Morgan EvaGT

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AeroMan

Original Poster:

601 posts

244 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Morgan EvaGT Press Release June 11th 2010


Morgan EvaGT


At a time of global conservation with a drive towards improved fuel economy the Morgan Motor Company introduces a new concept for a sporting family, the Morgan EvaGT. The four seater Coupe takes its inspiration from the British sports saloons of the early 1950’s. Among these were the Bristol 400 series and the Frazer Nash BMW 328. After the Second World War rationing forced designers to conserve and make the most of the materials at their disposal. However the pressure cooker of war had also led to an abundance of innovative engineering ideas. Steel was scarce so lightweight aluminium was used for bodywork. Smooth “in-line” straight six cylinder engines were fitted to give long distance comfort and reliability. Because the engineers had often worked on aircraft development during the war aerodynamics contributed to high but economical cruising speeds.

The Morgan Motor Company is the last survivor of these British sports car manufacturers. Of course the company is lucky enough to have 100 years of continuous success behind it and like Bristol and Frazer Nash; Morgan has a history of successful collaborations with German suppliers BMW, Siemens and Bosch. But Morgan also works with a number of young engineering companies in the United Kingdom and with world class British university research departments.

The new challenge is to make cars that are more efficient than any we have seen so far. The Morgan Motor Company is in a good position to respond to this challenge because the company is small and flexible with a proven track record of fast development cycles. It currently manufactures one of the greenest sports cars in the world, the Morgan Four Four Sport. Morgan achieves this result with the use of the new Ford 1.6 Sigma engine coupled with a light chassis. Morgan currently has a young well qualified technical team working towards a potential 5 engineering PHD’s, who will make full use of research departments at the University of Oxford, Cranfield and Birmingham City to tap into a technical knowledge network to make more efficient cars. This team is helping to develop a high torque electric motor twice as powerful as others of the same weight and size and a powerful lithium phosphate battery with a higher charge density to achieve the most efficient performance for weight so far.

The dynamic team at Morgan has made a commitment from 2010 that they will bring out a new model every two years. The legendary sports car manufacturer will target new niches…..electric sports cars, a fun weekend vehicle and the first of the new cars will be the Morgan EvaGT, a four seater Coupe aimed at young families, with a bit of drama or automotive theatre as we like to call it. This is a revolution for a car company famous for making the same car for 50 years!

The Morgan EvaGT
Brief provisional specification

Chassis:
The Morgan EvaGT makes full use of clever technologies that the Morgan Motor Company has developed to manufacture a lightweight car. Morgan was one of the first car companies to see the advantage of a bonded aluminium chassis to give rigidity but also to save weight. The EvaGT uses a further developed version of the bonded aluminium chassis of the Morgan Aero SuperSports, a chassis that successfully competes in International GT3 Sports Car Racing. Compliant with European and US safety approvals.

Bodywork:
Morgan was the first car company in 1995 to see the benefit of superformed aluminium, an aircraft technology, to manufacture smooth accurate body parts. Morgan Design have sculpted a new shape for the Morgan EvaGT that focuses on natural materials and understands their unique technical properties. Using computer technology in design and in manufacture to ensure accuracy, the parts are then hand finished to make sure they feel as good as they look. A perfect “A” class surface, minimal shut lines, hidden wipers, flush door handles and sharp creases deflect air over the surface of the car. The new Morgan EvaGT represents a philosophy of lightweight luxury that embraces authenticity, sustainability and innovation achieving its final result through the process of skilled craftsmanship.

Technical Specification (subject to change):
BMW 3 litre straight six mono twin turbo with direct petrol injection 306bhp and 400nm torque

* Euro 5 and 6 compliant at 200 gms Co2/km, US FMVSS, CARB and EPA approved.
* 40 mpg / 7.06 litres/100kms
* 6 speed sport automatic or 6 speed manual gearbox.
* Rear wheel drive with fully independent intelligent suspension
* Aluminium body panels with a laminated internal safety structure.
* Predicted weight of 2755 lbs/1250 kg
* Predicted 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds/ 0-100km/h 4.5 seconds
* Predicted top speed 170mph / 273 km/h

Launch
The first public view of the Morgan EvaGT will be at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Carmel, California, USA on the 15th August 2010.

The Morgan Motor Company will be taking orders worldwide with a request for a deposit of £5000 from prospective clients for an allocated build slot. The first 100 cars of a limited run are planned to begin production mid 2012 and the “on-road” price will be competitive for a car of this class.

