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Morgan Announce +E Electrict Car Project - September 2011

Niche Vehicle Network funds Morgan led Consortium’s Electric Sports Car Demonstrator

A high quality, pure electric Morgan demonstration vehicle will be developed in just 6 months.
The Morgan + E project utilises a development of stunning ”Aero Supersports” chassis as the platform for the electric conversion,replacing the existing 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine and conventional manual/automatic gearbox with a variant of Zytek’s production 70kW electric powertrain.

The consortium is made up of the following of high technology companies:
Morgan Motor Company, have for the the past 102 years, been building unique sports cars that retain and support the philosophy of blending tradition, fun and innovation to create the ideal 'drivers car'.
Morgan has vast expertise in chassis and suspension development, its own in house design department and in house manufacturing capability.
Zytek Automotive are based in Lichfield and design, develop and manufacture a range of Electric Drive systems for a variety of vehicle manufacturers.
Most recently, Zytek managed the design and build of 100 first generation smart electric drive vehicles and has a manufacturing facility within smart’s production factory in Hambach,
to support the build of 2,000 smart electric drive’s that are destined for cities in the USA and Europe.
Radshape produce chassis structures from their Birmingham manufacturing site, utilising folded aluminium sheet using a bonded and riveted construction.
They have worked with Morgan on the design, development and production of aluminium chassis structures for over 12 years.

Through the TSB backed Niche Vehicle Programme, a grant of £100,000 has been awarded to the Morgan consortium for collaborative research and development, to develop the Electric Morgan + E.
The programme started in July and will be completed by January 2012, two vehicles will be completed, one to continue a development test programme, whilst another will be used as demonstration vehicle.
.Zytek Automotive sales and marketing director Steve Tremble agrees. “One of the reasons for building the demonstrator was to show the flexibility of the 70kW E drive, which will be developed to provide compact rear wheel drive installation for a wide variety of performance car applications” he says. “We look forward to driving the Morgan, our intention will be to generate drivability, performance and refinement that comfortably meets Morgan drivers expectations.”
Taking a vehicle like this into manufacture would be relatively simple, says Tremble.
“The E-Drive is a derivative of the production 70kW system currently supplied to Navistar, requiring the minimum of validation” and the intended Li-Ion battery technology from Valence has already been in volume production for more then 4 years in the automotive sector.

World-leading expertise

Zytek has designed and integrated electric drive systems for a wide range of European and US vehicle manufacturers and is currently building high performance electric drivetrains up to from 25kW -70kW and new developments of a higher power E drive are being progressed rapidly to meet the growing demand for 100kW+ performance. Their UK facility can accommodate up to 6,000 E drives a year in batches as low as 100, providing vehicle manufacturers with a highly flexible specialist production resource for their low carbon programmes.
 

MMC Press Release - 24th February 2011

THE NEW MORGAN 3 WHEELER:

POD RACER/FIGHTER PLANE/SPEEDING BULLET OR CAR?

DESIGN
When did you last regard a journey by motor car as an adventure? The Morgan 3 Wheeler is launched to bring the fun and passion back to personal transport. Lift the safety catch from the “bomb release” starter, hear the massive twin cylinders detonate and choose your favourite destination.

The iconic design of the Morgan Threewheeler has been updated with 21st Century technology. The powertrain is a V Twin fuel injected engine mated to a Mazda 5 speed (and reverse) gearbox. This provides smooth “get in and drive” convenience with the thrill of extreme performance. The car is a fusion of old and new.

Safety is paramount with a reinforced tubular chassis and twin rollbars for driver and passenger. A sturdy V belt provides traction to the reinforced rear tyre. Some things have not changed. The Morgan Threewheeler still holds long distance speed records for one litre cars set in the 1930’s so why change the shape? The pronounced bullet shape and the exposed chassis and aluminium tub are accompanied by the aeroplane profile of the car’s sides. The shape is of a gentle yet powerful missile at the front leading to a beetle back tail at the rear. From the design viewpoint, the focus was set on making the car as close to an aeroplane as possible, while retaining handy extra space for driver, passenger and a holdall in the rear. But above all the Morgan 3 Wheeler is designed for one purpose alone, to make driving fun. A leather padded cockpit complete with aircraft instrumentation adds to the sense of flying on the road. The car is easy to control with compact dimensions offering a perfect view ahead and to the rear. The car seems to respond as much to thought as physical input.

