Car of the Day - Morgan Aeromax

Car of the Day - Morgan Aeromax

Morgan is THE clever car company. Growing up in the 70's and being a huge fan of Italian exotics I never got Morgan. I thought it must just simply keep in business due to the fact there was just enough rich eccentric Brits to pay the bills. I was basically right, however Morgan has now morphed into a seriously desireable Marque with broad appeal. And they have done so without changing their Morganess.

On first appearance a timber frame car may seem so.. old worldly, but the fact is wood/timber offers so many attributes ideal for a car body. It offers great strength to weight ratio and excellent impact absorbtion. On top of that there is the smell and the visual delight of exposed laminated ash. There is nothing low tech about timber.

While to me the turning point for the company was the Aero 8, the Aeromax solidfies Morgan as a serious contender in the elite performance exotic stakes. It's broader appeal is in the perfect balance across so many areas. It is retro but still looks completely modern. It is handbuilt by artisan but utilises all current performance and safety features and technology. It mixes the appeal of a V8 Hot Rod with BMW M refined performance.

The Aeromax is the result of a private commission by Morgan enthusiast Prince Eric I. Sturdza, President of Banque Baring Brothers Suisse. Designed by Matthew Humphries the brief called for a comfortable long distance Touring Coupe. Prince Sturdza had some particular details he wanted included in the design such as the gullwing boot openings, hardwood and traditional pleated leather interior and a large flat load area behind the seats.

Matthew Humphries created a quarter scale clay model at the University of Coventry Automotive Design School.
The model was digitised and a file created with CATIA software to define the surface shape. Using data from the computer file simple jigs were constructed to build the ash skeleton, alloy sheet metal panels and toughened glass panels. The body was built over an Aero 8 chassis and running gear.

Reaction to the design presented at the 2006 Geneva Autoshow was such that Morgan ran a feasibility study to assess the viability of a limited production run. With permission from Prince Sturdza and feedback from existing clients the limited run production was ensured and an announcement issued that 100 individually numbered coach built coupes would be constructed at a rate of 1 to 2 cars per week. Morgan recieved orders for all 100 cars within a few weeks of its announcement. Construction commenced in January 2008, with the final car being delivered in time for Morgans Centenary celebrations at.the 2009 Pebble Beach Concouse d'Elegance

Featuring a frame made from 9 layer laminated ash, and hand formed aluminum body panels with a 4.8-liter, 367 horsepower N62 V8 engine from BMW, the lightweight coupe can accelerate from 0-60 in just over 4 seconds, top speed is around 170 mph.

For the first time in a Morgan there is an option for an automatic, and it is not kust any automatic. The ZF 6HP 26 gearbox is used with its fast change it helps deliver better acceleration and fuel economy than the manual thanks to its lock up clutch, low power loss and instant change characteristics. It also delivers deliver a lower CO2 emissions, 267 g/km.

Other standard features include Electronic Brake Distribution with ABS, tire pressure monitoring and dual power rear windows which open like wings allowing access to the available leather luggage. The aluminium chassis has safety features which have surpassed the industry standards of the vehicle certification authorities of Europe and the USA during the approval process. Siemens electronic airbag systems protect the occupants who sit in comfort with air conditioning and cruise control.

Beautifully detailed inside the three backbones of the skeleton of the frame have nine laminatations of wood visible from the inside of the car. The wood above the dashboard and doors is carved to display age and grain. Brightwork features such as the door handles and the door mirrors were created by hand to unique sculptural designs.

Pricing was around £94,000 + VAT and was strictly on a first come first served basis.

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