Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Exotic
Production years: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The retrodesign trend was not yet a thing in the automotive industry when the British automaker Morgan introduced the Aero 8 in the roadster form in 2001.
Morgan was known for producing cars on wooden chassis since the late '30s, and it continued to do that even after WWII. So, the Aero 8 was not what someone would expect from the British car manufacturer. Thus, when it was unveiled, it was a massive surprise for everybody. It was Morgan's first supercar. And the first completely new vehicle developed from the ground up since 1964.
The car's design resembled the pre-war sports cars. It featured large, valanced front fenders with round, incorporated headlights. These were actually carried over from MINI, not designed in-house by Morgan. At the front, the tilted radiator grille was curved and gave the vehicle an old-school design appearance. In addition, the engine compartment was narrow and flanked by the fenders' curvatures that stretched along the bodywork. Out back, the rear quarter panels sported an elongated shape and flanked a sloped rear end. The windshield was the only element that raised above the beltline. And then were the super small doors.
Inside, Morgan installed a pair of sports seats with a center console that split the cabin in two. Fronting the driver was an instrument panel that sported the speedometer and tachometer, and a couple of other gauges. In the middle of the dash, the manufacturer installed the stereo and a few buttons and lights. This minimalist design was focused on one thing: the driver's pleasure.
Under the hood, Morgan installed on the newly developed aluminum chassis a 4.4-liter BMW engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Thus, the Aero 8 stepped into supercar territory thanks to the five seconds needed to get from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph).
ENGINE SPECS - 4.4L V8 6MT (286 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 4398 cm3 |
Power: | 210 KW @ 5500 RPM 286 HP @ 5500 RPM 282 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 325 lb-ft @ 3600 RPM 440 Nm @ 3600 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 160 mph (257 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 225/40 R18 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 162.2 in (4120 mm) |
Width: | 69.7 in (1770 mm) |
Height: | 47.2 in (1199 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61/59.1 in (1,549/1,501 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 99.4 in (2525 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5 in (127 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.39 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2524 lbs (1145 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 2978 lbs (1351 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 12.8 mpg US (18.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 26.4 mpg US (8.9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 19 mpg US (12.4 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 264 g/km |