Morgan Motor Company Archives

New Super 3 brings the Morgan 3 Wheeler concept into the 21st century

Morgan Motor Company, which has been well known for its unique 3-wheeled cars over its history of more than 100 years, has come out with an all-new model that brings the idea of 3-wheelers into the 21^st century. Unveiled today, the new Super 3 brings with it a new design philosophy. In comparison with the outgoing 3-Wheeler, which was created in the style of the 1920s V-twin-engined 3-wheelers, the Super 3’s designers and engineers have drawn influences from the mid to late century.

First clean-sheet design since 2000
It’s Morgan’s first clean-sheet design since the launch of the Aero 8 in 2000 and the company’s biggest visual departure since the 1962 Plus 4 Plus. Aerodynamic and mechanical requirements have heavily influenced the form and proportions of the new car. This is most notable in the cast aluminium structures that provide the face of the vehicle, brace the engine and control the corner

It is powered by a Ford-supplied 1.5-litre engine, a compact 3-cylinder unit with an output of 118 bhp/150 Nm. The engine is coupled to 5-speed Mazda gearbox (similar to that in the MX-5) but no compensator is required in the driveline, therefore minimising complexity and weight. The bevel box has been re-engineered using a custom tooth profile, and it drives through a carbonfibre-reinforced drive belt.

Weight distribution has been crucial, and this has been achieved with precise positioning of the engine of a bonded aluminium Superformed monocoque platform. Morgan’s expertise with bonded aluminium platforms dates back more than two decades, to the start of Aero 8 production, and was furthered with the CX-Generation platform used in the 2020 Plus Four and 2019 Plus Six. With the Super 3’s platform, the technology evolves further still.

Superform technology
The Super 3 continues Morgan’s long-standing use of Superform technology. The heating of aluminium to a superplastic state before vacuum forming it allows for intricate exterior shapes to be created with a lower material stress than pressing. While Superformed exterior panels are a proven technology in automotive production, this is the first time the process has been used to produce a structural vehicle platform.

The Super 3’s face has the two familiar headlights and a horseshoe front grille, both recognisable elements of the brand. The engine resides beneath the nose cone and this visual mass sits directly behind the centreline of the front wheels to be a principle proportion of the car. Beneath the cowl, the engine is visible through a mesh with its moving mechanical components clear to see.

While the front end embodies mechanical honesty, the tail contrasts this with elegant, streamlined simplicity. An exposed rib forms a beltline around the vertical midpoint of the vehicle. This feature is a nod to traditional seam joining techniques deployed on mid-century aircraft fuselages, and it is often apparent in ‘belly tank’ racers and early jets. Beneath it lies a unique cut-off tailpipe design, a feature that would normally be impossible but which meets regulations due to its positioning inbound of this beltline.

The rear casting integrates a hinge for the rear bootlid and optional luggage rack, and it allows this accessory to be lifted independently or in unison with the boot. Underneath the rear clamshell boot is an enclosure sculpted to provide maximum luggage capacity.

Interior designed for adventure
The interior of the Super 3 has (given its adventure credentials) been designed for resilience. Rated at an approved ingress protection level of IP64, any part of the interior is completely dust-tight and protected against water splashing from any direction, even down to the integrated USB sockets.

The minimalist dashboard features Morgan’s traditional centre-mounted dials but, for the first time in a Morgan, they are fully digital. Their surrounds – available in both anodised black or silver finishes – are formed from metal, just like any touchpoint in the cabin, and are cold to the touch, giving a material authenticity. The engine start/stop button, inspired by the ‘missile release’ button on military aircraft, is carried over from the outgoing model.

A choice of seat materials includes vinyl, water-resistant leather, saddle leather with enhanced durability and a technical fabric that combines a high level of water resistance, UV resistance and ease of maintenance and which offers an appealing alternative to leather.

