Iconic 115-year-old British sports car brand unveils new £100,000 model – with a little help from a Top Gear legend

AN ICONIC British sports car brand has unveiled its new £100,000 flagship model.

Morgan Motor Company revealed its new motor, the Supersport, with the help of a Top Gear legend on Tuesday at the firm’s headquarters in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Former Top Gear host Richard Hammond helped unveil Morgan’s newest motorCredit: Lee Thomas

The incredibly lightweight Supersport costs £102,000 and comes with a powerful six-cylinder engine which produces 335bhpCredit: Morgan

The model was revealed on Tuesday at an event at Morgan’s headquarters in WorcestershireCredit: Lee ThomasThe iconic carmaker partnered with former Top Gear host Richard Hammond to help to unveil the new model, which is set to replace the Morgan Plus Six.

Since production of the Plus Six ended last year, only a limited-edition Pinnacle version has been released.

Now, Morgan hopes to cement its future with the brand new Supersport.

Each of the new models will be made using the time-honoured tradition of hand forming its CXV-aluminium body over a wooden ash frame.

The lightweight two-seater comes powered with a BMW-borrowed turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 335bhp.

It also comes with the BMW ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox and can race up from 0 to 62mph in just under four seconds.

The modern motor has a top speed of 166mph, although you’ll probably only want to reach a speed this high with the hard-top roof closed.

You can get the motor with a hard-top roof for an extra £5,500 or with a traditional folding soft top for an additional £3,500.

Managing director Matthew Hole said: “Supersport marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Morgan – a flagship that reflects the spirit and confidence of our brand today.

“Supersport embodies an effortless combination of dynamic performance – thanks to its new lightweight ‘CXV’ aluminium platform – and contemporary yet unmistakable design.

“Every element has been carefully considered to create an engaging and responsive driving experience, where technology is seamlessly integrated to enhance – rather than overpower – the connection between car and driver.”

The motor is priced at £102,000 and first test drives will be available at dealerships from mid-April.

Customer deliveries are due later this year.

This comes just weeks after fears were raised for Morgan’s future, as it is among a small group of low-volume manufacturers that could be heavily impacted by the UK’s mandated electrification timeline.

Currently, manufacturers that sell fewer than 2,500 cars annually in the UK are exempt from the zero emission vehicle, or ZEV, mandate, which requires mainstream firms to hit an 80% EV mix by 2030.

This means the likes of Morgan, as well as Caterham, Ginetta and Lister, won’t have to develop and rush through the creation of an all-electric motor within the next few years.

However, it remains unclear whether these smaller brands will also be spared from the 2030 ban on new pure internal combustion engine sales.

What’s more, the rules state that hybrids with a “meaningful” electric range can remain on sale until 2035, when all new cars in the UK must be fully electric.

Morgan, which is 115 years old, produces around 850 cars a year and has a six-month waiting list for orders.

Its motors are famed for their ability to blend classic design and traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.

‘A LOT OF AMBIGUITY’ OVER SALESRecently, the firm’s managing director, Matthew Hole, expressed frustration over “a lot of ambiguity” surrounding what smaller manufacturers will be permitted to sell.

He said: “To get a car into production for 2030 as an EV, we need two-and-a-half to three years, based on where we are today, so we’ve got a little bit of time left.

“But the clock is ticking pretty fast at the moment – and for manufacturers like us, that’s a hard deadline.

“We have to plan our investment. I can’t really find out on 1 January 2027; I’m planning my investment for 2030 now.”

This timeframe for development is proving to be a significant challenge for Morgan’s decision-makers.

Hole added: “If we need an EV in 2030 or we need an EV in 2035, those are two very different scenarios, and they significantly change how we approach product planning going forward.

“Our customers are telling us that they would like to keep buying internal combustion engines, and the legislation isn’t clear today on when we will be required to move to EVs in all markets.

“We have other markets around the world, and they are internal combustion-engines. Our cars are incredibly clean.

“It’s an incredibly clean engine and transmission package. The cars are really lightweight, they’re low-emission, and they’re actually really sustainable by design.”