RE: Morgan Plus Six: Geneva 2019
Discussion
I saw these testing out in Spain last year. Six-pot noise and gear selector were a dead giveaway as to what powertrain they were using. Looked and sounded great, and the engineers seemed to be having plenty of fun in the sun on the roads around Sierra Nevada. Shame about the lack of a manual though.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes for mass production vehicles spending over one million USD on the development of a gear knob is about right as it has to be mass produced. By mass producing it, the price of each gear knob would be low enough for customers to accept. However, we are talking about Morgen which can use low volume production methods such as 3D printing or indeed the more popular CNC for each individual part, whereas, those methods would be way too expensive and slow for BMW. It would be great if they can take out the outer aluminium/plastic casing, and replacing them with half metal and half wood (or leather) casing which are designed according to the existing interior and the whole visual language of this Morgen. And for that if they start to charge £5000 more for each car, firstly I don't think their real potential customers would notice the price increase (considering it's near £100k asking price with a few options at the first place), secondly even if they are honestly told the reason, they would 100% prefer the more expensive but correctly designed gear knob for their £100k Morgen.
Now I am getting into the age range possibly, or perhaps that just looks way better than Morgans generally do but that does look fantastic, its lost some of the tweediness and has more purposeful, yet still very retro looks.
The shifter does look massively incongruous, its like Jon Snow whipping out a Samsung Galaxy S8, send a Raven ffs ! or buy a manual.
Didnt think of it but sort of an an obvious choice the B58, and they do sound nice, they arent a V8 but its still characterful compared to a lot of options and gives the prospect of a 450 bhp Morgan at just over a tonne like someone said, that will be utterly mental, perhaps a bit too much in that chassis ? have had a spin in a tuned M140i with 400 odd kilos more.
The shifter does look massively incongruous, its like Jon Snow whipping out a Samsung Galaxy S8, send a Raven ffs ! or buy a manual.
Didnt think of it but sort of an an obvious choice the B58, and they do sound nice, they arent a V8 but its still characterful compared to a lot of options and gives the prospect of a 450 bhp Morgan at just over a tonne like someone said, that will be utterly mental, perhaps a bit too much in that chassis ? have had a spin in a tuned M140i with 400 odd kilos more.
Firstly: great car, sure it'll be a success, happy to see Morgan thriving etc, etc.
But... because the Morgan 'look' has remained similar over the years, I find the inevitable detail changes in the name of modernisation all the more visually irksome.
Seen in isolation, the newer cars look handsome and special enough (the racer-inspired front valence, minus bumper is a success) but then I'm reminded of the very first, narrow-bodied +8s (the original "e-type beater"), and... hmm... it's lost something.
Looks are subjective of course. No doubt those with more modern sensibilities will equate a wider body and lower profile tyres with improved performance, and not give two hoots about the headrests!
Is it just me? For comparison, here's an original '68 +8.
But... because the Morgan 'look' has remained similar over the years, I find the inevitable detail changes in the name of modernisation all the more visually irksome.
Seen in isolation, the newer cars look handsome and special enough (the racer-inspired front valence, minus bumper is a success) but then I'm reminded of the very first, narrow-bodied +8s (the original "e-type beater"), and... hmm... it's lost something.
- The narrow body of the first, 3.5ltr Rover/Buick engined +8 was, I think, much better proportioned. Notably, the lamps nicely filled the space between the bonnet and wings. Since the introduction of ever wider bodies from '76, the lamps appear to sprout out of a broad expanse of metal between the grill and wings.
- The big sidewalls of the classic tyres, combined with the chunky cast wheels, looked much more purposeful and powerful to my eye (think original AC Cobra and TVR Griffith).
- Fussy of me perhaps, but I think headrests ruin the look of any Morgan. They draw the eye, interrupting the long, low line from front to rear. At least they've managed to keep the screen surround fairly delicate (the thick A-pillars of the aero series cars looked hideous).
- As others have noted, the 'touchpoints' of the new interior seem like they wouldn't offer the sort of tactile connection I'd want or expect from a car of this sort.
Looks are subjective of course. No doubt those with more modern sensibilities will equate a wider body and lower profile tyres with improved performance, and not give two hoots about the headrests!
Is it just me? For comparison, here's an original '68 +8.
notread said:
Oh dear, even as I wrote that, I'm thinking what a stuffy old fart I am. Hey, it's bloody brilliant and it'll attract a new generation of customers, which is what it's all about - not appealing to vintage fans like me! Good on you Morgan.
the Plus Six looks slightly wider than the Plus 4, it looks part of the trad family to me. the big aberration was the BMW Plus 8 which was awkward inside and out as it was just a stretched trad body over an aero chassis, and totally unresolved. it's funny how even the posters on here just think of looks and speed, because the major difference is the chassis. this car's appeal now extends well beyond beards and flat caps.CABC said:
the Plus Six looks slightly wider than the Plus 4, it looks part of the trad family to me. the big aberration was the BMW Plus 8 which was awkward inside and out as it was just a stretched trad body over an aero chassis, and totally unresolved. it's funny how even the posters on here just think of looks and speed, because the major difference is the chassis. this car's appeal now extends well beyond beards and flat caps.
Oh yes, totally! Like a said - a completely different proposition. I was merely indulging my old-fashioned tastes and nostalgia regarding the looks. If you want an old fashioned, visceral "warts and all" experience, buy a ladder-chassis classic, if you want thrilling performance, by all means take advantage of modern engineering and production techniques.
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