Morgan Aero 8 2001-Present
| Morgan Aero 8 | |
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Morgan Aero 8 (Series 4 - 2007 Model)
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Morgan Motor Company |
| Production | 2001-2010 2015-present |
| Designer | Matthew Humphries |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door convertible |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.4 V8 N62 4.8 V8 N62 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 100 inches (2530 mm) |
| Length | 162 inches (4120 mm) |
| Width | 69 inches (1770 mm) |
| Curb weight | 1180 kg (2596 lb) |
The Morgan Aero 8 is a sports car built by Morgan Motor Company at its factory in Malvern Link, England (an area of Malvern in Worcestershire) and designed by the firm's designer Matthew Humphries.
The Aero 8 is notable for several reasons, primarily because it is the first new Morgan design since 1964's +4+. It does not use anti-roll bars, an oddity in a modern sporting car. It is also the first Morgan vehicle with an aluminium chassis and frame as opposed to traditional Morgan vehicles ("trads") that have an aluminium skinned wooden body tub on a steel chassis.
The engine first powering the Aero 8 was a 4400 cc V8 built by BMW mated to a 6-Speed Getrag transmission. In 2007, the Series 4 Aero 8 was released which had an upgraded 4799 cc V8 built by BMW with an optional ZF automatic transmission. All Aero 8s are assembled at Morgan's Malvern Link factory, where they are able to produce up to 14 cars a week (Aeros and trads).
It has been criticized for its "crosseyed" look which originally was justified by the manufacturers as conferring aerodynamic benefits. In response, Morgan changed the design for 2007 and later cars to a front end design based on the Morgan Aeromax, using Mini rather than VW New Beetle headlights.
Morgan AeroMax
The Morgan Aeromax is the coupe variation of the Aero 8. Production, which was undertaken in 2008 and 2009, was limited to one hundred cars, each costing £110,000. Owners have included Richard Hammond, Rowan Atkinson and Paul O'Grady.[citation needed] Taillights of AeroMax and Super Sports were borrowed from Lancia Thesis.
Morgan Aero SuperSports
The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a targa-roofed version of the AeroMax, sharing its bonded aluminium chassis and lower bodywork with the coupe.
New Morgan Aero 8
At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 Morgan announced that the Morgan Aero 8 would be revived with a new model.
Specifications
Engine
Engine: BMW N62 V8
- Bore & Stroke: 93mm x 83.3mm
- Engine size: 4799 cc (4.8 L)
- Power Output: 367 PS (270 kW) @ 6000 rpm
- Torque Output: 490 Nm (370 lbf·ft) @ 3600 rpm
- Valvetrain setup: DOHC 32-valve Double 'Vanos' Valvetronic
- Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Transmission
- Automatic: 6-speed
- Manual Transmission
- 1st gear: 4.05:1
- 2nd gear: 2.4:1
- 3rd gear: 1.58:1
- 4th gear: 1.19:1
- 5th gear: 1:1
- 6th gear: 0.87:1
- Final drive: BTR Limited slip 3.08:1
Suspension
- Front: Independent, inboard Eibach coil springs over Koni shock absorbers
- Rear: Independent, fully floating inboard Eibach coil springs over Koni shock absorbers
Brakes
- Front: AP Racing 350 mm cast iron discs/6-pot calipers
- Rear: AP Racing 332 mm cast iron discs/2-pot calipers
Wheels and tyres
- Wheels: 18 in by 9 in forged alloy wheels
- Tyres: 245/45/18
Chassis/Body
- Chassis: Ultra stiff CAD designed aluminum alloy chassis specially treated and bonded with Gurrit Essex adhesive and riveted with Bollhoff rivets
- Body Panels: aluminium
- Weight: Automatic Gearbox 2596 lbs (1180 kg); Manual Gearbox 2585 lbs (1175 kg)
- Ground clearance: 6 in (152 mm)
- Length: 13 ft 6 in (4120 mm)
- Width: 5 ft 9 in (1770 mm)
- Height: 3 ft 11 in (1200 mm)
- Weight distribution with one occupant: 50/50
- Drag coefficient: 0.39
- Fuel tank litres/US gallons: 55/14.5 (as per Morgan website 21 June 2008)
Performance
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Morgan Aero Supersports at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010
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Version IV
- Top speed: 170 mph (270 km/h) (estimated)
- 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph): 4.3 (Manual) 4.1 (Automatic)
Motorsport
The Aero 8 has competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in 2002 and 2004. There have also been several entries in the FIA GT series from both works cars and privateers. It is also used in the British GT Series. It is currently racing in the FIA GT3 European championship and has proven competitive. The Aero 8 GT3 car is built by AUTO GT. The Aero 8 was also used in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour scoring a DNF with a rare BMW engine failure and the 2004 12 Hours of Sebring finishing 20th outright and 10th in the GT class.