Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition Is A Tribute To A Legend

Khodrocar - Following the first teaser images from last month, Morgan has fully revealed its 50th Anniversary Edition special edition for the Plus 8 model. It sits next to the brand’s "most extreme road-going model to date,” the Aero GT, at the Geneva Motor Show.

After 50 years on the market and more than 6,000 units sold, the Plus 8 will be finally switching to a new engine, which will replace the BMW 4.8-liter naturally-aspirated V8 motor. The new limited edition will be manufactured in a run of 50 examples, which will be sold through Morgan’s existing dealership network. These will be the final BMW-powered Plus 8s.

The vehicle displayed in Geneva is finished in deep blue, reminiscent of the British coachbuilder’s first Plus 8 production model, also known as the MMC11. Contrasting yellow accents can be found around the car’s front grill, along the bonnet, and on the rear towing eyes.

Built around a lightweight aluminum chassis, the Plus 8 50th Anniversary Edition weighs just 1,100 kilograms (2,425 pounds) and "is one of the lightest V8 passenger cars in the world.” Thanks to its smart construction and the powerful V8 under the hood, the roadster is capable of 0 to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph).

"This 50th Anniversary Edition is a fitting illustration of the Plus 8’s beauty and finesse, coupled with raw exhilaration and capability,” Steve Morris, managing director of Morgan, comments. "Performance has underpinned every one of the Plus 8s that have driven out of our factory gates for 50 years and we’re excited to reveal the car in full in Geneva.”

The original Plus 8 was launched in 1968 during the Earls Court Motor Show. The car was discontinued in 2004, when the Rover V8 engine used in the first generation ceased, only to return again in 2012 with BMW power and a new lightweight chassis.

Source: Motor1