Morgan Plus Four CX-T – Mad Maximilian

Morgan is building a new car but we can pretty much guarantee it’s not what you think. This one has had its lunch money stolen and it’s a little bit angry. Billed as an overland adventure vehicle the all new Plus Four CX-T is nothing like we’ve seen before from the British manufacturer with Head of Design Jonathan Wells describing it as “a complete package with historical integrity, legitimate capability, and a brand-new adventure-lead aesthetic.” This retro rallying roadster will be firmly lodged in hen’s teeth territory too as only eight cars will be produced, all before the end of the year. With a pre-tax price tag of £170,000 it’s stepping on super car toes, financially speaking, so what exactly do you get for your hard-earned? Well, you will not only take possession of an incredibly exclusive – and capable – adventure-bred off-roader but you’ll also be able to tailor it to your explicit requirements, sitting down for a cuppa with Morgan’s design team to hash out exactly what you want from the car, customising it to your tastes.

Built in conjunction with off-road gurus Rally Raid UK, a company that is used to producing Dakar-spec behemoths, the Plus Four CX-T will make its way from Morgan’s Malvern factory in Worcestershire to Rally Raid’s own workshop in Yorkshire where it will be prepped for its life of adventure. Using top quality parts modifications will include a beefy coilover setup, uprated suspension arms and bushes, off-road tyres to increase clearance and durability along with a fully re-designed exhaust system and a trick three-mode locking diff for maximum traction. Morgan isn’t messing about here – this isn’t just a lifted MX-5 with the doors removed and a jerry can strapped to the back, they’re going full post apocalypse and not only is the engineering in place, it looks the part too. The car will be fitted with a complete underbody protection system as well as a rear equipment rack/exoskeletal frame which not only keeps the occupants safe but also allows for myriad storage options that can be adapted to, and we quote, “compliment the lifestyle activities of the owner”, whether that be the occasional extreme sports outing or defending a community of settlers against a roving band of marauders in the Australian wasteland. Whatever your poison.

Powered by the same turbocharged, 2-litre BMW petrol engine found in the standard Plus Four the 255bhp motor will see this bonkers creation from standstill to 60mph in less than 5 seconds, all through a six-speed manual gearbox connected directly to the rear wheels. The interior has been completely re-designed for purpose too, taking into account the abuse it will need to withstand and allowing for increased stowage space. A sliding track has also been incorporated into the dashboard to house various adventurist type devices such as GPS systems and action cameras and the doors are fully detachable.

Mike Jones, owner of Rally Raid UK is no novice when it comes to overland adventuring. With thirteen Dakar Rallies and sixty Dakar vehicle builds under his belt he certainly knows his off-road onions and has characterised the partnership with Morgan as “an interesting and rewarding project”. It is certainly unconventional and he goes on to say that the Plus Four CX-T is a “genuine overland adventure vehicle”. We believe you Mike.

But why this departure for the British sports car company you might ask. Well, contrary to what some may think Morgan have a long and distinguished history in trialling and all terrain endurance racing dating back to the early 20th Century so they’re not exactly going into this blind. Morgan sports cars have been competing successfully in these types of competitions around the UK for over a hundred years. But aren’t they made of wood? I hear you cry. Yes, traditionally Morgans were built upon a wooden ladder frame design but the UK manufacturer has eschewed this historic setup for a more modern “CX-Generation” bonded aluminium chassis and all-independent suspension design as found in the latest Plus Four and Plus Six models, hence the name. According to Morgan themselves the CX chassis was designed and developed for use in its high-performance vehicles and features a significant increase in torsional rigidity over earlier incarnations. Let’s face it, wood has no real place in a car built for the harsh conditions of off-road rallying and apparently, according to Morgan, their less subdued customers have been hankering after a more radical, adventure-spec car for a while and this is their admirable answer to that cry. Give the fans what they want we say.

Make no mistake, this isn’t a car for pootling to the beach in with a picnic basket and a boot full of tartan blankets. This is a genuine, unrestrained globetrotter inspired by the true spirit of adventure, fully designed and built in the UK and capable of making the inaccessible accessible. We love it. Comparisons are already being made to the Ariel Nomad but what we admire about the Plus Four CX-T is the fact that it is still unmistakably a Morgan. They have remained true to their heritage (and their legions of fans) with the overall design of the car, retaining that instantly recognisable silhouette. Henry Morgan would be proud. Check out the official launch film here and decide for yourself. We’re off to stock up on tins of dog food, just in case.