Morgan updates its Plus Four and Plus Six

MORGAN, a car company not known for making big changes hasn’t disappointed with minor – but appreciated – upgrades to its Plus Four and Plus Six line-up as it launches a the MY22 versions.

The modest changes start with a new hood design, redesigned seats for better support and comfort, USB charging, new LED cabin lights while options include an active sports exhaust system, lockable storage for the cabin, black paint to the lower grille and a range of tail-pipe finishes.

The winged badge meanwhile has been redesigned for the first time in a decade with the brand saying the changes were prompted by feedback from owners and the motoring press and “mark the introduction of a cyclical update strategy for Morgan’s core product range”.

But the new updates may be academic to Australian enthusiasts. Put simply, the Plus Four and Six are not available in Australia. 

Changes to Australia’s safety and emission regulations, higher taxes and stamp duty on luxury cars, and increased homologation costs has stopped local sales.

The Plus Six uses BMW’s 3.0-litre straight-six engine developing 250kW/500Nm, all of which is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Morgan claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds, attributed to the power output and the lightweight 1075kg weight of the car.

The Plus Four meanwhile has a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine – also sourced from BMW – developing 190kW/400Nm with transmission choices consisting of a six-speed manual or the same ZF eight-speed auto as its bigger sibling.

Morgan claims acceleration times of 0-100km/h of 4.8 seconds for the automatic and 5.2 seconds for the manual.

The Plus Four and Plus Six are the first Morgans to use a bonded aluminium platform that has a 100 per cent increase in torsional rigidity over the previous aluminium chassis.

Morgan Motor Company chairman and CEO Steve Morris said that for 112 years Morgan has listened to its customers, offering a bespoke service that has made it famous the world over. 

“Today, that’s as much the case as it ever was, and feedback on the Plus Four and Plus Six, which were launched in 2020 and 2019 respectively, has been carefully collated and acted on by our engineering team,” he said in a statement.

“The result of this engineering programme is the MY22 update package, which holistically brings new levels of usability, refinement and driving enjoyment to the four-wheeled range. 

“The introduction of a cyclical structure to product improvement also demonstrates the progress the company has made in recent years and its new levels of commercial maturity.”

Morgan now only makes the Plus Four, Plus Six and three-wheeler.

In Australia, the marque has not sold any cars this year but found six buyers in 2020.