Morgan looks to the future…

The Morgan Motor Company, which spends most of its time telling people it’s still 1954, is doing the unthinkable and looking to the future. And by that, we mean the actual future. Not 1975. How so? It’s ditching the traditional steel ladder chassis; the same basic design that has been in use within the non-V engine cars since 1936. 

Of course, we jest about Morgan’s love for the past. There is of course no escaping the fact that Morgan is a deeply traditional company, but tradition is not synonymous with being old fashioned. Behind the scenes at the Malvern Link factory, there are all manner of cutting edge ideas being implemented. 3D printing, 3D scanning, laser cut parts, complete CAD workups of parts and other components, supply chain engineering, there is a lot going on. And this is because, to be traditional and successful, you have to be modern. And that’s what Morgan is. Under the tweet and wicker, that is. 

The ladder chassis design is older than the car itself, quite literally. It has been in use for so long because it works, and while it may be deemed to be old hat in car terms, the reality is that the humble ladder chassis is still in use, particularly within the commercial sector. Morgans, however, aren’t commercial. As such, it is time for something else. 

Morgophiles may have noted that Morgan has recently retired the V8 engines. Emissions, legislation, all that stuff. Instead, Morgan now uses a turbocharged straight-six from the BMW stable. This engine brought about a need for a new chassis, named CX, and it’s this chassis that will be used to fill out the ‘traditional’ range of Morgan models. 

Morgan is staying pretty tight-lipped about the new platform, but it has revealed the new chassis will be lighter than not just the steel counterpart, but also the aluminium chassis found in the later Aero cars. It will boast greater torsional rigidity and before anything is bolted to it, it will be a mere 97kg. 

Steve Morris, CEO, Morgan Motor Company, said “The CX-Generation aluminium platform represents a significant undertaking for a small company like Morgan. Following the success of the platform and the Plus Six earlier this year, I am delighted that we can finally reveal further plans for new models in 2020.

We recognise a need for a more resolved core product that fits in with our customer’s growing needs, as well as future legislative requirements. The advanced engineering encompassed within the new platform is a vital underpinning for the next generation of Morgan sports cars, and further demonstrates the exciting blend of craftsmanship and technology that makes Morgan cars unique.”

This is a great step for Morgan, it’s also one that further cements how Morgan manages to not only survive, but thrive. Tradition, as Morgan goes to show, doesn’t have to mean old hat, dated technology. 

Of course, in true Morgan fashion the steel chassis cars will be given a send off via an as yet undisclosed limited run of cars, as Steve Morris explains, “In addition to new models planned for 2020, the year will also bring about opportunity for us to mark the significance of the outgoing traditional steel chassis and its contribution to the marque. Used in Morgan’s core models since 1936, the traditional steel chassis has been an integral part of the Morgan story and we look forward to giving it a fitting send off.”

We look forward to seeing these exciting, new models. The future for Morgan may be sepia-toned, but it’s also bright and pointing toward great new things.