Morgan Roadster Reviews

It's the Morgan 3-Wheeler, which is about to hit the road again after being considered extinct for more than 60 years. The original 3-Wheelers were built by Morgan from 1911 to 1939 and were away to avoid motoring tax, as they were considered motorcycles and not cars. Recent interest in the 3-Wheeler, as well as a potential need to offset the CO2 emissions of V8-powered models in the Morgan lineup, prompted a show car last year and now the company is pushing into production. "As things stand, the Morgan factory has over 300 orders and they are planning to built 200 this year," says the Australian agent for Morgan, Chris van Wyk. The 3-Wheeler is even more basic than a Tata Nano from India, using a Harley-Davidson style vee-twin engine mounted in the nose and hooked to a five-speed Mazda gearbox feeding a vee-belt drive to the back wheel, with a tiny two-seater cabin behind. Morgan describes driving the 3-Wheeler as "an adventure" and is deliberately targeting the car at people who want something very, very different. "From the design viewpoint, the focus was set on making the car as close to an aeroplane as possible, while retaining handy extra space for driver, passenger and a holdall in the rear. But above all the Morgan three-wheeler is designed for one purpose alone, to make driving fun." It touts sports car-style grip in corners and answers safety concerns with a reinforced tubular chassis, twin rollover bars and seat belts - but there are no airbags, ESP stability control or ABS brakes. It's the lack of safety gear that makes the 3-Wheeler a non-starter for Australia, even if it looks suitably retro with a range of body treatments including a Battle of Britain themed livery including aircraft markings. "The three-wheeler is homologated for use on planet Earth, but alas excluding Australia," says Morgan agent, Chris van Wyk. "More work and expense is required if it is ever to be available for sale over here."

The Morgan Threewheeler, the model on which the company was founded in 1909, will make a comeback next year, debuting at the Geneva Motor Show. Billed as a weekend fun car, the Threewheeler is powered by a 1.8-litre Harley-Davidson Screaming Eagle V-twin engine, power going to the single rear wheel via Mazda-sourced five speed manual transmission. Morgan predicts that the car will complete the 0-100mph sprint in 4.5 seconds and max out at about 180km/h. It features an aircraft-style cockpit, complete with a bomb-release starter button. Morgan Australia's Chris Van Wyk says "we first have to achieve Australian compliance to determine if can be sold here", which hinges largely on its weight rather than its lack of a fourth wheel. In Australia such vehicles must "weigh 450kg and at the moment we have not received an official weight." Something of a minor flood of new Morgans is on the way, the company's local operation resolving a three year tussle with ADRs to once more allow the supply of the Classic Morgan range. Van Wyk says existing orders, some dating from 2006, "have now received priority in the Morgan production queue and as a result seven cars will be produced for Australia before the end of this year. Due to the strength of the Australian Dollar, it has been possible to reduce prices by approximately $20,000 compared to 2006." The local line-up of Ford engine powered Classic Morgans is: the Roadster Sport 3.0 V6 165kW at $132,910; Roadster 3.0 V6 165 kW ($122,900); Plus 4 2.0 Inline 4 106 kW ($89,910); 4/4 Sport 1.6 Inline 4 82 kW ($78,500). While the $375,000 Aero SuperSports  with its 4.8-litre BMW V8  remains the flagship, five local orders have been made for the SuperSport Junior pedal car -- a $7260 two meter long pedal car for kids. The 101-year-old car maker will this year produce a record 800 cars in its Worcestershire factory. The next new model, due in 2012, is the EvaGT 4-seater coupe, powered by BMW's 3.0-litre twin scroll turbo inline six.

The company's newest sportscar, the EvaGT, will take its inspiration from British sports saloons of the early 1950s like the Bristol 400 and Frazer Nash BMW 328. But the four-seater coupe will be a modern sportscar, with a light-weight bonded aluminium chassis and BMW-sourced six cylinder engine. As the teaser photo shows the coupe draws some inspiration from the long, low and sleek design of the Aero SuperSport. The newest Morgan gets its first airing at the famous Pebble Beach concours in California next month. An initial production run of 100 cars is planned with the first cars hitting the road in 2012. Morgan Cars Australia managing director, Chris van Wyk has already fielded inquiries about the car. "I've already spoken to the Morgan club and we've got several serious buyers," he says. Van Wyk says the EvaGT is expected to cost "under $300,000" and broaden the appeal of the rare sportscars. He says it will provide a stepping stone from the Classic to the $375,000 Aero SuperSport. "We've sold eight Aeros and I think because of the Eva's added versatility as a four-seater, we could double that number locally," he says. "It will be a far more useable day-to-day car." Apart from the light aluminium structure the EvaGT uses a laminated internal safety cell and hand-finished aluminium body panels, which helps keep weight down to 1250kg. Combined with the BMW 3.0-litre twin turbo six-cylinder the car promises strong performance. The engine develops 288kW/400Nm and buyers will be able to choose a six-speed automatic or manual gearbox. The four-seater is expected to hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and have a top speed of 273km/h. Morgan says fuel economy will be 7.0 litres/100km. Van Wyk says the collaboration with BMW is providing a positive impact on the low-volume specialist carmaker. "The supply of the drivetrain has given us access to BMW's engineering and test facilities," he says. Van Wyk expects Australian deliveries to start at the end of 2012. The car is the first of several new Morgans planned, including an electric car and 'a fun weekend' vehicle.

