Auto Channel

First Morgan GT

Following confirmation last year that just 100 AeroMax’ are to be built from early 2008, just 29 of the planned 100 remain unsold such has been the response to this unique vehicle.

The first Gran Turismo coupe from the Malvern factory since the unique Plus Four Plus in the 1960s, the new car was styled by in response to a special request from Swiss Morgan owner and enthusiast, Eric I Sturdza. The AeroMax uses the sophisticated aluminium chassis from the Aero Eight but is coachbuilt in the traditional Morgan fashion using a laminated ash wood skeleton skinned in “A class” superformed lightweight aluminium panels.

The AeroMax combines lightweight construction with advanced technology. The car is available with a 6 speed manual gearbox or the latest ZF automatic 6 speed transmission to increase economy and reduce emissions. Reassurance and security are provided by Electronic Brake Distribution, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, ABS and Siemens electronic airbags. The engine is the latest 4.8 litre all alloy V8 from BMW. BMW’s unique valvetronic technology combined with Morgan’s light weight construction leads to very low Co2 emissions as well as the high performance expected of an environmentally responsible supercar. This will be the first Morgan to use Canbus technology to control not only the engine functions but also the body technology such as lighting, wipers and instrumentation.

The all up weight minus driver and fuel is expected to be under 1200Kg.

The high output engine and lightweight construction give the best of all worlds – performance, economy and low emissions, yet still with all of the safety systems one would expect in a modern performance car.

Morgan is delighted with progress on the project and believes the company leads the way in exclusive low volume construction techniques using quality raw materials that are not available to Morgan’s competitors in the world of low volume luxury mass production.

First race May 6th

Following a short break, Morgan rejoins the international race circuit with the latest version of the Aero 8 GT3.

The 3 car “AutoGT Racing” team, sponsored by Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza S.A., and run by the renowned F1 racers Jean Pierre Jabouille and legend Jacques Laffite will appear for the first race of the season at Silverstone on May 6 2007.

Lafitte commented, “we are so looking forward to running this car. We are convinced the basics are there, and now have the team and the funding to make the project prove the potential”

Fitted with a dry sump 5.0 litre BMW V8, with some 420 Bhp, a Holinger 6 speed sequential gearbox, reworked suspension and racing brakes, carbon bodywork and revised aerodynamics the package looks highly competitive.

With a top driver line up, Jacques Laffite, Frederic O’neil, Marguerite Laffite, Georges Alexandre Sturdza, Frederic Makowiecki and Jean Francoise Le Roch the team are both optimistic and excited about the prospects for the coming year.