The Aero 8 is a radical new two-seater sports car which combines traditional Morgan design and construction with state-of-the-art technology. It is the Morgan Motor Company’s first completely new car in 30 years. Introduced in Europe in 2001, the long-awaited American model was unveiled at the LA Auto Show in December 2003.
The Aero 8 marks the culmination of the largest development program ever undertaken by Morgan in more than 90 years of sports car manufacturing. The Aero took more than 5 years to develop, test, and approve. Aero 8’s design team was led by 1962 Le Mans winner Chris Lawrence. His objective was to create a race-worthy car made of the highest-quality materials and suppliers.
The Aero 8 is powered by a specially-developed 4.4-litre BMW V8 engine with VANOS variable inlet valve timing, which generates 286bhp and delivers acceleration from 0-100kph in under 5 seconds. An innovative Morgan-designed suspension system coupled with a low centre of gravity, a race-bred braking system, and a highly developed aerodynamic shape ensure unsurpassed road holding, stability and handling. And with a gross weight of around 1000kgs, the Aero 8 has one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production sports car.
The American model was developed after a two-year program at Morgan’s factory in Malvern, England in order to accommodate U.S. specifications including a wider cockpit, driver and passenger airbags and ABS. Designed to comply with the rigorous safety standards in the US, Morgan has installed the latest generation electronic airbags, ABS which incorporates electronic distribution through the use of all round wheel speed sensors, and BMWs latest 4.4 litre V8 which not only pumps out 333 Bhp and 331 lb/ft of torque, but also exceeds the tough Federal emission requirements.
In 2002, Morgan anounced a racer developed from the acclaimed Aero 8 road car under the guidance of Chief Development Engineer and 1962 Le Mans 24-hour class winner, Christopher Lawrence. It featured a Heini Mader prepared M62 BMW V8 engine which produced in the region of 500bhp, a weight of under 1000kgs, a carbon fibre hard top and aerodynamic alterations to the original shape.
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Series Production Car |
| production years | 2001 – 2010 |
| built at | England |
| price $ | $ 120,000 |
| price £/td> | £62,000 |
| succeccesor | 2009 Morgan Aero SuperSports |
| engine | BMW V8 |
| position | Front, Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | DOHC, 4 Vaves per Cyl w/VANOS Variable Intake Timing |
| fuel feed | Bosch fuel injection |
| displacement | 4398 cc / 268.4 in³ |
| bore | 82.7 mm / 3.26 in |
| stroke | 92 mm / 3.62 in |
| compression | 10.0:1 |
| power | 242.4 kw / 325 bhp @ 6100 rpm |
| specific output | 73.9 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 325.0 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 447.42 nm / 330 ft lbs @ 3600 rpm |
| body / frame | Wood-Framed Aluminum Body over Aluminum Monocoque Chassis |
| driven wheels | RWD w/BTR Limited slip |
| front tires | 225/40ZR-18 |
| rear tires | 225/40ZR-18 |
| front brakes | AP Racing Venetd Discs w/6-Piston Calipers |
| rear brakes | AP Racing Venetd Discs w/2-Piston Calipers |
| steering | Rack & Pinion w/Variable Power Assist |
| f suspension | Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Koni Shock Absorbers |
| r suspension | Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Koni Shock Absorbers |
| curb weight | 1000 kg / 2205 lbs |
| length | 4120 mm / 162.2 in |
| width | 1770 mm / 69.7 in |
| height | 1200 mm / 47.2 in |
| transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 4.05:1, 2.40:1, 1.58:1, 1.19:1, 1.10:1, 0.87:1 |
| final drive | 3.08:1 |
| top speed | ~257.5 kph / 160.0 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~4.5 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~11.0 seconds |
| 0 – 1/4 mile | ~13.0 seconds |
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