- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru
2020 Morgan Plus Four Roadster. 2nd generation
The Morgan Plus 4 is a roadster manufactured by Morgan Motor Company from the UK. It has been produced since 1950. In early 2020, the manufacturer released the second generation Plus Four, built on an aluminum frame instead of a steel one.
The new roadster was unveiled at the manufacturer’s headquarters in Malvern, England. The new Morgan Plus Four is the second model after the Plus Six to be based on the new CX-Generation aluminum platform and is 97% new despite being virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor, the Plus 4, the brand’s most popular sports car. By the way, the number in the title has been replaced by letters.
Retro charm
The 2020 roadster is based on an aluminum monocoque frame weighing only 97 kg. The body frame is made of ash wood, which has been traditionally used by the manufacturer for more than a century. The exterior of the car dates back to the 20s with their unique charm: a long hood, long fenders, simple shapes with a narrow two-seater interior open to all the winds, multi-spoke wheels.
In accordance with another tradition, the new Morgan Plus Four is assembled by hand and comprises leather and wood in its interior finishing. The dashboard looks like it came from the past (spoiler alert: it truly did), the analogue dials delight the eye, and modern options like heated seats and air conditioning are delicately hidden. Only the paddle shifters on the automatic transmission versions may remind you that the car is modern. The dry weight of the new roadster with the automatic transmission is only 1,009 kg (with the manual transmission, it is 4 kg heavier).
Powertrains
The 2020/2021 Morgan Plus Four is the second model in the history of the brand to be equipped with a turbocharged engine. The new roadster comes with a modern 2.0-liter 4-cylinder BMW B48 TwinPower engine, which produces 259 hp and 400 Nm. The engine can be combined with a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The manual transmission offers a torque of 350 Nm.
The same unit is installed on the Toyota GR Supra coupe, but exclusively with an automatic transmission. The BMW engine has allowed the 1,009 kg roadster to reach 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, which exceeds the result of its predecessor by 2.5 seconds. The top speed is limited to 240 km/h, which is 15 km/h more than that of the old model. With a manual gearbox, acceleration to 100 km/h will take 5.2 seconds. The developers also proudly emphasize the fuel efficiency of the new model. Thus, in the combined cycle, the car consumes only 7 liters of petrol per 100 km.
Equipment
The base version of the 2021 Morgan Plus Four roadster can boast of a remote control central locking, full LED optics, light sensor, ABS, power steering. You can additionally acquire such options as the heated seats, a media system with Bluetooth, a trunk spare wheel and expensive leather interior upholstery. 15-inch multi-spoke wheels are also available. To adapt the unusual component to the modern chassis, the designers had to retune the suspension and select special brakes.
