Great news: After years away from America’s four-wheeled car market, the quirky three-wheel-car-building British brand Morgan plans on making a return for 2023 with its recently-updated Plus Four roadster that represents a massive leap forward for the brand.
In case you’re not familiar with Morgan, this funny little British car brand was founded by H.F.S. Morgan back in 1910. After a few decades of making quirky three-wheelers, Morgan cooked up a four-wheeled sports car called the 4/4 in 1936. It used a conventional frame and hand-beaten panels, as was the fashion of the time. While that might not sound particularly remarkable, Morgan stuck with this general style of car for more than eighty years, fenders sitting proud of the body and all (that’s a newer 4/4 below).
Since MG, Triumph, and Austin-Healey packed their sports car bags long ago, Morgan remains one of the last companies still manufacturing classic-style British roadsters. It’s a delightful anachronism of a firm, wonderfully intent on doing things its way and having its own definition of progress.
Currently, Morgan makes three different cars. There’s the Super 3 three-wheeler, the Plus Six high-performance six-cylinder roadster, and this Plus Four, which sits right in the middle of the range. Although previous Morgans featured more streamlined styling, the new Plus Four still looks exactly how you think a Morgan should. Sweeping fenders, a prominent rear-mount spare tire, and wonderfully vintage lighting provide faithful looks for leather-capped cosplay. However, there are subtle signs that the Plus Four, shown below, is something brand new. The proud lower grille and wide track are two key hints as to what lies beneath the body.
While historic Morgan four-wheelers featured engines from the likes of Ford and British Leyland, the new Plus Four has taken inspiration from the Morgan Aero 8 and gone Bavarian. Under the hood sits BMW’s 255-horsepower B48 four-cylinder engine, a robust and torquey engine good enough for a zero-to-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, a properly quick run that’s sure to surprise a few four-cylinder Supra owners. Coincidentally, that’s the same zero-to-62 time quoted for the old BMW N62B44 V8-powered Aero 8. Power goes to the rear wheels through ZF’s segment-defining eight-speed automatic gearbox, although a six-speed manual will join the Plus Four’s star-spangled market lineup at a later date.
If the presence of a ZF 8HP automatic gearbox isn’t enough of a shock to Morgan traditionalists, the new interior is sure to draw opinions. Instead of featuring all the luxury of a bus shelter, the Plus Four’s new interior puts a new focus on comfort and equipment. Twin airbags bolster confidence, while the dash face is now aluminum rather than wood. Other lovely updates include beautifully slim interior door releases, a funky linear wood treatment on the center console, a digital driver’s display to streamline idiot lights, and a glovebox.
Granted, if a glovebox, available cup holders, air conditioning, and a digital display in front of the driver help propel the Plus Four into the 21st century, Morgan’s new platform takes it all the way. No longer a Biggles-era ladder-framed curiosity, Morgan’s entry-level four-wheeler sports an aluminum chassis, although ash is still used to frame the coachwork. The chassis itself weighs just 213.8 pounds and incorporates floorpans, the central tunnel, and a mounting panel for the spare tire, things that weren’t part of the old ladder frame.
Altogether, the Plus Four is a unique blend of old and new: A Lotus-esque aluminum chassis with old-school wood body framing, a quick automatic gearbox with proper vintage styling, handcrafted production techniques with multi-mode stability control. It promises vintage motoring without the compromises and modern performance without modern conformity. Sure, you could buy a GR Supra, a BMW M2, or a very fast Camaro instead, but Morgans usually have that affable quaintness that makes them hard to dislike. In an age of synthesized engine noise and artificial pops and bangs, isn’t it nice to see something unashamedly real?
Expect the Plus Four to arrive in America next year, with a manual variant coming a few months later. Don’t expect this hand-built wonder to be cheap, although don’t expect it to be complete unobtanium either. Recent UK pricing for the updated 2023 model suggests a price of £58,495.67 excluding VAT, or just under $69,000. In the realm of specially-crafted small-batch vehicles, that doesn’t seem terribly crazy.
All photos courtesy of Morgan
Perfect
Would choose over any of the other shoulder-shruggers in its class except for the lack of weather protection. I would love to see them revive the +4+ (maybe with a fastback hatch), though I don’t see that selling much better the second time around.
I’m definitely interested. I look forward to seeing how the US version actually performs.
That interior is lovely but clearly not well thought out. They’ve given it a glove compartment but no touchscreen with which to open it.
A Morgan without a frame made of ash and African Bubinga red hardwood?
Balderdash!
Did you ever see the old episode of the business rescue show that tried to modernize Morgan? Toe-curlingly frustrating to watch. I’m glad the kids finally got some sense.
