What's all this about?

Morgan has released a new flagship model, which is going to sit above the Plus Four in the Malvern outfit's range and also replace the Plus Six as the fastest car the company makes. This newbie is called the Supersport.

Are you sure it's new...?

Yes, we thought you might say that. Obviously, Morgan's 'style' has been around for, well, quite some time now, but this Supersport has a sleeker look to its hand-crafted aluminium body, making it the most aerodynamic six-cylinder vehicle it has launched yet. And yes, that bodywork is mounted on an ash frame, as is Morgan's tradition, but the actual chassis is an advanced, lightweight, all-aluminium affair called the CXV, an evolution of the similarly aluminium CX platform the company launched in 2019.

So what sort of engine is this thing packing, then?

It's the BMW-sourced B58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six, as previously seen in the Plus Six and more commonly found in the likes of the BMW Z4 or the Toyota Supra. As in all those three cars, in the Supersport it delivers 340hp and 500Nm through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels, but as the Morgan only weighs 1,170kg, it means this retro-styled roadster can nevertheless rip from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and go on to a 166mph top speed. Very 21st century.

But can it handle that sort of power?

Yes, the CXV offers up 10 per cent more torsional rigidity on the Supersport than the outgoing CX platform did for the Plus Six, while all of the suspension geometry, anti-roll bars and steering set-up have been specifically calibrated for the new car. Further, the company's lightest-ever alloy wheels can be fitted, either the 18-inch 'Superlite' design (weighing 10.8kg per corner) or the 19-inch 'Aerolite' rims (9.7kg/corner); the old 'Multispoke' wheels, for example, clocked in at 13.8kg per corner, so you can see there's a useful reduction in unsprung mass here.

That's not all, either. The wheels, whichever size you go for, are then wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 5 rubber, while an active sports exhaust promises to bring some noise to the Morgan Supersport driving experience. There are even options including a Dynamic Handling Pack, featuring 24-click adjustable Nitron dampers, and a limited-slip differential for the rear axle too.

Joe Whaler, the lead chassis engineer for Morgan, said: "The project to transform 'CX' to 'CXV' has been carried out in the pursuit of delivering a more consistent vehicle response, for an increased connection between the driver, the car and the road. We want to inspire confidence to push Supersport to its limits while also providing an engaging and comfortable experience at lower road speeds.

"A data-led approach to analysing all areas of the outgoing CX chassis structure, suspension and steering systems, combined with an extensive programme of real-world testing, has ensured that the Morgan character has been retained, while elevating the platform's dynamic capabilities."

That sounds impressive. Can we talk about the roof at this stage?

Sure can. There are two formats for Supersport owners to choose from, because the car comes with an interchangeable, body-coloured, carbon-fibre hard-top that - despite incorporating a curved-glass rear screen - only weighs 19.7kg. The alternative look is the folding mohair roof, available in a variety of colours, and some Morgan sidescreens too. These are easier to remove and fit on the Supersport than older models, though, while they are also better at keeping out the weather thanks to their sealing capabilities. They can even be stored in the boot when not in use - this car being the first Morgan in more than a decade to actually come with a boot in the first place.

And what's the interior like - olde-worlde wood and all that?

Well, there is some of that, true, as Morgan looks to preserve its heritage. So the door cards are modelled on mid-century (20th, natch) audio equipment and can be finished in one of eleven types of wood, from engineered marquetry to traditional walnut, while the analogue-look dials are made by Caerbont, the original manufacturer of the Smith's gauges that were in older Morgans, and emblazoned with 'HFS' lettering to pay homage to the man who founded the company way back in 1909, Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan.

But, by the same token, those Caerbont dials are actually controlled by the latest CAN (Controller Area Network) and LIN (Local Interconnect Network) communication technology. Furthermore, this is the first Morgan with hands-free calling capability, with a three-microphone set-up advanced enough to allow owners to have a conversation over the phone while travelling at speed with the roof down, and the car also has a wireless smartphone charging pad sequestered away in its centre console. Audiophiles won't just love the inspiration for the retro-look door cards on the Supersport, either, as a powerful Sennheiser sound system is fitted to the Morgan.

Have you got a price for all this?

It's not confirmed, but expect it to be the far side of £100,000, because the Plus Six was in the 90-grand-plus ballpark at the end of its life, so for a hand-built, highly personalisable and decently rapid machine like this, you're going to be looking at well into six figures. The order books are open now and first test drives of demo Supersports will be available at Morgan dealers from mid-April onwards.

Matt Robinson - 11 Mar 2025