August 1st,2000

There have been wild estimates as to what the Aero 8 might cost if available in the US. Even wilder have been doubts as to whether the Aero 8 might even be available in the US.

Recent comments by one of the USA's two Morgan distributors in the September 2000 issue of Automobile Magazine should be the most realistic answer to these questions:

[Morgan] The Aero 8 roaster, the new aluminum-bodied Morgan that made its debut in Geneva, is now going into production and will reach European owners by winter. It's powered by BMW's 32-valve 4.4-liter V-8, producing 282 horsepower. "The factory might start delivering us Aeros by the end of 2001," says Win Sharples, proprietor of Cantab Motors in Purcellville, Virginia, one of two Morgan dealers in the United States. "If I were getting it today, it would sell for $85,000." The Aero won't replace the venerable Plus 8, which is still available for $61,000 and is slated for a new engine to replace its aging Rover V-8 by the end of 2002.



GoMog
Cantab Motors
Isis Imports

March 23,2000

At the 2000 Geneva Auto Show on March 7th, Morgan Motor Co. introduced a new Morgan model, the Aero 8. We first got a glimpse of this new model in June of 1999 when Car & Driver was provided some unauthorized photos and details from none other than Charles Lawrence, who was one of the primary designers of the new Aero 8. This created quite an uproar and the factory issued a statement. Anyways, that is all in the past now, as Morgan Motor Company has confirmed virtually all the details in said article.

Estimated to cost about $120,000 in the US, the new Morgan Aero 8 has a new all-aluminum chassis, a 4.4 litre BMW V8 engine producing 286hp, advanced suspension, and very un-Morgan amenities. These include power steering, power windows, air conditioning, and Blaupunkt global positioning system and entertainment system.

For details on specifications and pictures of the Morgan Aero 8, click on each of the 3 pictures near the top of this page. GoMog, Cantab Motors, and Isis Imports respectively, have tons of pictures and details, and extensive reports on the new model.

New Aero8 Pictures

Frank Mugford, member of both MOGMOG and the Thames Valley, UK club, has given us some pictures of the Aero8 as well as a first-hand report below. Click on the car above for the pictures!

Hans Haagsman from the Netherlands has given us some beautiful pictures of the Aero8! Click on the car above for the pictures!

Kathi Hoffman forwarded a link to us from Tim Harris, who took some pictures at the Three Counties Show in Malvern at the end of June. Click on the car above for the pictures!


March 27,2000

I saw the Aero 8 yesterday afternoon and it does look better in the flesh. I will be doing a proper write up for Henry later but, in the meanwhile here are some photos and there will be some better ones later. It is a bit of a mock-up as there is no boot lid lock for instance and the mirrors are just hanging on. We did make the agent start it up though and it sounds like a, well, V8; mine sounds better.

We cornered Charles Morgan a week ago at Chris Rowe's funeral. He was not very forthcoming, as ever, except to say that it was "Arguably the star of the Geneva show". Poor Chris; he was with me here only a few days before he died when we watched the unveiling on the internet. What a fiasco! I told Charles this and he agreed. Chris was not impressed and some of us think this may have had some bearing on his demise. We were all so underwhelmed that we did not bother to go to the show.

Charles flatly refused to let anybody drive it which makes us think that he has something to hide. Evidently there are 300 orders already and I have until next week to change my place on the list to an Aero 8 order or "go to the rear". I am not prepared to do that yet; I intend to see what transpires.

I think it will succeed but I dislike the headlights and the front looks like the old J2 Allard. The BMW engine cannot be serviced by a BMW garage; it has to go to a Morgan agent or the factory. The demonstrators are going out to the agents about September. I will also get a marketing pack from the local agent and send over to MOGMOG.

-Frank Mugford


As part of the new Aero 8 launch, the Morgan Motor Co. webpage returns from a several month haitus with a brand new design, animation, and an overall stylized and clean display. It included some of the first pictures of the Aero 8 we got State-side, and specifications.