Morgan Aero 8

Morgan Aero 8
Morgan Aero 8 (Series 4 - 2007 Model)
Overview
Manufacturer	Morgan Motor Company
Production	2001-2010 (2015-17)
Body and chassis
Class	front-engined Sports car
Body style	2-door convertible
Powertrain
Engine	4.4 V8 N62 4.8 V8 N62
Dimensions
Wheelbase	100 inches (2530 mm)
Length	162 inches (4120 mm)
Width	69 inches (1770 mm)
Curb weight	1180 kg (2596 lb)

The Morgan Aero 8 is a sports car built by Morgan Motor Company at its factory in Malvern Link, England (an area of Malvern in Worcestershire) and designed by the firm's designer Matthew Humphries.

The Aero 8 is notable for several reasons, primarily because it is the first new Morgan design since 1948. It does not use anti-roll bars, an oddity in a modern sporting car. It is also the first Morgan vehicle with an aluminium chassis and frame as opposed to traditional Morgan vehicles ("trads") that have an aluminium skinned wooden body tub on a steel chassis.

The engine first powering the Aero 8 was a 4400 cc V8 built by BMW mated to a 6-Speed Getrag transmission. In 2007, the Series 4 Aero 8 was released which had an upgraded 4799 cc V8 built by BMW with an optional ZF automatic transmission. All Aero 8s are assembled at Morgan's Malvern Link factory, where they are able to produce up to 14 cars a week (Aeros and trads).

It has been criticized for its "crosseyed" look which originally was justified by the manufacturers as conferring aerodynamic benefits. In response, Morgan changed the design for 2007 and later cars to a front end design based on the Morgan Aeromax, using Mini rather than VW New Beetle headlights.

The Morgan Aeromax is the coupe variation of the Aero 8. Production, which was undertaken in 2008 and 2009, was limited to one hundred cars, each costing £110,000. Owners have included Richard Hammond, Rowan Atkinson and Paul O'Grady.

The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a targa-roofed version of the AeroMax, sharing its bonded aluminium chassis and lower bodywork with the coupe.

At the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 Morgan announced that the Morgan Aero 8 would be revived with a new model.