My cat is a Siamese with polydactyly (extra toes) on all four feet, named Morgan Plusfour (we call her Moggie usually). Maybe more people will get the joke now…
It’s not how many people get the joke, it’s that the right people get the joke.
I hope they also bring over the CXT version of the Plus 4. I still don’t want to buy one at the initial price but perhaps down the road as a used car.
It’s a lovely thing but the dream stops at $70,000. “I’m so sorry. I have no business being in your store and I’m sorry my presence has lowered your property values. I’ll show myself out.”
Dunno I live in Silicon Valley and 70k is outright cheap for the stuff that the average minimally successful tech employee drives.
Ooooh! I have just the oil stain to park this over.
Trad paint or one of those fancy metallics or pearls? “Opie orange” looks interesting. As does “Furka rouge.” Although both worry me that they are some inside joke that I don’t get.
Seriously gorgeous car, one of the few new models out there that strongly triggers, I don’t know what you’d call it, lust? desire? in me. Wonder how long it will last here this time? My bet is the NHTSA makes some minor tweak to seatbelt mounting point hardware rules in 2028 or requires 360-degree outside monitoring cameras, and Morgan winds up not being able to afford to meet the new regs and goes home after a few years. Its happened like 3 or 4 times over the decades.
I believe Isis Imports is still around so there’s always the “convert it to propane” option. I assume this will somehow address any issues with seat belts and cameras.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/7556272270.html
This is the best news I’ve heard so far today. I’ve wanted a Morgan since I learned of their existence.
at this point with my feelings for current BMW quality, I would almost rather this thing have a Tesla EV motor and balancing battery pack up front.
For me this car falls into the category of things I have always lusted for but never seriously enough to go ahead and pull the trigger. Instead I have given myself three 911’s, a TR3-B, a Miata 2nd gen., a Solstice, and a small herd of Euro and Japanese oddities such as a Honda N600, a Citroen CX2000, a BMW 520 (Euro only) and a Borgward. Now I am an old retired duffer with a Cadillac CT6 and a Silverado, as well as a 1932 Chevrolet Confederate. So why no Morgan? I guess I just never got around to it like so many other dreams I have harbored over the years. Now if I just live to be 150, I might still manage a Morgan!
Not THAT is living! Josh Jones, are you paying attention?
The girlfriend is going to hate it when I trade my X4 in on one of these… She /hates/ vehicles that look “old” but I’ve wanted a Morgan for years… Putting a BMW engine in it, making it slightly more dialy-able, and actually available in the US is going to put it at the top of my wishlist for next year.
I’ve been searching for a 4-wheeled Morgan for years, but they don’t seem to exist on this side of the US for some reason. I’ve found plenty of 3-wheelers, but I’ve never been a fan of those.
Ive seen a couple of Aero-8s in the wild here in the US
I also feel a renewed sense of desire for these. Aside from the obvious huge changes, two things stand out for me.
I think the BMW engine is actually a huge negative. I’ve seen far too many four cylinder BMWs in bad condition in more than a dozen MINI Coopers I’ve shopped recently. Check engine codes for these are such an issue that I bought a BMW/MINI code reader just to do my shopping. At this point, I’m almost ready to throw in the towel on owning a MINI at all. I wanted to start with an older model, with the plan to resell it for a new or late model JCW after a few years.
On the other hand, the ZF 8 speed automatic is such a great transmission that to me, it’s a big plus, even in a Morgan. I enjoy manuals, but over time, I’ve come to realize that I enjoy manuals in large part because I drive better than an automatic. The ZF is close enough in spirited driving, and better when driving to relax. I’ll still want a manual car, but not in a Morgan if the ZF is available.
If she doesn’t love you and accept you as you are, including your discriminating and fine taste in automobiles, then she can be easily replaced. There are literally billions of women on this planet. Life is short. If you want it, get the Morgan!
I test drove a Caterham once and found it deliciously engaging but a bit too raw for what I wanted —it’s more of a track toy than a weekend road carver—. This, with the manual, might be just what the doctor ordered for no-frills fun driving around the mountains.
Coincidentally, since I read this article I’ve been pondering over this vs Caterham for a hypothetical 3rd car.
The inadequate provision for rain prevents me owning one, as I live in an area where rain can be an every day occurrence in the summers. Still, they ARE lovely.
It’s a car from England. The assumption is that you are already dressed for rain, so a bit more rain when you are driving your car won’t hurt.
Just dress like Biggles in a biplane and you’ll be fine.
If i were/could buy a sports car in this price range this would be it. Although an old boattail rear end would look as good and give your boot more room.
As a longtime British car fan, I should love this but it falls into the uncanny valley for me. The interior is great but the exterior dimensions just don’t work for someone already familiar with the Plus4. They stretched some dimensions and not others so it just looks odd.