Today, Morgan has announced what it states is the British brand’s most extreme road-going model yet, the new Morgan Aero GT. Inspired by Morgan’s victories in the GT3 class, the Aero GT is based on the lightweight aluminum Aero 8, but it has a new body that looks rather racy compared the other Morgans, which are more classic in their design. In fact, it takes just one look at the Aero GT to know that this thing means business.
Three Years In The Making
The Aero GT was actually conceived in 2015 at the same time as the Aero 8, but at the time, the project never took off, but next year, the final Aero 8 models to roll of Morgan’s small but perfectly formed production line will be Aero GT variants. Those eight are already accounted for though, so if you were looking to get your hands on one, I’m afraid you’re out of luck.
Underneath the handcrafted body you’ll find a 367bhp 4.8 litre V8 engine provided by BMW, which is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. This means you’ll be able to hit 62mph just 4.5 seconds and then continue to a top speed of 170mph. Morgan states that not only is this a last hurrah for the current Aero 8, but it’s also the last hurrah for the naturally aspirated BMW V8, which is no longer in production.
The new body has been re-worked, and feature new luvres on the wings, deep side impressions and even a rear diffusor. This goes against the norm for the uber-traditional brand, as it prefers to use fluid forms in its design, but the Aero GT’s body is able to not only reduce drag, but offer significantly more downforce, so it’s certainly not a bad compromise.
Jon Wells, Head of Design at Morgan Motor company said: “The beauty of working so closely with talented sheet metal workers and coachbuilders is that designers are relatively unrestrained in their ability to challenge the forms and their functions.
“Unlike many, we are able to make truly special limited edition vehicles that really exercise the imagination of the designer and the ability of the craftsman.
“The Aero range has always offered Morgan the platform to explore the boundaries of mechanical and styling design and I am delighted the family has allowed one of our wildest ideas to become a reality.”
Steve Morris, Managing Director of Morgan Motor Company, said: “One of our greatest strengths as a brand is our ability to be responsive and create a hand-built car which is truly bespoke to each customer. I am a proud owner of an Aero 8 myself; it has been a stalwart of the brand and offers an exceptional driving experience, that only gets better in Aero GT guise.
“Every Morgan is built to an exacting specification and is bespoke to each customer, as their personality is displayed in every detail. A great deal of emotion is invested in every decision and this experience is only enhanced by the joy of then driving such powerful and unique vehicles. The Aero GT is the ultimate ensemble of this formula.”
Morgan has even prepared a teaser trailer for the new car, check it out here: https://youtu.be/_fps7z0sS5k