Is Morgan's reborn Aero 8 the perfect combination of old and new?
CLIMB aboard BMW’s epically wonderful i8 hyper hybrid and you can hardly believe how far motoring has come in 100 years.
Sliding over the wide bare carbon-fibre sills, through the butterfly-opening doors and nestling into the snug and slender seats feels more like boarding a space shuttle rather than any kind of lowly earth vehicle.
Do the same in Ferrari's California T and you won't find a gear selector or indicator stalks behind the steering wheel but there are a number of slightly intimidating switches on it, and lots of colour LCD screens.
High-performance cars are extraordinary and increasingly becoming specialised machines almost requiring a training course before attempting a drive.
But what if you are in the high-end sportscar market and want something potent and fast but just a little more bricks and mortar — traditional, if you will? Perhaps the Morgan Aero 8 will interest you.
More typically known for its tried and tested wooden-bodied bread and butter sportscars, the British car-maker’s more affordable models have stuck to a design that hasn’t significantly changed in nearly 70 years.
But in 2001 Morgan surprised the motoring world with a model that looked both old and new, and had performance that was very much in the 21st century.
That first Aero 8 convertible evolved into two separate versions becoming the hard-top Coupe or targa-topped SuperSports, but now the company has resurrected the original Aero 8 name in spectacular fashion.
It still has the same 4.8-litre naturally aspirated BMW V8 of the previous incarnations and the 270kW/490Nm engine is still bolted to a choice of six-speed manual or auto cog-boxes, but the most notable change lies in the Aero 8’s roof.
For the 2015 Aero 8, Morgan has returned to the most quintessential feature of any British sportscar and once again has a full convertible roof.
Where the original Aero 8 used a more orthodox pram-folding fabric roof, the new version’s innovative take hides cleanly behind the two seats, enabled by a new reverse clam-shell opening boot.
The rag-top is still made from mohair and is twin-skinned for better noise and foul weather protection, but for the most vile English winter days, Morgan can provide a removable hard-top.
When stowed, the Aero 8 has the elegance of an old-world Morgan but the style and performance to keep it in the running against modern competition.
Its German-sourced drivetrain can shove the Morgan to 100km/h from zero in a swift 4.5 seconds and on to a very breezy 273km/h — perfect for a blast over the moors.
The company is also promising a more dynamically agile chassis with improved torsional rigidity thanks to revised front-end suspension and the addition of anti-roll bars – an omission the car was criticised for in its original form.
Inside, the Aero 8 has a redesigned dashboard, a new optional touchscreen information and entertainment system, while Australian owners will appreciate an enhanced and more efficient air-conditioning system.
Just a handful of the Aero 8 sportscars have ever found homes here but if you are still worried one might not be quite exclusive enough, the company says its new version has even more customisation options than ever.
With “the largest options list of any Morgan sportscar to date” carbon-fibre seats, bespoke detailing packages, more fine leather upholstery colours and box-woven carpets are all on offer to set individual Aero 8 Morgans apart from the scattering of others.
Morgan says the extended list of paint, leather and details has resulted in “infinite combinations”, ensuring “every Aero built will be a one-off”.
The company’s managing director Steve Morris said the return of the Aero 8 adhered to its traditional sportscar formula.
“Morgan cars are synonymous with open-top motoring,” he said. “We produce two-seater sports cars that are lightweight and exhilarating to drive.
“The new Aero 8 signifies a return to this formula within our flagship range of vehicles.
“The Aero 8 offers the perfect marriage of fine craftsmanship and performance technology, one that we believe is so important in today’s increasingly autonomous world.”
Morgan debuted the new fully topless Aero 8 at the Geneva motor show earlier this year along with the news that it would simultaneously discontinue the Coupe and SuperSport twins, but Australian fans should be excited because although the range has been trimmed, so has the car’s local price.
Exact pricing is yet to be announced, but Morgan Cars Australia spokesperson Chris van Wyk confirmed the new Aero 8 was expected to cost less than the $274,990 Aero Coupe and significantly less than the $339,990 topless SuperSports.
Mr van Wyk also said the new Aero 8 would sit above the current Plus 8 sportscar, which starts at $228,990, positioning the new model about the quarter of a million mark and alongside European sports models such as the Porsche 911 Cabriolet.
But would you trade venerable German dependability for a little more British brutishness?
With one of the most head turning designs that borrows styling from a bygone era, but stunning modern touches and predictable European performance, does the Morgan Aero 8 strike the perfect balance between tradition and pace?
Daniel Gardner GoAuto.com.au
Protect your Morgan. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.
