Bespoke British sports car brand Morgan has today teased the motoring world with a few glimpses of its new Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition ahead of its formal reveal at the Geneva Motor show. Celebrating 50 years of the brand’s iconic model, just 50 will be made and will be the last Morgan to feature the naturally aspirated 4.8 litre V8 engine taken from BMW.
50 Years In The Making
The Morgan Plus 8 was introduced to the world all the way back in the Swinging Sixties, 1968 to be more precise, at the Earls Court Motor Show. Between then and 2004, around 6,000 were produced until 2004 when the model was discontinued as the Rover V8 used for it was retired. However, like a phoenix – albeit one with 8 cylinders – the Model 8 was reintroduced in to Morgan’s range 8 years later.
The new model was built on the same aluminium chassis that’s used for the Aero range, and it was larger and quicker than the Plus 8 models of yesteryear. It had different styling too, although the brand made sure not to completely overhaul the iconic design language that has made these cars so recognisable.
Steve Morris, Managing Director of Morgan Motor Company, said: “This 50th Anniversary Edition is a fitting illustration of the Plus 8’s beauty and finesse, coupled with raw exhilaration and capability. Performance has underpinned every one of the Plus 8s that have driven out of our factory gates for 50 years and we’re excited to reveal the car in full in Geneva.”
50th Anniversary Edition
Back to the present day though, the 50th Anniversary Edition will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on the 6th of March and will finished in a blue colourway that harks back to the first production Plus 8, known as the MMC11. The blue is then contrasted by yellow accents, which are hand-painted and can be found on the front grille, along the bonnet and on the rear towing eyes.
The body itself weighs just 1,100kg, meaning that the Plus 8 is one of the lightest V8 passenger cars on the market. Because it’s light, the BMW-sourced V8 is able to propel this ‘classic’ car to 62mph in a very brisk 4.5 seconds and it will continue to a top speed of 155mph. Golly, that’s enough to make your pipe fly out your mouth.
Jon Wells, Head of Design at Morgan Motor Company, said: “Firmly established as Morgan’s crowning vehicle for fifty years, the Morgan Plus 8 continues to pioneer new technology within the classic Morgan bloodline. When combined with an uncompromising attention to craftsmanship, luxury and material choice, there is no more desirable Gentleman racer.”
