2017 Morgan Aero GT

MORGAN LAUNCHES 'GLOVES OFF' AERO GT TO CELEBRATE THE FINALE OF THE AERO RANGE

•Morgan Motor Company has unveiled a new limited-run variant of the Aero 8; the race-inspired Aero GT at the Geneva Motor Show
•The Aero GT's unconventionally aggressive appearance features all new hand-worked body panels including wing top louvres and an aerodynamic enhancing rear diffuser – all of which have been tested extensively to reduce drag and significantly increase downforce
•Just eight examples of the Aero GT will be produced, marking the end of Aero 8 production at Morgan's Pickersleigh Road factory. Each of the eight vehicles have already been allocated through Morgan's established Dealership network.
•The Aero GT features the Morgan N62 V8 engine. As with the Plus 8 50th Anniversary model that was also revealed at Geneva, this will be the final Morgan model to feature this naturally aspirated V8 engine
•All eight examples will be built with a manual transmission
•All bespoke Aero GT vehicles will be built by the Morgan Special Projects division and individually tailored to reflect the customer's personal specification
•The Aero GT is priced from £120,000 + local market taxes

6th March 2018, Geneva The Morgan Motor Company has today revealed its most extreme road-going model to date, the Aero GT. The family owned, British manufacturer officially unveiled the car at the 88th International Geneva Motor Show.

The longest established independent automotive manufacturer, Morgan Motor Company will produce just eight of the special Aero GT variants. All vehicles will be individually built bespoke to each customer. The Aero GT represents the end of Aero 8 production, guaranteeing that every Aero 8 owner will be the custodian of a very significant piece of Morgan history.

All 8 Aero GTs have been allocated through the Morgan Global Retailor network, and will be built with a manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) Powered by the same 367bhp BMW N62 V8 engine used in the Aero 8, the Aero GT will travel from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 170mph. Each Aero GT will be built with Morgan's latest adjustable suspension.

The Aero GT will be built by the Morgan Special Projects department. Morgan's approach will see each Aero GT built as an individual bespoke special edition, rather than eight identical examples.

Each customer will have an individual design consultancy with Jon Wells, Morgan's Head of Design before the car enters production, remaining in build for 8-10 weeks. As with every Morgan, each customer will have the opportunity to follow the build of their vehicle closely and witness their car come to life.

The dramatic evolution of the Aero GT is most striking in its restyled wing impressions and louvres. Their addition serves both functional and aesthetic advantages, and were developed alongside the design of the latest Aero 8 in 2015.

Taking inspiration from the aggressive aerodynamic profiles seen on Morgan's striking 2009 GT3 race car, similar body form functions were explored during the development of the Aero 8. However, these were not immediately put into production but paved the way for future exploration of what a 'gloves off' Aero 8 could look like.

For the final eight Aero 8 vehicles, Morgan's design department applied knowledge developed throughout the research process of the latest Aero 8 in order to introduce the aerodynamic enhancements as seen on the Aero GT, striking a balance of exhilarating performance along with head-turning aesthetics.

The striking body panels of the Aero GT have been sculpted in such a way to ensure that tension and elegance is expressed in each line. All surfacing of the new panels was proven digitally via Computation Fluid Dynamics simulation prior to full scale validation. Each panel is created using the technologically advanced Superforming process synonymous with modern Morgans, before being hand finished and transformed into Aero GT panels.



All Aero GT's have the option of a carbon fibre hard-top. Taking inspiration from 1960s race cars, the hard-top on the Aero GT features a rearward facing roof vent that reflects the rear graphic of the tail-light, while improving the drag coefficient of the vehicle.

Finite enamelled 'GT' badges signify the model variant. Each is individually hand made by a British Jeweller.

The interior is hand-finished with a series of painted stitching and pinstripe accents, and an extended choice of wood options.

Steve Morris, Managing Director said: 'One of our greatest strengths as a brand is our ability to be responsive and create a hand-built car which is truly bespoke to each customer. The Aero 8 has been a stalwart of Morgan production for almost 20 years, it offers an exceptional driving experience and unrivalled looks, further enhanced in Aero GT guise.