Bungee cords can be fitted to the chassis impressions in the outer cockpit to provide a quick storage solution for coats, maps and small bags, while a discreet lockable underseat compartment allows more valuable items to be stored.

Special tyre design
Morgan has worked in partnership with Avon to develop its own 20-inch diameter tyre for the Super 3. Reviving the iconic ‘Speedmaster’ name, the tyre is based on the look of a heritage motorcycle tyre with ‘ballooned’ sidewalls but has been engineered specifically for Morgan and is closer to a car tyre in its design. To ensure ultimate performance, the compound and casing design have been through extensive fine tuning.

The rear tyre on a 3-wheeler is often subjected to the dirtiest, wettest part of the road and, as the driving tyre, it must maintain appropriate contact and grip. It therefore plays a crucial role in the handling and dynamic capabilities. The testing programme to determine the exact tyre choice for the rear of Super 3 was a rigorous one. After significant real-world testing and simulation, an Avon all-season tyre was selected to provide optimum slip angle.

The Super 3 marks Morgan’s most comprehensive vehicle development programme yet. The company has employed a new level of competence in CAE (computer-aided engineering) and structural durability simulations. Test vehicles have undergone ‘real-world’ mileage accumulation in all conditions, exceeding the parameters of any testing programme operated by the company to date and allowing for extensive insight into the life of the vehicle.

“The Morgan Super 3 represents a new level of engineering integrity for Morgan. Superform techniques have allowed us to achieve something that is typically out of reach for niche manufacturers. The monocoque platform is light, stiff, strong and resilient and looks good. Throughout the vehicle, the quality of finish is comparable to that of much larger manufacturers, and we feel we have engineered a car that delivers a lot more value to Morgan customers,” said Chris Arthur, Chief Engineer at Morgan Motor Company.

Most configurable Morgan
The Super 3 is the most configurable Morgan to date, with more than 200 options and accessories at the time of launch. A key project aim was to design and homologate all accessories and options alongside the development of the new car. This not only ensures that those options work in total harmony with the car but also removes the need to retrofit additional options once it has been built.

In what has been recognised as the company’s first patent, a unique fixing has been designed to allow for numerous opportunities to adorn the Super 3 with additional options. Known as ‘accessory rails’, the fixings are available in anodised black or silver and can be applied to sideblades, under the dashboard, on the front and rear bulkheads, on wind deflectors, on the rear luggage rack and on the rear end of the hard shell pannier. Each accessory rail also features a thread for mounting a camera, providing owners with a simple solution to capture their adventures on video.

Priced from £34,958.33 ex-factory (around RM200,000), the Super 3 will be sold through Morgan dealerships in the UK, Europe, the USA and selected markets, with the customers in the UK and Europe receiving their new cars first, followed by deliveries to the USA later in 2022.

“Following on from the incredible success of the outgoing Morgan 3 Wheeler has been no easy task. When we first decided to reintroduce it back in 2011, the company couldn’t have imagined just how popular and successful the V-twin model would be. We have developed this vehicle at a time when the industry, and the wider world, has been challenged beyond comprehension. Yet our engineering and design teams, along with our project partners, have been able to deliver a fitting new chapter to Morgan’s three-wheeled story,” said Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company.

Morgan ends steel chassis models after 84 years

Morgan reveals Plus Four CX-T for off-road adventures

Throughout its history of over 100 years, the Morgan Motor Company has produced cars with unique classic designs, with the 3-wheeler model being perhaps the only unusual one. All the cars have been designed for road use although Morgan has a well documented history of competing in all-terrain endurance trials as far back as 1911.

Joint project with Rally Raid UK
Now the company has unveiled the Plus Four CX-T, which is capability never before associated with the brand. It will enable owners to travel on routes normally inaccessible by Morgan cars. It is the second of two special projects by Morgan in 2021, with the first being the Plus 8 GTR. For this project, Morgan partnered with Rally Raid UK, well known for building vehicles for the Dakar Rally.

