Geneva show: Morgan reveals all-new Plus Six

MORGAN Motor Company has celebrated its 110th anniversary by revealing the all-new Plus Six convertible and selling a majority stake of the business to European investment company Investindustrial.

 

Formerly privately owned by the Morgan family who will become a minority stakeholder when the takeover is completed in April, the niche premium sportscar brand has reiterated that it will continue to produce hand-built vehicles at its factory in Malvern, England.

 

Investindustrial’s ownership is intended to enable Morgan Motor Company to increase its sales overseas by creating a positive net cash position upon being signed off. It currently manufactures about 700 vehicles per year.

 

According to Morgan Motor Company chairman Dominic Riley, “the past two years have been the most successful in our company’s 110-year history”, with a revenue of £33.8 million ($A63.3 million) and a net profit of £3.2 million ($A6.0 million) achieved in 2018.

 

“To really fulfil Morgan’s full potential and secure our long-term future, both the family and management team, felt it was essential to bring in a strategic partner” he said.

 

“A partner that shares our vision for Morgan and has the expertise, financial resources and track record of success in the automotive world, to make it happen. That partner is Investindustrial.”

 

Investindustrial chairman of the industrial advisory board Andrea Bonomi said: “Morgan is one of the most famous names in the automotive world. Morgan’s handmade British sportscars are true icons of the industry.

 

“We have followed the company and seen its progress for some time and see significant potential for Morgan to develop internationally whilst retaining its hand-built heritage, which is at the heart of the Morgan Motor Company.

 

“We share with the Morgan family the belief that British engineering and brands are unique and have an important place in the world.”

 

Prior to the major investment, Morgan Motor Company had already put the finishing touches on the successor to its discontinued Plus 8: the Plus Six.

 

Riding on the marque’s new CX-Generation platform that replaces 18-year-old architecture, increases torsion rigidity by 100 per cent and features a 20mm-longer wheelbase, the 1075kg Plus Six features the classic combination of ash (wood), aluminium and leather.

 

Aside from its increases in legroom (200mm) and storage space (31%), the Plus Six is billed by the brand “as the most dynamically capable production Morgan ever”, partly thanks to its new engine shared with co-developed BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra sportscars.

 

The German car-maker’s 3.0-litre B58 turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol unit produces 250kW of power at 6500rpm and 500Nm of torque, and is mated to a ZF-sourced eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with a manual mode.

 

This combination allows the rear-wheel-drive Plus Six to sprint from zero to 100km/h in a claimed 4.2 seconds while on the way to its top speed of 267km/h.

 

The Plus Six’s claimed fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions on the combined cycle test are 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres and 170 grams per kilometre respectively – making it the second cleanest Morgan available.

 

While the exterior styling is very similar, changes are more apparent inside, where the gear selector and paddle-shifters have been pinched from BMW and a small multi-function display has been added between the traditional tachometer and speedometer.

 

While Morgan Motor Company has confirmed that the Plus Six will be built in right-hand drive, Morgan Cars Australia spokesman Chris van Wyk told GoAuto that Australia production is not available yet due to homologation issues.

 

“We do not know if it might become available in the future, but we are obviously working towards making that happen,” he said.

 

As reported, the Plus Six’s predecessor, the Plus 8, was axed last year after supply of its BMW-sourced 270kW/490Nm 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 ran dry, with Australia's final two examples delivered in February.

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