With an output of 375 bhp from its BMW-sourced 4.8-litre V8 (N62) engine, the Morgan Plus 8 GTR is the most powerful car in the company’s history. Only 9 cars will be built – all having customers waiting – and following the first unit which has been completed today, the rest will be finished by the first quarter of 2022.
Each customer has worked closely with Morgan’s design team to commission their own bespoke example. The 9 cars are built in varying configurations of transmission and drive side according to customer requirements, with 5 to be exported from the factory in England. Pricing has not been revealed although it is not expected to be more than £250,000 (about RM1.39 million).
The first Plus 8 GTR is finished in a striking Yas Marina Blue, similar to the original design sketches which pay homage to prominent nineties Plus 8 racing car ‘Big Blue’. The Plus 8 GTR explores design themes such as the high shoulder line, not seen on a traditional Morgan body for decades. Its 5-spoke centre-lock wheels are reminiscent of Morgan’s 1990s Plus 8 racing cars, framed perfectly by subtly re-sculpted wheel arches.
Further design elements include a revised rear end, front wings, and front splitter, all of which are hand crafted using aluminium. Fitment of a hard top with cockpit vent completes the race-inspired aesthetic.
The interior features new door cards to fit with the high door tops, bespoke GTR dials and the option of carbonfibre racing seats and harnesses. Unique graphics feature throughout and each GTR is fitted with a plaque denoting its number in the build sequence.
The Plus 8 GTR project has only been possible due to the recent availability of a number of Plus 8 rolling chassis. Performance upgrades include a new engine tune and cannon-style twin-exit sports exhausts. These enhancements improve throttle response and increase the power output over the previous production Plus 8.
One design inspiration was the Plus 8 race car that competed in the GT series throughout the late 1990s, more commonly known as ‘Big Blue’. This car served as the testbed for Morgan’s first bonded-aluminium chassis, which would go on to underpin the Aero 8 and ‘Aero-chassis’ Plus 8 models. It seemed fitting, following the more recent launch of Morgan’s CX-Generation bonded-aluminium platform, to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the car that pioneered Morgan’s use of aluminium structures.
“We are excited to release the first images of the Plus 8 GTR following the design sketches published earlier this year. The Plus 8 GTR represents an opportunity for Morgan to celebrate the V8 engine once again, something we did not expect to do since finishing the Plus 8 and Aero 8 models in 2018. Striking design, the finest craftsmanship, and an exhilarating sports car to drive, the Plus 8 GTR is the perfect swansong to the Morgan V8. We have been delighted to work alongside customers from around the world during the design and build process, and we look forward to sharing the final examples over the coming month,” said Steve Morris, Chairman & CEO of Morgan Motor Company.
The Plus 8 GTR is the second Morgan special project of the year, following the Plus Four CX-T. Whilst different in their function and appearance, both models demonstrate the flexibility of the Morgan brand and, as with every Morgan, each Plus 8 GTR is handcrafted using traditional coachbuilding techniques.
