RE: Jaw-dropping Morgan Midsummer unveiled

[ajprice]

DonkeyApple said:

I suspect that they aren't allowed to under the terms of the deal. Someone like JLR have the money and means to be allowed by BMW's lawyers to make changes but they aren't going to let Morgan if the legal approval BMW have requires no cosmetic changes are made.

The bigger question is why Toyota didn't change the shape of the lever on the Supra?

The bigger question is why BMW made it look like that in the first place.

[DeejRC]

Because it’s money spent for no reason. Those of you whingeing about it aren’t buying the car, so your opinions are irrelevant.
Given the other “limitations” of Morgans, the gear lever style comes a far way down the list. Conversely, the reasons why you do buy a Morgan do not consider the gear lever style until about number 79 on your list of reasons.
I’m actually a little disappointed in the presented car, I actually expected something a little more - stunning/show stopper.

[dinkel]

All we talk about now are 'specials' from the old days

I think there's a market for hip Moggies and this one looks great

[swisstoni]

DeejRC said:

Because it’s money spent for no reason. Those of you whingeing about it aren’t buying the car, so your opinions are irrelevant.
Given the other “limitations” of Morgans, the gear lever style comes a far way down the list. Conversely, the reasons why you do buy a Morgan do not consider the gear lever style until about number 79 on your list of reasons.
I’m actually a little disappointed in the presented car, I actually expected something a little more - stunning/show stopper.

Your opinions aren’t relevant either, by your own reasoning.

[DonkeyApple]

ajprice said:

The bigger question is why BMW made it look like that in the first place.

You're asking this about the company that puts led strip lighting in the cabin, fake plastic wood where wood would never be and generally has a track record for council? Probably because 80 years ago they exterminated all the people who had natural style and sophistication.

And one mustn't forget that the BMW alternative to that gear knob is a large crystal dildo.

I've had BMWs for decades and found them great cars but 'style and class' are not terms that I'd ever associate with the marque in my driving lifetime.

[bobthemonkey]

GT9 said:

BMW insist that the gear-lever is in integral part of the package they offer and I believe they won't supply the engine and gearbox without it.
Probably fair to say that a third-party shifter may have switchgear and connection interfaces of lower quality or subtle differences in behaviour that could lead to glitches/reliability issues.

It's also that the shifter itself has various safety switches etc in it, which make it a homologated part.

[rodericb]

Still Mulling said:

Turbobanana said:

Bit crude, but you get the idea:

Thanks, TB. I reckon I prefer it minus the “grille cap”

Yes, certainly. The attachment points/slots around the top are very good too.

The disc wheels are a bit restomod but I don't mind them. The steering wheel needs a bit of a rethink - retrim it in the same colour as the seats at least. But that gearstick - my god..... It's the same in the Ineos. I think BMW insist on it being there so there's no hiding that there's a BMW drivetrain in there.... It'd be a no-brainer for Morgan or Pininfarina to make something out of aluminium and leather to replace that black blight on the landscape.

[TEKNOPUG]

All these cars running BMW drivetrains and no one can be bothered to change the gearknob

[swisstoni]

I think the wheels are interesting on this car.

We have long associated sporting cars, and latterly even luxury barges to have large multispoke, busy wheels. And many a modern munter has been bailed out by an attractive set of wheels.

This design doesn’t need any help. The wheels are restrained in terms of their own design to complement the overall.

[Quickmoose]

swisstoni said:

I think the wheels are interesting on this car.

We have long associated sporting cars, and latterly even luxury barges to have large multispoke, busy wheels. And many a modern munter has been bailed out by an attractive set of wheels.

This design doesn’t need any help. The wheels are restrained in terms of their own design to complement the overall.

totally agree.
Fashion has recently dictated darker wheels, fussier multilayered designs with complex spoke profiles.... so nice to have it all wound back a bit.

[Geoffcapes]

That is lovely!

[smilo996]

never really understood the Morgan "thing". Always seem to be owned by stiff upper lip types, red cords, barbour, spaniel and a likely for chewey beer. However....that is really very nice. Not sure the wooden doorettes work but otherwise, very nice.

[British Beef]

KTF said:

Needs a windscreen to balance it out imo but otherwise looks great. Doubt they will have any trouble selling them.

At least a larger aero screen to make it useable (without wearing helmet), I had a Fisher Fury with a larger aero screen (up to about eye level when seated) and that was still too low to use comfortably, at speed anyway.

[DonkeyApple]

smilo996 said:

Not sure the wooden doorettes work but otherwise, very nice.

That's a chassis, not a door part apparently.

[Harry H]

Love it. The rear lights worry me more than the gear selector. They look kit car. Otherwise a beautiful thing.

[swisstoni]

Harry H said:

Love it. The rear lights worry me more than the gear selector. They look kit car. Otherwise a beautiful thing.

Some trendy chap at the studio might say it’s a key Morgan trad design element (or something).

[braddo]

A stunning design. I'd like to see one with a windscreen.

Shame about the gearlever but I understand why a bespoke one isn't possible. One from a Mini would look a lot more appropriate but again, I guess that gearlever isn't homologated with the gearbox that's in the Morgan.

[biggbn]

I think this car needs to look just as it does except for a wooden wheel and, yes, a more sympathetic gear selector. A windscreen, weather protection etc...no. Its a cruiser, a boulvardier, its a stunning piece of jewelry with four wheels. A Morgan is already a left field choice and this might not even appeal to the traditional Morgan buyer. Its a very niche product by design and price and I'm soooo glad it exists

[Galactical]

As it’s seen as a signature piece showing coachbuilding skills, I think better if they had based it on the SLR or Plus 4 Plus. Just tinkering with the 6’s styling and adding some extra timber elements IMO does basically the opposite, spoiling a great looking car, and they don’t seem to have thought to conceal those visible door hinges.

[soxboy]

Galactical said:

As it’s seen as a signature piece showing coachbuilding skills, I think better if they had based it on the SLR or Plus 4 Plus. Just tinkering with the 6’s styling and adding some extra timber elements IMO does basically the opposite, spoiling a great looking car, and they don’t seem to have thought to conceal those visible door hinges.

Hats off sir to that championship lurking!