*Even in the early days of Morgan’s history of over 100 years, its cars were entered in cross-country events. The Plus Four CX-T (below) is intended to provide such experiences for eight owners.*

Demonstrating new CX-Generation platform
One of the aims of the joint project is to demonstrate the capability and durability of Morgan’s new CX-Generation platform, along with the Plus Four upon which the CX-T is based. Just 8 vehicles will be built, each priced at £170,000 (almost 1 million ringgit) at Morgan’s factory with final preparation and set-up at Rally Raid own workshop facilities, both in the UK. Each customer will have the opportunity to work alongside Morgan’s design team to personalise their own CX-T, which will be delivered by the end of this year.

The exterior of the Plus Four CX-T is designed to maximise luggage and equipment carrying capacity, as well as provide the occupants protection necessary for extreme environments. Most prominently, the rear panel of the vehicle has been replaced with an equipment rack, with unique side body panels designed to be reminiscent of the classic 4-seater Morgan.

Features for off-road adventuures
The rack houses two ruggedised and waterproof Pelican luggage cases, a Zarges aluminium tool/storage box, two Rotopax 11-litre containers and two spare wheel/tyre assemblies. Additionally, for those who venture further off the beaten track, recovery equipment is mounted on the bodywork. All exterior mounting systems for storage and equipment have been engineered to be tough and easy to access when needed.

The external protective exoskeleton can also be adapted to carry leisure equipment such as bikes and surf boards, to complement the lifestyle activities of the owner. Removable side screens can be mounted onto the roof, allowing them to be carried unobtrusively in case of a change in weather conditions.

Conversion from Plus Four
In the initial stage of the project, Rally Raid UK undertook a complete study of the standard Plus Four vehicle with durability assessments of the platform, drivetrain, and suspension systems. The suspension has been designed to be expedition ready, tough and fit for purpose. Durability, and a drive-over obstacle clearance of 230 mm, has been achieved using modified Plus Six wishbones. These widen the track and allow for the extra arc of movement required to achieve the desired suspension performance. The wheel arch apertures have also been modified, allowing the suspension to compress deep into the wheel well, providing maximum traction and stability.

In addition to the main suspension hardware, the lower suspension arms contain bespoke bushes which further increase durability. The combined suspension package is optimised to undertake journeys never before attempted in a Morgan sportscar, while ensuring composure and comfort during any excursion into remote areas.

BMW xDrive differential
A 5-piece underbody protection system helps to protect the chassis and important components from damage when driving in extreme conditions. The car is also fitted with a full bespoke exhaust system with rear side-exit that improves the departure angle and contributes to the higher ground clearance. The Plus Four CX-T is fitted with a BMW xDrive electronic differential with 3 modes to vary the degree of differential lock depending on conditions.

In the cabin, features have been added for occupant comfort and usability in remote environments. The cabin is enclosed within a composite hardtop which is unique to the Plus Four CX-T and has been intricately engineered to fit between the internal and external roll cages.

A RAM mount track is built into to the dashboard to allow the secure fixing of a variety of devices such as smartphones or cameras. A flexible map light, pencil and notebook holder have also been integrated, all designed to withstand operation in harsh driving environments.

Cabin stowage has also been optimised with the addition of a removable map/document holder and insulated cool bag, both located in the passenger footwell. A custom-made first aid kit is mounted to the internal roll cage behind the seats.

Morgan ends steel chassis models after 84 years

Morgan ends steel chassis models after 84 years

The Morgan Motor Company, one of the few historical British car companies still in business, has completed production of its last-ever steel chassis car. This is a significant development because it is the longest-ever running production car architecture of all time, anywhere in the world – 84 years (with the exception of the war years when production had to be stopped).

The firm’s steel ladder chassis was introduced in 1936, in the Morgan 4-4. This car’s name came from the fact that it was the first Morgan to have both 4 cylinders and 4 wheels; Morgan’s vehicles before this point, since the company’s foundation in 1909, were all 3-wheelers.

