MORGAN Aero 8 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Mostly handcrafted and brilliantly engineered, the 2015 Morgan Aero 8 made its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show that year, boasting a revised look and better underpinnings.

The British car manufacturer had a long past of producing roadsters and sports cars mainly based on wooden chassis. But that was changed in 2000 when it introduced the Aero 8, which was a milestone in the company's history. With some engineering upgrades carried over from BMW, it brought the carmaker into modern times with an aluminum chassis and punchy V8 engines. And then, 15 years later, the fifth generation of the car came on stage.

Many people made fun of the 2000 Aero 8 due to its headlights carried over from MINI and mounted in not the best possible way. But that changed with the 2015 model. On this model, they didn't look that weird, like they were squinting. In addition, the front grille with its vertical slats was slightly taller and wider. While the overall changes looked like they were from a contest to “spot the differences,” the car was new. On the sides, the automaker installed reshaped vents on the wide fenders, placed them low behind the wheel arches, and rearward tilted instead of vertical. At the back, the boat-tail design sported a clamshell for the trunk's lid, which opened rearward. In addition, as a result, the LED taillights were also different, with vertical lines on the quarter panels and a set of round lamps on the rear fascia, placed lower.

Inside, the 2015 Aero 8 welcomed its customers with updated technologies, and a touchscreen infotainment system became available as an option. On the center stack, the automaker kept the same rugged-looking switches while. But an elegant roadster wouldn't be called like that if it wouldn't boast a luxurious leather-wrapped cabin with diamond stitching and real wooden trims.

Under the hood, Morgan relied on BMW's drivetrains, although tuned for the British roadster. The 4.8-liter pumped-out 367 PS (362 hp) from its naturally aspirated V8 that were sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential.

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.

Morgan made another step into the new technological era and introduced a facelifted version for the Aero 8 in 2004.

In 2004, the British manufacturer decided to set foot in the U.S. market. It introduced the Aero 8 facelift at the Los Angeles Auto Show and promised to deliver 50 cars per year. It was a unique vehicle for a market where the retro-design theme started to catch-up and made more customers happy.

Despite its cross-eye look, the Aero 8 featured a unique design on the market. Its recessed grille, behind the front fenders, was unusual for any car. But the carmaker didn't take its inspiration from the world outside its factory but from the past British roadsters. The car was available as a coupe and an open-top roadster.

Inside, the manufacturer took its inspiration from the past. It installed the instrument cluster in front of the driver, not in the middle of the dash panel. The carmaker didn't want to use plastic to mimic wood and installed a solid wood trim at the upright windshield base. Some naturalists would scream against the use of genuine leather. The designers sacrificed some cows for the sake of the luxurious, yet sporty, bucket seats. Morgan Aero 8 was not only a luxury car; it was a fast one.

Under the hood, Morgan installed a 4.4-liter BMW V8 engine used on vehicles such as the BMW X5 SUV. Since the car was very light, it could smoke many high-performance cars such as a Porsche 911 or a Mercedes-Benz SL500.

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).