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New Models
AUTOS: Classic Morgan Plus 8 Returns
Traditional British sports car is back after an eight-year hiatus with up-to-date performance and features.
Morgan has updated its classic Plus 8 for 2012 with a BMW V8 for more power and aircraft construction for lighter weight. (Photo: Morgan)
That most-traditional British sports car, the Morgan Plus 8, returns for 2012 with a thoroughly up-to-date drivetrain and modern lightweight construction, all ready for its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Out of production since 2004 when its aging Rover V8 failed to meet emissions standards, the new Plus 8 is powered by a 4.8-liter BMW V8 that makes a standard 367 horsepower or 390 with an optional free-flow exhaust. It’s also the first Plus 8 to have an available automatic transmission, a six-speed with Auto and Sport modes. A six-speed manual comes standard.
According to Morgan, the latest incarnation of its classic sports-car heritage uses aircraft-industry technology to keep the curb weight down to 1,100 kg (2,420 pounds) that makes the Plus 8 the lightest V8-powered passenger car approved by European safety standards. Zero-to-62 mph sprints take just 4.5 seconds, Morgan says.
Despite its hidebound styling and design, the Plus 8 has been updated to improve space for the tallest drivers, Morgan says, and includes air-conditioning, leather trim and a premium sound system as standard equipment.
The new Plus 8 is available now at Morgan dealerships or at the factory in Malvern Link, England, where the sports cars are still built by hand. The base price for the British home market is 71,000 pounds plus 14,200 pounds value-added tax for a total of 85,200 pounds, or about $135,000. The company also has a long list of available options.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
Out of production since 2004 when its aging Rover V8 failed to meet emissions standards, the new Plus 8 is powered by a 4.8-liter BMW V8 that makes a standard 367 horsepower or 390 with an optional free-flow exhaust. It’s also the first Plus 8 to have an available automatic transmission, a six-speed with Auto and Sport modes. A six-speed manual comes standard.
According to Morgan, the latest incarnation of its classic sports-car heritage uses aircraft-industry technology to keep the curb weight down to 1,100 kg (2,420 pounds) that makes the Plus 8 the lightest V8-powered passenger car approved by European safety standards. Zero-to-62 mph sprints take just 4.5 seconds, Morgan says.
Despite its hidebound styling and design, the Plus 8 has been updated to improve space for the tallest drivers, Morgan says, and includes air-conditioning, leather trim and a premium sound system as standard equipment.
The new Plus 8 is available now at Morgan dealerships or at the factory in Malvern Link, England, where the sports cars are still built by hand. The base price for the British home market is 71,000 pounds plus 14,200 pounds value-added tax for a total of 85,200 pounds, or about $135,000. The company also has a long list of available options.
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
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