Further information
For further information contact EvaGT@morgan-motor.co.uk

Morgan Motor Company Limited, Pickersleigh Road, Malvern Link, Worcestershire, WR14 2LL

Slinky

15,704 posts

248 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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I think I'm going to be spending a good while running errands over to Malvern in the coming months on the off chance of seeing this in the flesh, I'm only 8.5 miles away from the factory..

Biggles111

457 posts

262 months

Saturday 12th June 2010
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Looks superb, and exactly what I am after - a modern performance Morgan with economy and 4 seats. I have just emailed them to see if they can give some information on pricing; I can't really stretch to Aeromax money, but if it is say close to pricing for a roadster 4 seater I will be buying.

Well done Morgan!

mr_tony

6,328 posts

268 months

Saturday 12th June 2010
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It's based on an Aero chassis, so pricing will be Aero Series 4 money at least from what is being said - so starting of 80k plus options is probably where it's likel to be at.

I rather fancy it..

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Saturday 12th June 2010
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Yes please. At last a practical family car from Morgan!

Graemsay

612 posts

211 months

Monday 14th June 2010
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I've been hoping for a while that Morgan would put BMW's inline six into their aluminium chassis. That engine gives good fuel economy and performance, and I think that it's a more elegant solution than the big V8s.

There's a piece up at Wired that reports Morgan were influenced by the Bristol 400.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/another-new-o...

Autocar posted a snippet back in March claiming that the Eva would fit between the traditional models and the Aeros.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/...

It looks like the Aero 8 is being pushed upmarket as with the AeroMax models, so I'd agree with Mr Tony about the price. If it's cheaper then all the better. smile

another

42 posts

226 months

Thursday 1st July 2010
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looks like good idea to me...

mr_tony

6,328 posts

268 months

Friday 2nd July 2010
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Graemsay said:
I've been hoping for a while that Morgan would put BMW's inline six into their aluminium chassis. That engine gives good fuel economy and performance, and I think that it's a more elegant solution than the big V8s.

There's a piece up at Wired that reports Morgan were influenced by the Bristol 400.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/another-new-o...

Autocar posted a snippet back in March claiming that the Eva would fit between the traditional models and the Aeros.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/...

It looks like the Aero 8 is being pushed upmarket as with the AeroMax models, so I'd agree with Mr Tony about the price. If it's cheaper then all the better. smile
The wired piece (although it's great to see Mogan mentioned in Wired) is just the original Morgan press release (but slimmed down by a sub ed no doubt) - as the original mentions the Bristol and the straight six association.

In terms of the model line up, the Aero8 as we knew it is dead adn doesn't appear to be coming back any time soon.

There is now a distinct line up shaping up in terms of Trads at the lower price points, the Eva at the 'old' Aero 8 price point of around 80k (hopefully) and then the likes of the 'halo' models at the top such as the existing SuperSports in the range of 135k+.

The lifecar is in progress still, but no word on what that will cost, and the potential price range for that is considerable - though I'd expect initially it will be relatively high cost just as it will be low volume and new techology.

Looking ahead you ahve to assume there will be a replacement for the SuperSports at some point, though I would figure that it would use the additional refinements that the Eva will bring in like hidden wipers, curved screen etc etc so I think we'll be looking at 2011 (with SuperSports production scheduled to end in 2012) at the earliest before we hear anything from Morgan on that, and it will probably depend on the success of the SuperSports and Eva models in the meantime.

Overall it's exciting times for Morgan right now, and there was a huge amount of interest at the MMC stand at Goodwood yesterday, both in the current line up and future models. I did manage to speak to Matt Humphries for 20 minutes, but he is too professional to let on anything he shouldn't so I guess we'll just ahve to wait and see! Only 6 weeks to Pebble now...

1560

185 posts

197 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
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as a 2+2 it will be a lot bigger than the Aero-series, I had a good thought over it last night, having spend a whole week and 3600km in my Max last week-end, I'm sure it will be both longer AND wider, no way they can make a low roofline with passangers sitting between the wheels if the car doesn't get wider

therefor I also think there will be almost no 'wings'
very curious about EVA, but for me it sounds more like a daily than a week-end car
although I must admit my dailies don't get much use (living very close my office)

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
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I've just been thinking, do you think that Alpina would provide engines for Morgan? Imagine an Alpina version of the BMW engine in the EvaGT. According to the their website it has 400hp! Also I'm sure it would look good on Alpina Classic alloys.




