Morgan Racer Spawns Super Plus 8
by Michael Scarleti
Autocar June 1999

Morgan will enter the next millennium with a high-tech successor to its classic Plus 8.

Due to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2000, the radically modernized Morgan will stay true to its ancestors 30s-style aluminum bodywork, coach-built over an ash frame. But under the skin will be an advanced high-performance chassis derived from the GT2- class racing car that Morgan displayed at October's British Motor Show.

The GT2 racer's flattened and bewinged body hides an all aluminum fabricated sheet and extrusion chassis with traditional double wish-bone coil-sprung independent suspension. The set-up should allow supercar-style handling.

With the plus 8's Rover V8 supplanted by a Chevy V8 modified to provide a claimed 450-500bph and a Hewland transmission, the racing car was quick enough to set lap times within two seconds of  the Dodge Viper at the Laguna Seca circuit in the US.

It's not clear which V8 engine will power the new Plus 8 road car, but it is certain that the aging Rover unit will be dropped, as it struggles to keep up with ever more stringent emissions rules. It's rumored that a version of the new COs worth V8 being developed for Audi's RS Le Mans racer could be used, but other options include a BMW V8 or a cheaper US-sourced unit. Whichever unit is chosen, power of about 300bhp will give the new car a sub-5.0 sec 0-60mph time and a maximum speed of over 160mph.

The racing Morgan's chassis is a close relative to that of the prototype Lea-Francis 30/230,  also exhibited at the Birmingham show. The designer of the new Lea-Francis, Professor Jim Randle, carried out the original work on the Morgan chassis but was not involved in the racing car's suspension or its subsequent development for the road. Instead, Randle licensed the chassis technology to Morgan and is
concentrating on developing the innovative suspension set-up of the Lea-Francis.

While Morgan  insiders have described the new Plus 8 as "like nothing Morgan has built before", traditionally minded enthusiasts of the marque need not worry. The new car will carry Morgan themes such as the radiator grill and flowing front wings. As the Malvern based company has no idea how its new roadster will be accepted,  it intends to continue its existing models.

Next spring a four-seat Plus 4 will also appear. It is unchanged but for an extra row of seats. requiring modifications to the petrol tank and seat belt mountings.