BMW powertrains. The Plus Six is the first production car to use an inline 6-cylinder engine and the first to use turbocharging. The seemingly instant acceleration from the engine propels the Morgan Plus Six from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds, continuing to a top speed of 165mph. The raw power of the engine is managed through a ZF 8 Speed automatic transmission, complete with Sport and Plus modes. Manual shifting through the eight gears can be achieved using the paddles or gear lever.
The testing and development programme undertaken for the introduction of the Plus Six has proven to be the most extensive of any Morgan car to date. A team of around 30 development engineers, increased from 10 in 2014, have been supported by Morgan production craftspeople, key strategic partners and suppliers. This has allowed an unprecedented level of engineering knowledge and design expertise to be focussed into many areas of the process. The platform and model have also undergone an extensive durability testing programme ahead of production. The Morgan Plus Six has been developed in accordance with ISO 26262 standards, and safety cases have been met or exceeded in all instances. As part of the development programme, a greater number of development vehicles have been undergoing stringent validation at various internation.
