What's all this about?

Morgan has announced a raft of changes to its Plus models — the four-pot Plus Four and six-cylinder Plus Six — for 2023, and while none are especially extensive, there are quite a few of them. Though there are some useful changes under the skin which will likely improve the way both models drive, the majority of the changes occur inside.

What about under the skin?

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) will make its Morgan debut from January and it’ll work in conjunction with a new braking system from AP Racing. The level of interference from the ESC is dependent on what driving mode the car is in (Normal, Sport or Sport+) and the system is tuned for each model and gearbox variant. New suspension dampers and bushes should also make the 2023 Morgan Plus models feel a bit more dynamically adept. Both the Plus Four and Plus Six are powered by 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre BMW engines respectively and both Morgan and BMW have worked together to slightly recalibrate the gearboxes on the automatic models for 2023 to provide a better blend of performance and efficiency.

Anything on the outside?

Not a lot, apart from the addition to the range of 12 new graphic packs — including roundels, bonnet stripes and strikethrough numbers — with all graphics available in white, black and clear vinyl, reflecting Morgan’s heritage as a maker of old-fashioned drive-to-the-track sports cars.

So what's new inside?

The dashboard, for one. It’s hewn from aluminium and available in a choice of silver, matte black or the external body colour. The digital driver’s instrument cluster which sits behind the steering wheel (now available with a satin polished centre section) is bigger than before with improved graphics, though don’t think it’s gone overwhelmingly hi-tech; Morgan says that the new instrument cluster only displays the most necessary information to pare the driving experience back to its essentials. To that end too, the old-fashioned clocks on the dashboard feature new, more uncluttered faces. The interior contains a couple of firsts for Morgan (at least the four-wheeler models) in that there’s now a glovebox — containing USB chargers, no less — and the option of an integrated detachable cupholder. Some of the wood finishes and the marquetry around the centre console have been refreshed while the door cards are now finished in the same two-tone fabric and leather combination as the seats (colours depend on specification) with a new “bolt-action” door handle to provide a more mechanical feel.

Is there an audio system?

Yes, and it’s developed by Sennheiser. There are four conventional speakers in the door and rear panel, four invisible speakers — of which three are behind the dashboard — and one in the lower compartment panel. Hidden behind the dashboard like the three invisible speakers, incidentally, are the airbags which are now standard.

When are the updated Morgans arriving?

The 2023 Morgan Plus series is already open for commissions with the first of the new models due to be built from January. On the road prices for the Plus Four start from £71,829, while the Plus Six starts from £90,389.

David Mullen - 15 Nov 2022