Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Exotic
Production years: 2008, 2009
In 2008, Morgan Motor Company celebrated a century of existence and car manufacturing with an upgraded Morgan Aero 8.
When Morgan introduced the Aero 8, it was a revolution for the small British carmaker. Its chassis was no longer entirely made out of wood. The engineers decided to give aluminum a chance and bonded to the old-school frame made out of real ash wood. In 2008, the carmaker decided to take a step further and improve the vehicle.
From the outside, the car's curved retro-style look remained almost unchanged, but an important change was made at the front. Morgan's designers re-positioned the headlights so they won't look like they were cross-eyed. There were some larger air-scoops when compared with its predecessor and a restyled back. On the front fenders' sides, the designers cut six vents to release the air trapped in the wheel well and decrease the aerodynamic lift of the front end. The side exhausts remained in the same place. In the rear, the trunk lid was slightly lifted and enhanced with a duck-tail. These resulted in a larger trunk and increased downforce.
The interior featured the same old-school style with the dials mounted in the dash panel, not into a separate cluster. Depending on the options, the panel could have been made from aluminum or covered with leather. Morgan offered the Aero 8 as a luxurious roadster or a more spirited one.
Under the hood, the British engineers installed a 4.8-liter engine from BMW, which replaced the previous 4.4-liter V8 from the German carmaker. It was paired to a 6-speed manual or to a 6-speed automatic.
ENGINE SPECS - 4.8 V8 6MT (368 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 4799 cm3 |
Power: | 270 KW @ 6300 RPM 368 HP @ 6300 RPM 362 BHP @ 6300 RPM |
Torque: | 370 lb-ft @ 3400 RPM 502 Nm @ 3400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 170 mph (274 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 4.5 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 in (1,549/1,499 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 99.6 in (2530 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 7.4 cuFT (210 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.39 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2524 lbs (1145 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3285 lbs (1490 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 14.2 mpg US (16.6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 28.6 mpg US (8.2 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 21 mpg US (11.2 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 269 g/km |