GLLHG

155 posts

165 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
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RosscoPCole said:
I've just been thinking, do you think that Alpina would provide engines for Morgan? Imagine an Alpina version of the BMW engine in the EvaGT. According to the their website it has 400hp! Also I'm sure it would look good on Alpina Classic alloys.
If you take a look on the 'TalkMorgan' site, there's quite a bit of discussion about the engine and powertrain for the Eva. A lot of the guys who have been looking hard at this- Aeroman, AsboJohn and Mr Tony also post regularly on PH so no doubt they will respond anyway

mr_tony

6,328 posts

268 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
The engine mooted for the EVA is the BMW straight 6 putting out around 300bhp in ntwin turbo form. With a simple remap in a bmw around 370 bhp is apparrently achievable. Add a sports exhaust etc and it will be in the range of 400bhp.

Having said that if the weight target is met at around 1200kg, then 300+ is going to make it pretty rapid for a GT anyway!

mr_tony

6,328 posts

268 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
1560 said:
as a 2+2 it will be a lot bigger than the Aero-series, I had a good thought over it last night, having spend a whole week and 3600km in my Max last week-end, I'm sure it will be both longer AND wider, no way they can make a low roofline with passangers sitting between the wheels if the car doesn't get wider

therefor I also think there will be almost no 'wings'
very curious about EVA, but for me it sounds more like a daily than a week-end car
although I must admit my dailies don't get much use (living very close my office)
At goodwood it was mentioned (when I asked)that I should 'think in terms' of the Maserati Granturismo in terms of size and the ablility to fit 4 adult passengers. On that basis I think we can assume that it will be larger than the current Aero based cars and therefore require a modified / stretched Aero chassis.

In terms of styling I couldn't get any more info, MMC may yet release more teasers, but pebble is only a month away now (aug 9th?) so I guess we'll all just have to wait and see....

AeroMan

Original Poster:

601 posts

244 months

Sunday 4th July 2010
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mr_tony said:
At goodwood it was mentioned (when I asked)that I should 'think in terms' of the Maserati Granturismo in terms of size and the ablility to fit 4 adult passengers. On that basis I think we can assume that it will be larger than the current Aero based cars and therefore require a modified / stretched Aero chassis.
If you look at the cab area of an Aero, compared to the width of the car, you can see that it does not need to have the width or bulk of a GranTurismo to accommodate the width of two passengers in comfort. If the running boards are much reduced, or even eliminated, then it can stay the same width as the current Aero range. Regarding the length, I would expect it to have a developed and extended Aero chassis with maybe another 9-inches in the wheelbase.



As you know BMW produce a vast range of engines for different applications, all in slightly different states of tune. I believe that the 300 bhp is an indicative figure, but that the production engine may actually have slightly more than this in standard trim.

Edited by AeroMan on Sunday 4th July 16:35

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Monday 9th August 2010
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As the launch for the EvaGT is at the weekend I was looking around to see if there were any new images of the car and found this on www.mogwire.com

The article says that the front of the EvaGT will look like this. I'm not too sure on the light treatment, but will reserve judgement until I see it properly.

1560

185 posts

197 months

Monday 9th August 2010
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they'll present it next week-end (united states of awfull lot of big cup holders for 0.75l cola-cups from McDonalds)

rumours say no-clay model but "real" prototype,
I'm curious, hope it comes to Germany in october smile

AeroMan

Original Poster:

601 posts

244 months

Tuesday 10th August 2010
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See the company web-site on the 16th August for photos and a write=up. The photo on Mogwire is from a design study done some years ago, not even by Matt Humphries! I would be very surprised if the front of the EvaGT looks anything like it. wink

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Wednesday 11th August 2010
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Here is the latest teaser image from Morgan. It is from an Autocar article on their website.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=...
I am starting to grow to like this design. The front treatment looks much better than the cley model I posted before and I hope the crisp creases stay.

ukshooter

501 posts

211 months

Wednesday 11th August 2010
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If it is a prototype and not a clay model, I will be very pleased. I'm going to be at a Morgan party on Saturday up at Pebble Beach and the show on Sunday so will have a lot more info to hand at the weekend.

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Wednesday 11th August 2010
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ukshooter said:
If it is a prototype and not a clay model, I will be very pleased. I'm going to be at a Morgan party on Saturday up at Pebble Beach and the show on Sunday so will have a lot more info to hand at the weekend.
Will appeciate any information. I'm a big Morgan fan, but my wallet will not stretch to buy one frown