Supporting every 4-wheeled Morgan
The steel chassis, while undergoing many alterations, and improvements over its lifetime, went on to support the Plus 4, Plus 4 Plus, first-generation Plus 8, 4 Seater, V6 Roadster, and the 4-4’s eventual successor, the 4/4. In fact, every 4-wheeled Morgan produced before 2019, with the exception of the Aero range and second-generation Plus 8, has used a variation of the original steel chassis.

Morgan factory — *Each Morgan is handcrafted and this picture shows the bodywork being ‘married’ to the steel chassis.*

The design elements of the chassis include its combination of sliding pillar front and leafspring rear suspension. The sliding pillar set-up, in particular, marked a defining characteristic of the platform, having been used by very few other car manufacturers.

With this arrangement, the hub and wheel assembly moves vertically, on a kingpin fixed rigidly at its top and bottom. It ensures there is no wheel camber change during compression or rebound, maximising lateral cornering grip. In total, 35,000 four-wheeled Morgans with a steel chassis have been made, many of which are still running today.

The final steel chassis car, a Morgan Plus 4 70th Edition, has been purchased by a loyal Morgan customer. He will place it alongside his collection of cars from the brand’s long history, which includes the Le Mans-winning Plus 4, ‘TOK 258’.

The Plus 4 70th Edition celebrates 70 years of production of the Plus 4. Limited to a run of just 20 individually numbered examples, the editions feature a gold-painted chassis, Platinum Metallic paintwork, and a host of other upgrades.

The aluminium CX-Generation platform
Morgan’s replacement for its steel chassis, the bonded aluminium CX-Generation platform, was introduced in the Morgan Plus Six, at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. It came after 4 years of development, using lessons learnt from its previous aluminium platform found in the Aero range and second-generation Plus 8. The CX-Generation platform (pictured below on the left) has since gone on to also support the all-new Morgan Plus Four which had its debut in March this year.

Morgan sign partnership for new EV

Morgan Motor Company, an automaker best known for producing classic three-wheeled vehicles, has entered into a technical partnership with Frazer-Nash Energy Systems. The move is a nod to the impending release of the company’s new EV.

Called the EV3, the vehicle which was first revealed in 2016, will be the British automaker’s first model that will feature an all-electric drivetrain. Despite this, the car still retains familiar design cues seen on previous generation cars.

Unlike most automakers, Morgan’s design inspiration comes from 1930s Aero-engine race cars, classic motorcycles and 1950s fantasy automatons. The EV3 combines this vintage tubular styling with new technology to deliver a raw driving experience and traditional British craftsmanship.

Regarding the tie-up, Steve Morris, Managing Director of Morgan Motor Company, said, “We are delighted to announce our technical partnership with Frazer-Nash Energy Systems as we enter this exciting phase of EV3 production.”

He added, “We have been working closely on optimizing the EV3’s architecture in every way to develop a car which will offer proven reliability range and cooling performance, combined with the pure driving experience that is expected of every hand-crafted Morgan.”

As a result of the partnership with Frazer-Nash Energy Systems, Morgan will be able to utilize certain technologies that will allow further development of the EV3. It will come with all-new, more robust architecture, greater levels of torque, a stiffer chassis and under-slung battery.

Enclosed within the tubular space frame chassis sits a 21 KWh Lithium Battery and a liquid-cooled 34.8kW (41.8kW peak) motor that drives the rear wheel. On a full charge, the EV3 will be able to travel a full 193km without needing a recharge. This, the automaker says will be enough to allow for the kind of driving pleasure that is absent in the EV industry.

The Morgan EV3 is expected to enter production in 2018 and thanks to Frazer-Nash Energy Systems, will have greater performance and rapid charging technology. Once launched, the EV3 will be part of a niche market, offering enthusiasts unrivaled driving enjoyment.

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