Morgan outs all-new Plus Four

MORGAN has revealed the latest version of its iconic Plus Four, a car it says “represents the most revolutionary advancement in the model’s 70-year history” with 97 per cent of its components being new.

Now underpinned by Morgan’s CX-Generation bonded aluminium platform, the new Plus Four continues the British brand’s love affair with BMW-sourced engines with power now coming courtesy of the B48A20 unit from Munich’s M135i hot hatch.

Morgan Cars Australia spokesman Chris van Wyk told GoAuto the new Plus Four was unlikely to land here before the end of 2020, as the Plus Six that was revealed at the 2019 Geneva motor show had only started to be considered for Australian homologation late last year.

Mr van Wyk said pricing of the new Plus Four will likely rise “significantly” over the outgoing model’s $105,000 plus on-road costs opening sticker due to a higher UK-market price being set for the latest model, combined with the Pound’s increased strength against the Australian dollar.

In Britain the new Plus Four costs £62,995 ($A125,261) for the manual or £64,995 ($A129,238) for the automatic. The outgoing model started from £43,389 ($A86,269).

Detuned slightly compared with the M135i, the new Plus Four’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol produces 190kW of power and up to 400Nm of torque – and marks the first time a force-fed four-banger has been used in a Morgan.

Also for the first time ever in a Plus Four, customers will have a choice of either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, both of which send drive to the rear wheels.

Helped by a dry weight of just 1009kg for the automatic, the Plus Four can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 240km/h.

The manual weighs in at 1013kg and takes an extra 0.4s to get to 100km/h due in part to a reduced peak torque output of 350Nm.

Claimed fuel economy is 7.0 litres per 100km for the automatic and 7.3L/100km for the manual.

On the design front, the Plus Four is classic Morgan with its refined narrow body and wide-wing, cab-back roadster design, fronted by the signature arch grille.

Under the classically styled skin are redesigned wishbones, suspension uprights and braking components, which according to Morgan combine with the new chassis – weighing just 97kg – to “transform the car’s ride and handling capabilities”.

Morgan Motor Company chairman and CEO Steve Morris described the new Plus Four as representing “the very best of the Morgan Motor Company”.

“It features rare craftsmanship, the instantly recognisable Morgan silhouette, and now, industry-leading technology thanks to our CX-Generation aluminium platform and BMW powertrains.”

Standard equipment on the new Plus Four includes automatic LED headlights, LED tail-lights, remote central locking, anti-lock brakes, power steering, a mohair hood, sun visors and door check straps.

To help bring the Plus Four into the 21^st Century and make it competitive in the market, Morgan has added myriad “all-new” optional extras with a claimed “one trillion” different combinations possible.

Some of the headline optional features include puddle lighting, an in-car audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, two-tone or pearl paint, a rear luggage rack, a premium soft-grain leather interior and heated seats.

Behind the modern steering wheel is a combination of classic and digital dials, with a digital speedometer flanked by a traditional style fuel gage on the left and temperature gage on the right.

The rest of the instruments including the tachometer and analogue speedo are mounted prominently on the dash above the centre console.

Morgan has shifted two cars so far this year ending February, a sales decrease of 66.7 per cent year-on-year.

The British marque’s total sales figure in Australia last year was 10 units.