'Every Morgan is built to an exacting specification and is bespoke to each customer; their personality is displayed in every detail. Owners invest a great deal of emotion in choosing and tailoring their own perfect specification, this investment is rewarded at the first drive of their unique and exhilarating vehicle. The Aero GT is the ultimate ensemble of this formula.'

Jon Wells, Head of Design said: 'The Aero GT, unlike its predecessors, adopts an unconventionally aggressive aesthetic. However, a purist approach to achieving a design in which 'form follows function' has been rigidly adhered to. This is most apparent in the new additions to the body work.

The additional wing top louvres, side impressions and dramatic rear diffuser have all been tested extensively to ensure they work together to reduce drag and increase road holding capability. The merits of these additions were first unearthed during the early development phases of the 2015 Aero 8 whilst we were exploring the requirements of a more aerodynamically efficient Aero. This was a key requirement of the initial Aero 8 brief.



The Aero range has always offered Morgan the platform to explore the boundaries of mechanical and styling design and I am delighted the family has allowed one of our wildest ideas to become a reality.'

Source - Morgan

MORGAN MOTOR COMPANY LAUNCHES RACE-INSPIRED AERO GT

•Morgan Motor Company has announced a new 'gloves off' variant of the Aero 8: the race-inspired Aero GT
•Limited to just eight examples, the Aero GT will mark the end of Aero 8 production at Morgan's Pickersleigh Road factory
•Aero GT is fitted with new hand-worked body panels, including wing top louvres and a drastic rear diffuser – all reducing drag while significantly increasing downforce
•Each of the eight cars – all already sold to existing Morgan customers – will be individually numbered and with bespoke customer-requested features
•The Aero GT will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 2018
•For more information, visit morgan-motor.co.uk

Malvern, 4 December 2017
Morgan Motor Company has today announced its most extreme roadgoing model to date; the race-inspired Aero GT. Úsing lessons learned from Morgan's GT3 race victories, the Aero GT is based upon the lightweight aluminium Aero 8 but with an all-new hand-worked, aerodynamically honed body which reduces drag but significantly increases downforce.

Conceived initially during the development of the 2015 Morgan Aero 8, the aggressive Aero GT variant never saw the light of day. But, in 2018, the final eight Aero 8 cars to roll out of Morgan's Pickersleigh Road factory will be Aero GT variants.

With close consultation between head of design, Jon Wells, and Morgan's uniquely talented metal workers who have perfected their skill over a lifetime, every panel of the bespoke Aero GT is reworked by hand with new wing top louvres, deep side impressions and a drastic rear diffuser. Contradicting the styling department's usual approach to maintaining fluid forms, the designers embraced these new body enhancements.

All eight Aero GT models – already accounted for by existing Morgan customers – will be individually tailored to each owner. Individually numbered cars will each leave the factory with bespoke customer-requested additions, in line with Morgan's hand-crafted approach.

Fitted with a 367bhp 4.8-litre BMW V8 and six-speed manual gearbox, also found in the Aero 8, the Aero GT sprints from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, hitting a top speed of 170mph. With the engine no longer in production, the Aero GT is not only a last hurrah for the current Aero 8 but for the naturally aspirated BMW engine, too.

The Aero models marked a new era for Morgan when the Aero 8 was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2000. A bold new design and lightweight aluminium construction ushered in a new level of performance for the Morgan brand, which has reached its latest and most extreme evolution in the Aero GT.

Jon Wells, Head of Design at Morgan Motor company said: 'The beauty of working so closely with talented sheet metal workers and coachbuilders is that designers are relatively unrestrained in their ability to challenge the forms and their functions.

'Únlike many, we are able to make truly special limited edition vehicles that really exercise the imagination of the designer and the ability of the craftsman.

'The Aero range has always offered Morgan the platform to explore the boundaries of mechanical and styling design and I am delighted the family has allowed one of our wildest ideas to become a reality.'



'Every Morgan is built to an exacting specification and is bespoke to each customer, as their personality is displayed in every detail. A great deal of emotion is invested in every decision and this experience is only enhanced by the joy of then driving such powerful and unique vehicles. The Aero GT is the ultimate ensemble of this formula.'

Source - Morgan Motor Company