The car, which can trace its design back to the 1930s, was withdrawn from sale in 2006 because of problems with airbag supply and subsequent homologation issues.However, it’s set for a new round of crash testing in the UK later this month. If it passes it will be back on sale within months because the test is the equivalent of the local Australian Design Rule 69 for full-frontal crash testing."I have orders sitting in the system," Morgan Cars Australia managing director Chris van Wyk says. He expects the car to be cheaper because of more favourable exchange rates and tariff reduction."The currency situation means we'll be able to bring in the 4/4 for around $80,000, the Plus 4 for $100,000 and the V6 for around $126,000," he says.The cars previously cost $97,000, $117,000 and $145,000. 

They include the fourth series in the Aero 8 this year, three models in the Classic range which is expected to resume next year, development of a fuel cell prototype LIFECar and the resumption of four-seater production in 2011.The Aero 8 now comes with a 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine replacing the previous 4.4 litre unit. Power is up 25kW to 270kW and torque is up 40Nm to 490Nm.It costs $255,000 and for the first time on a Morgan, automatic transmission is an option for an extra $9000.Morgan Cars Australia managing director Chris van Wyk said the Aero 8 only recently became available here."It's taken me four years to get the Austalian compliance for them," van Wyk explained.Features of the Series 4 include new airconditioning with tunnel-mounted outlets, a repositioned handbrake, larger front air intake, new heat outlets on the front guards and a larger boot due to a relocated fuel tank.It weighs only 1445kg thanks to its aluminium chassis and boyd which helps it achieve a 0-100km/h sprint in less than 4.5 seconds, and 10.8 litres per 100km. CO2 emissions are 260g/km.Aero 8 comes standard with a carbon fibre boot lid, 6-pot AP Racing 348 mm ventilated disc brakes at the front, tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control and a bespoke leather and wood trim interior.While there are 19 standard Morgan colours from which to choose, the Morgan factory will also paint a car in any automotive colour, including two-tone, for an extra $2200.There is also a choice of wool carpet colours, four versions of wood trim, an aluminium or graphite fascia and a selection of colours for the double-layer mohair soft top.Van Wyk said they were taking orders now for the Aero 8 and already had seven people put down a $1000 deposit."Morgan owners are the most homogenous group of people I've ever come across: heterosexual male baby boomers and they all buy the cars with cash," he said."It's all discretionary spending for them."The only problem is they are not in a hurry because they have several other cars. They buy when they are ready."The Classic models, due next year, are expected to include the Roadster, Plus 4 and 4/4 Sport.Van Wyk said pricing and specification was not yet known."Who knows where the currency will be and what Australian Government taxes may change?" he said."However, in principle, the 2007 price positioning will be retained as far as possible."When Australian supply ceased in 2007, the Ford-powered Classic range consisted of the Roadster three-litre V6 at $145 000, two-litre Plus 4 at $117,000 and 1.8-litre 4/4 at $99,000.Van Wyk said a waiting list had already been established for the Classics.He said there was also demand here for the four-seaters, available in Europe in Plus 4 and Roadster versions."Due to ADR requirements, Morgan four-seaters have not been able to be sold in Australia as new cars for about two decades," he said."Indications are that production may resume in 2011."Meanwhile, a fuel cell prototype LIFECar is being developed in an alliance with Cranfield University."The factory realised they were at risk because this heterosexual baby boomer market was getting older and would not be around much longer," van Wyk said."All Morgan's history has been about lightweight, fuel-efficient cars for their performance so they are environmentally sound."So why not build on that environmental heritage by bringing a zero emissions car to the market?"I don't know when, but hopefully in the next two or three years."I wanted it here for the Sydney Motor Show, but it was in development testing so they are serious about it."Morgan sold only three cars last year and two the year before in strong economic conditions."Unfortunately we had a supply problem with Morgan," he explained.However, van Wyk was upbeat about selling six this year, despite harsher financial times.Morgan Motor Company is organising a series of centenary celebrations in England in July and August and van Wyk expected a contingent of Australian owners to attend with their cars.