- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr
70 years of commitment to traditions
The Morgan Plus 4 is a speedster manufactured by Morgan Motor Company (UK). It has been produced since 1950. In early 2020, the manufacturer introduced the second generation Plus 4, based on an aluminum frame instead of a steel one.
The Morgan Plus 4 is one of the main characters in the famous American black-comedy film, The War of the Roses (1989), starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. When the union of a wealthy couple, who had a seemingly perfect marriage, began to crumble, the property turned into the center of a fierce battle. The main character (Kathleen Turner) destroyed the gift, bought by her husband (Michael Douglas). The 1960 Morgan Plus 4 was crushed by a GMC Jimmy SUV.
The first generation
It was produced from 1950 to 2020. In fact, the Plus 4 was produced from 1950 to 1969, after which the production was discontinued. The model was revived in 1985 and produced until 2000. The next cycle lasted from 2005 to 2020. The first Morgan Plus 4 to be released after World War II is not the very first Plus 4. In fact, in 1950, the Motor Company resumed production of its former 4/4 open model, the first 4-wheel vehicle with a 1.3-liter Standard 4-cylinder engine and a 2,237 mm wheelbase.
Released in 1950, the Morgan Plus 4 became larger and was powered by a 2088cc Standard Vanguard engine mounted on an extended and reinforced 4/4 chassis with a 4-inch (102 mm) longer wheelbase. For the first time, a Morgan car was equipped with hydraulic drum brakes. The new model was 3,683 mm long, 1,422 mm wide and 1,321 mm high, while having an unladen weight of 838 kg.
In 1953, the manufacturer introduced an improved version with a 2-liter engine, which was used on the Triumph TR2 (it was a more modern modification of the Vanguard engine). In 1960, optional front disc brakes became standard. From 1955, the car was equipped with a 1991 cc Triumph TR3 engine. In 1962, it switched to a 2138 cc Triumph TR4 engine.
The Morgan Plus 4 is a true long-liver: born in 1950, it has maintained the same architecture for 70 years. The second generation has retained almost the same exterior as the first one, but its interior is 97% new.
The following body types were available: 2-seater sports version, 4-seater sports version and more luxurious 2 or 4-seater coupes with convertible top or hardtop. In 1963, 26 Morgan +4 coupes with a fiberglass body were built. The car took part in automobile racing s. After the success in 24 Le Mans races, a more powerful version of the Plus 4 Super Sports with a retuned engine and a lightweight body was produced from 1962.
The first generation ended with a special edition of the 20 Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition roadsters, which were sold out instantly. The jubilee sports cars featured a special body color and multi-spoke wheels, a gold-plated chassis structure, an individually numbered plaque and decorative elements. The 70-year-old series featured an Aero Racing sports exhaust system and a 2-liter Ford Duratec engine boosted to 182 hp. Power to the rear axle was transmitted through a 5-speed manual transmission by Mazda. The car accelerated to 100 km/h in less than 7 seconds.
The second generation
It has been produced from 2020 to the present (as of 2021). Morgan is a very conservative company. When it comes to a 70-year-old long-lived model, radical reforms can ruin everything. Therefore, the new Morgan Plus Four, announced before the Geneva Motor Show as the most powerful Plus 4 in history, is in fact a very delicately upgraded car, the name of which features a word instead of a number.
The company has decided to replace the steel chassis it developed 70 years ago by an aluminum CX platform, and the 2.0-liter Ford engine has given way to a turbocharged 4-cylinder BMW engine of the same size. The designers claim that the new Morgan Plus Four is 97% new, but it’s hard to distinguish it from its predecessor when you look at it. The car has retained its retro-style exterior: a conservative design with a long hood, a two-seater interior, a soft top and long, profiled retro-style fenders. The traditional ash wood shell around the passenger compartment is also here.
The new Morgan Plus Four weighing 1,009 kg accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, while the maximum speed is limited to 240 km/h.
The difference can be felt when driving as switching to an aluminum platform has resulted in the increased strength, torsional rigidity and lighter weight. The turbocharged engine with 255 hp and a torque of 400 Nm in combination with an 8-speed automatic transmission allow the sports car weighing 1,009 kg to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds (which is 2.5 seconds faster than its predecessor). The maximum speed is limited to 240 km/h. The car can be optionally supplied with a 6-speed manual transmission, in which case it will take it 5.2 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h.
The handcrafted interior trims in leather and wood are unchanged. The Plus Four is equipped with analog devices. Only the paddle shifters and such hidden options as heated seats and air conditioning will remind you that this car is from the 21st century. Supplies of the model started in the second quarter of 2020.
