2021 Morgan Plus Four
- All-new Morgan Plus Four is revealed at the Morgan factory in Malvern, UK (3 March 2020)
- The all-new Plus Four represents the most revolutionary advancement in the model’s 70-year history – 97% of its components are new
- The Plus Four replaces the outgoing Plus 4, the model name differentiated by the use of the word ‘Four’, replacing the numeral ‘4’ in the outgoing model
- The car is underpinned by the CX-Generation bonded aluminium platform, and has been developed alongside the Morgan Plus Six over the past four years
- The all-new Plus Four has been radically updated compared to the previous-generation car, yet its unique driving charm remains
- The Plus Four retains the narrower body and unique wing profiling that are a hallmark of the company’s core range of models
- All-new corner packaging has been engineered, facilitating the use of low-offset wire wheels, a breakthrough for a modern platform with double-wishbone suspension
- The Plus Four features the first-ever four-cylinder turbocharged engine to be used by Morgan: the 2.0-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo, which produces 255 bhp (190 kW) and up to 295 lb ft (400 Nm) torque
- The powerplant equips the Plus Four with performance on a par with the outgoing Morgan Roadster: 0-62 mph (100 kph) takes from 4.8 seconds, while top speed is 149 mph (240 kph)
- A six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic gearbox are available, marking the first time this model has been available with a choice of factory-fitted gearboxes
- The all-new Plus Four achieves up to a 30% decrease in CO2 compared to the outgoing Morgan Roadster. WLTP combined figures are as low as 159 g/km CO2, making it one of the cleanest Morgan cars ever produced. Fuel economy is up to 40 mpg (7.0 l/100 km) combined.
- The legacy of lightweight Morgan sports cars continues, the new car weighing from just 1009 kg
- The Plus Four is on sale today (3 March 2020), priced from £62,995 inc. VAT in the UK
A new dawn for Morgan Motor Company
The Morgan Motor Company today introduces the next iteration of its core model, with the launch of the all-new Morgan Plus Four. The car represents a revolutionary successor to the Plus 4, a model that has formed the backbone of Morgan production since its debut in 1950. Now, 70 years after the first Plus 4 rolled off the production line at Morgan’s Pickersleigh Road factory in Malvern, UK, a new chapter begins.
2021 Morgan Plus Four
Design & Dynamics
The Plus Four is based on the bonded aluminium CX-Generation platform, so called because it made its debut in Morgan’s 110th year (2019). Exponentially more rigid than the outgoing steel ladder chassis, yet astonishingly lightweight at just 97 kg, this advanced platform transforms the car’s ride and handling capabilities, making it truly competitive against its 21st-century competition. However, the famed Morgan driving experience of the model hasn’t been forgotten – its agility, response and balance will be instantly familiar to anyone who has driven a Morgan sports car past or present.
Despite sharing the CX-Generation platform with the Morgan Plus Six, the design of the Plus Four is markedly different. Four-cylinder Morgan cars have always featured a narrower body than the larger-engined models in the range, and the new Plus Four is no exception. Compared to the Plus Six, the Plus Four is 104mm narrower in the central body and 78mm narrower overall, and features uniquely profiled wings.
The Plus Four retains a similar footprint to the model it replaces but, thanks to the advanced packaging of the CX-Generation platform, brings increased interior passenger and luggage space. Furthermore, ingress and egress have been dramatically improved. Together, these advancements enhance the day-to-day usability of the car, and make it available to an even greater number of customers.
The all-new Plus Four boasts a number of ‘firsts’ for a CX-Generation Morgan, not least of which is the availability of new 15” wire wheels. The addition of this wheel design, which represents a core part of the company’s design language, required extensive development work, including redesigned wishbones, suspension uprights and braking components. A newly designed alloy wheel style, which references sports cars of the 1960s and 70s as well as Morgan wheel designs of old, is also available.
Powertrain, Performance & Emissions
Morgan has built on its long-standing relationship with BMW, choosing to use its 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo engine. It marks the first time a four-cylinder turbocharged engine has featured in a Morgan car, and produces 255 bhp (190 kW) along with, in the automatic variant, 295 lb ft (400 Nm) of torque. In combination with a dry weight of just 1009 kg, it provides effortless performance: 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) takes just 4.8 seconds; top speed is 149 mph (240 kph). The manual variant develops 258 lb ft (350 Nm) of torque, which combined with a dry weight of 1013 kg, results in a 0-62 mph (100 kph) time of 5.2 seconds. Power and top speed match the automatic model.
While headline power and torque figures remain consistent with BMW applications, the engine mapping has been specifically calibrated to allow optimum driveability and response in the Plus Four. As with the Morgan Plus Six, a sport plus mode is available, engaged using a button on the centre column. It sharpens the throttle response, releasing a whole new dynamic character from the car. Overall, engine output is comparable with the outgoing, steel-chassis Morgan Roadster, however, real-world performance and dynamics have been taken to a completely new level.
The all-new Plus Four also marks the introduction of a manual gearbox for the first time in a CX-Generation platform Morgan. The six-speed gearbox has been optimised to provide a perfectly weighted movement which, combined with its carefully chosen ratios, delivers an engaging driving experience. The gearbox pairs beautifully with the 2.0-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo engine and offers further choice to the customer.
For the first time in the model, an automatic gearbox is also available from the factory. The eight-speed automatic features paddle shift, and has already proven to be a perfect match to both the CX-Generation platform and a BMW engine in the acclaimed Plus Six. Moving the gear selector away from you puts the Plus Four into sport mode, which changes shift patterns and response, resulting in a more dynamic driving experience. Ratios can also be chosen manually, using either the gear selector or the steering-column-mounted paddles.
While power and torque levels have risen by more than 65% compared to the outgoing Plus 4, the cutting-edge drivetrain technology provides the Plus Four with a similar fuel economy of 40 mpg (7.0 l/100km), and a reduction in CO2 to just 159 g/km for the automatic variant (manual car: 39 mpg (7.3 l/100km); 165 g/km CO2). The lower emissions ratings, representing a 30% decrease versus the outgoing Morgan Roadster, make the car more accessible in overseas markets where taxation is linked to CO2 output.
