Morgan Aero 8

Morgan Aero 8

Manufacturer	Morgan Motor Company
Production	2001-2010
Class	front-engined Sports car
Body style	2-door convertible
Engine	originally a 4.4 L, now a 4.8 L BMW N62 V8
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 designed and built by Morgan Motor Company at its factory in Malvern Link, England (an area of Malvern in Worcestershire).

Notable owners have included Richard Hammond of BBC's Top Gear.^[1]

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 alloy chassis and frame as opposed to traditional Morgan vehicles ("trads") that have an aluminium skinned wooden body tub on a steel chassis.^[2]

The engine first powering the Aero 8 was a 4400 cc V8 built by BMW mated to a 6-Speed Getrag transmission. In 2008, the Aero 8 will have the 4.8 BMW engine with an optional 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^[3] which originally was justified by the manufacturers as conferring aerodynamic benefits.^[4] 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.^[5]

Morgan AeroMax

Morgan AeroMax, pictured in London, showing the distinct 'boat tail' rear

Morgan Aero SuperSports

The Morgan Aeromax is the coupe variation of the Aero 8. Production, which was undertaken in 2008 and 2009, was limited to 100 cars,^[6] each costing £110,000. Customers have included Richard Hammond, Rowan Atkinson and Paul O'Grady.^{[citation needed]}

Morgan Aero SuperSports

The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a targa-roofed version of the AeroMax, sharing its bonded aluminium chassis and lower bodywork with the coupe.^[7]

Specifications

Engine

Engine: BMW N62 V8

• Bore & Stroke: 93mm x 83.3mm
• Engine size: 4799 cc (4.8 L)
• Power Output: 367 PS (270 kW) @ 6000 rpm
• Torque Output: 490 Nm (370 lbf·ft) @ 3600 rpm
• Valvetrain setup: DOHC 32-valve Double 'Vanos' Valvetronic
• Compression ratio: 10.0:1

Modern Morgan Aero 8 rear

Modern Morgan Aero 8 badge

Transmission

• Automatic: 6speed
• Manual Transmission
  • 1st gear: 4.05:1
  • 2nd gear: 2.4:1
  • 3rd gear: 1.58:1
  • 4th gear: 1.19:1
  • 5th gear: 1:1
  • 6th gear: 0.87:1
  • Final drive: BTR Limited slip 3.08:1

Suspension

• Front: Independent, inboard Eibach coil springs over Koni shock absorbers
• Rear: Independent, fully floating inboard Eibach coil springs over Koni shock absorbers

Brakes

• Front: AP Racing 350 mm cast iron discs/6-pot calipers
• Rear: AP Racing 332 mm cast iron discs/2-pot calipers

Wheels and tires

• Wheels: 18 in by 9 in forged alloy wheels
• Tires: 245/45/18

Chassis/Body

• Chassis: Ultra stiff CAD designed aluminum alloy chassis specially treated and bonded with Gurrit Essex adhesive and riveted with Bollhoff rivets
• Body Panels: aluminium
• Weight: Automatic Gearbox 2596 lbs (1180 kg); Manual Gearbox 2585 lbs (1175 kg)
• Ground clearance: 6 in (152 mm)
• Length: 13 ft 6 in (4120 mm)
• Width: 5 ft 9 in (1770 mm)
• Height: 3 ft 11 in (1200 mm)
• Weight distribution with one occupant: 50/50
• Drag coefficient: 0.39
• Fuel tank litres/US gallons: 55/14.5 (as per Morgan website 21 June 2008)

Performance

Version IV

• Top speed: 170 mph (270 km/h) (estimated)
• 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph): 4.3 (Manual) 4.1 (Automatic)

Motorsport

Morgan Aero 8 GT3 at Motopark Oschersleben

The Aero 8 has competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in 2002 and 2004. There have also been several entries in the FIA GT series from both works cars and privateers. It is also used in the British GT Series. It is currently racing in the FIA GT3 European championship and has proven competitive. The Aero 8 GT3 car is built by AUTO GT. The Aero 8 was also used in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour scoring a DNF and the 2004 12 Hours of Sebring finishing 20th outright and 10th in the GT class.

References

1. ^ "So that's what our TV Licence pays for… Richard Hammond's sports car up for sale for a cool £100,000". Daily Mail. 11 March 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1365345/Richard-Hammonds-sports-car-sale-cool-100-000.html. Retrieved 21 November 2011. 
2. ^ "Morgan Aero 8 - First Drive Review - Auto Reviews". Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/01q2/morgan_aero_8-first_drive_review. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
3. ^ "Morgan Revives 4-Seat Roadster, Improves Aero 8 | Morgan Auto Newss | Automobile.com". Car-reviews.automobile.com. http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/morgan-revives-4-seat-roadster-improves-aero-8/1748/. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 
4. ^ "Aero flott: Mit dem neuen Morgan Aero 8 ist der britische Kleinhersteller in der Gegenwart gekommen. Der leichte Alu-Roadster mit dem 286-PS-V8 von BMW verbindet moderne Technik mit traditioneller Form und Machart". Auto, Motor und Sport Heft 25 2000: Pages 52–54. date 29 November 2000. 
5. ^ "Morgan Aero 8 | New Reviews | Car Reviews". Auto Express. 2007-01-11. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/newreviews/207206/morgan_aero_8.html. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
6. ^ Morgan Products Retrieved on 20 November 2010
7. ^ Morgan Aero Supersports review Retrieved on 20 November 2010

External links

• Morgan Motor Company's Aero 8 webpage