Dynamism is further enhanced by what the Morgan design team calls a sporty “race on Sunday” design philosophy. The car’s lines do not end abruptly but instead flow organically and echo the smooth shapes of a racetrack. The smooth profile makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted bonnet and boot enhance the aerodynamic feel and the short overhangs front and rear emphasize the sports car sense of purpose.

CHASSIS AND DRIVING DYNAMICS
Morgan chassis experts have worked on the driving experience of the new Morgan 3 Wheeler with the same passion given to the development of any new Morgan. The result is a driver’s car with properties that do the sporting appearance full justice. The weight of the engine is counterbalanced by the mass of the passengers and the car has a planted feel with a very low centre of gravity to ensure it remains glued to the road. During the development process, the chassis team worked on the new 3 Wheeler in parallel with the forthcoming Morgan EvaGT. The result is a solution that features changes and refinements to virtually every single detail that affects a car’s cornering capabilities.

ENGINES
During its first year of production, the new Morgan 3 Wheeler will be available with a V twin from specialist engine builder S & S. The car is approved by US and European road transport authorities for safety and emissions. With an economical 115 horsepower the motor provides maximum power at minimum revs. Big torque spells effortless hillclimbing ability. The current focus of the Morgan Motor Company to cut CO2 emissions and low fuel consumption is very much part of the rationale behind the launch of this car. The time is right for Morgan to take a new look at the combination of acceleration, on road performance and economy. The time is right for Morgan to relaunch the 3 Wheeler.

Price £25,000 before tax

Bespoke extras
Bespoke leather and paint are available at extra cost as on the classic Morgan. A Polished engine, stainless steel tailpipes, cowl, polished cowl,headlamps and roll hoops are also extra cost options for a more classic look.

Exciting graphic packs to compliment the Sport “race on Sunday” philosophy

High quality decals are available to give the owner the opportunity to boost the sporty attitude of the new Morgan 3 Wheeler. These include special designs including US military and British Air Force inspired logos, oval racing numbers and stripes, a fearsome shark nose, chequered winner’s bonnet, official national flags and the Morgan wings.

MMC Press Release - 24th February 2011

Morgan Motors CEO to receive honour

Manufacturing mogul, Charles Morgan, will receive an honorary doctoral degree from Birmingham City University on Friday 25 February in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British automotive engineering and his long-standing relationship with the University.

The Morgan Motor Company has become one of Britain’s leading motor car manufacturers since its inception in the early 1900s. Its accolades include Specialist Manufacturer of the Year, the Sir Henry Royce Award, and, in 2002, the company was voted one of the UK’s 100 most visionary organisations by British Telecom.

Charles joined the family business as Production Manager in 1985, completing his part time MBA in the management of manufacturing soon afterwards.  He became Chief Executive Director in 2005, and in 2007, took on the role of Director of AeroRacing Ltd.

With Charles at the helm, Morgan Motor Company’s successes have gathered speed. He led the team that developed the first AIV (aluminium intensive vehicle), and designed a chassis that meets world safety standards but is 20 per cent lighter than comparable steel production monocoques. He also pioneered bodywork of super-formed aluminium, with Morgan becoming the first automotive manufacturer to assimilate this technology from the aircraft industry.

In 2010, the company was awarded a Ruban d’Honneur by HSBC as one of the ten finalists for European Business of the Year and the Richardson Brothers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business.

In the same year, Charles was appointed to the Automotive Council Technology Advisory Board to facilitate the introduction of low carbon technology into the UK automotive supply chain. In 2012, he aims to make Morgan a manufacturer of a low emissions sports car.

He has been the driving force behind the AeroMax, a limited edition Coupé, and the Aero SuperSports, an edition of 200 super sports cars.

In 2009, he co-wrote Morgan 100 Years with Gregory Houston Bowden which, upon translation, was awarded best car book of 2010 by The German Motor Press Club.

His passion for cars extends to the racing circuit itself. In 1978 and 1979, Charles won the British Racing and Sports Car Club and British Racing Drivers Club production sports car championships driving a Morgan Plus Eight. In 1997 and 1998, he competed in the FIA International GT series driving a works Morgan Aero development car. The current version of this car, the Morgan Aero SuperSports, is now a frontrunner in the European FIA GT3 Series and the FSSAGT Super Series.

Morgan Motor Company has partnered Birmingham City University in a number of successful government-funded Knowledge Transfer initiatives in which academics and graduates team up with the firm in an exchange of expertise.

