Behold the new Morgan Supersport 400
More than 400hp in a series production Morgan for the first time, plus a non-BMW shifter for good measure...
There aren’t many BMW B58 engines left standard, so responsive is the 3.0-litre turbo straight six to modification. Toyota has done it with the Final Edition Supra, BMW itself has done it with its latest 40i updates, and now Morgan has joined in the power party with this, the Morgan Supersport 400. With 408hp from the 3.0-litre engine, it’s the first series production Morgan to produce more than four hundred horsepower. And that doesn’t happen every day.
While power is still transmitted to the rear wheels via the ZF eight-speed auto - we’ll keep fingers crossed for a manual one day - there’s little arguing with the performance potential of a sub-1,200kg Morgan with a usefully enhanced output over standard. 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds is claimed, with a 180mph maximum. There’s also a new Active Performance Exhaust specifically for the 400, promising ‘a more pronounced and purposeful soundtrack’. Very encouraging indeed given the sounds made by the B58 over the past decade or so.
And that’s not even the best bit of powertrain news, because that would probably be the optional aluminium gear selector. After so many years and so many complaints about an old BMW shifter not really being good enough for a £100,000 Morgan (because it wasn’t), a more tactile and stylish solution has been introduced. Very smart it looks, too. According to Morgan the move is part of an ‘evolving Colour, Material and Finish strategy.’ So expect additional flourishes going forward, even in the series production sports cars from Pickersleigh Road.
As a ‘more focused interpretation of Morgan’s six-cylinder platform’, there’s more than just power to the 400 makeover. So the Dynamic Handling Pack is included with the new Supersport, the 24-click Nitrons valved specifically for this model; suspension geometry has been revised also. Disappointingly, a limited-slip diff remains optional, so best factor in a bit extra on top of the £112,965 to take full advantage of a ‘more controlled and more resolved’ chassis.
Making it obvious to passers-by that this 400 isn’t just any old Supersport are vents on the front wings, gloss grey lower bodywork (where it’s usually satin) and snazzy set of 19-inch wheels. Forged and optionally offered in Dark Bronze, they reduce unsprung mass and so should further benefit the handling. Plus they look very motorsport, and that’s cool.
Indeed, there are plenty of extras unique to the 400 that will make it stand out: Horizon Blue, Sail Silver, Silk Silver and Forged Grey are new paint options, with a model-specific stitch pattern through the interior. Those that don’t want leather can opt for Alcantara (including the steering wheel), and there’s coral detailing on what sounds like a pretty extensive extras list.
All sounds right up our street, and there’s further good news for fans of the Supersport 400, as this is just the start. As part of an expansion ‘in considered directions’ there are going to be more bespoke and limited-run Morgan sports cars over the next year and a half. MD Matthew Hole added: “Supersport 400 is the purest expression of Supersport, signalling a natural progression for the range and allowing us to unlock greater possibilities from the CXV platform, all while remaining true to Morgan’s core principles of creating beautiful and engaging lightweight sports cars.
“From the outset, our aim has been to create a vehicle that is sharper and more deliberate, ensuring the additional power is delivered in a way that feels balanced, intuitive and deeply rewarding for the driver. At the same time, a subtle design evolution gives Supersport 400 a more distinct and purposeful character.” The new Morgan is available to order now, with production beginning next month. First drive coming as soon as we can get behind that Alcantara wheel…
If you like the ethos of the Emira... well, that's just a 1,500kg two seat sports car with either a 4 or 6 cylinder engine. Lots and lots and lots of alternatives to choose from.
The A110 did small but steady sales for a similar reason to the Morgan, if you wanted a lightweight but usable tin top sports car for reasonable money, your options were fairly limited/non existent.
I've seen pics of a model which seems to indicate the USB points can be either mesh covered or body coloured with mesh inserts which look a lot better.
Still a pity that the body louvres have disappeared though.
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