 Charles is keen to maintain and establish links with the best universities and technological suppliers to maintain the process of continuous improvement throughout the company. In 2007, the company won the Lord Stafford Award for the best example of collaboration between business and the universities.

His award is due to be conferred at 10.45am on Friday 25 February at the Awards Congregation ceremony being held at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, which will celebrate the work and achievements of students graduating from the Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment.

MMC Press Release - 11th June 2010

Morgan EvaGT

At a time of global conservation with a drive towards improved fuel economy the Morgan Motor Company introduces a new concept for a sporting family, the Morgan EvaGT. The four seater Coupe takes its inspiration from the British sports saloons of the early 1950’s. Among these were the Bristol 400 series and the Frazer Nash BMW 328. After the Second World War rationing forced designers to conserve and make the most of the materials at their disposal. However the pressure cooker of war had also led to an abundance of innovative engineering ideas. Steel was scarce so lightweight aluminium was used for bodywork. Smooth “in-line” straight six cylinder engines were fitted to give long distance comfort and reliability. Because the engineers had often worked on aircraft development during the war aerodynamics contributed to high but economical cruising speeds.

The Morgan Motor Company is the last survivor of these British sports car manufacturers. Of course the company is lucky enough to have 100 years of continuous success behind it and like Bristol and Frazer Nash; Morgan has a history of successful collaborations with German suppliers BMW, Siemens and Bosch. But Morgan also works with a number of young engineering companies in the United Kingdom and with world class British university research departments.

The new challenge is to make cars that are more efficient than any we have seen so far. The Morgan Motor Company is in a good position to respond to this challenge because the company is small and flexible with a proven track record of fast development cycles. It currently manufactures one of the greenest sports cars in the world, the Morgan Four Four Sport. Morgan achieves this result with the use of the new Ford 1.6 Sigma engine coupled with a light chassis. Morgan currently has a young well qualified technical team working towards a potential 5 engineering PHD’s, who will make full use of research departments at the University of Oxford, Cranfield and Birmingham City to tap into a technical knowledge network to make more efficient cars. This team is helping to develop a high torque electric motor twice as powerful as others of the same weight and size and a powerful lithium phosphate battery with a higher charge density to achieve the most efficient performance for weight so far.

The dynamic team at Morgan has made a commitment from 2010 that they will bring out a new model every two years. The legendary sports car manufacturer will target new niches.....electric sports cars, a fun weekend vehicle and the first of the new cars will be the Morgan EvaGT, a four seater Coupe aimed at young families, with a bit of drama or automotive theatre as we like to call it. This is a revolution for a car company famous for making the same car for 50 years!

The Morgan EvaGT Brief provisional specification

Chassis:

The Morgan EvaGT makes full use of clever technologies that the Morgan Motor Company has developed to manufacture a lightweight car. Morgan was one of the first car companies to see the advantage of a bonded aluminium chassis to give rigidity but also to save weight. The EvaGT uses a further developed version of the bonded aluminium chassis of the Morgan Aero SuperSports, a chassis that successfully competes in International GT3 Sports Car Racing. Compliant with European and US safety approvals.

Bodywork:

Morgan was the first car company in 1995 to see the benefit of superformed aluminium, an aircraft technology, to manufacture smooth accurate body parts. Morgan Design have sculpted a new shape for the Morgan EvaGT that focuses on natural materials and understands their unique technical properties. Using computer technology in design and in manufacture to ensure accuracy, the parts are then hand finished to make sure they feel as good as they look. A perfect “A” class surface, minimal shut lines, hidden wipers, flush door handles and sharp creases deflect air over the surface of the car. The new Morgan EvaGT represents a philosophy of lightweight luxury that embraces authenticity, sustainability and innovation achieving its final result through the process of skilled craftsmanship.

Technical Specification (subject to change):

BMW 3 litre straight six mono twin turbo with direct petrol injection 306bhp and 400nm torque

Euro 5 and 6 compliant at 200 gms Co2/km, US FMVSS, CARB and EPA approved. 40 mpg / 7.06 litres/100kms 6 speed sport automatic or 6 speed manual gearbox. Rear wheel drive with fully independent intelligent suspension

Aluminium body panels with a laminated internal safety structure. Predicted weight of 2755 lbs/1250 kg Predicted 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds/ 0-100km/h 4.5 seconds Predicted top speed 170mph / 273 km/h

Launch

The first public view of the Morgan EvaGT will be at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Carmel, California, USA on the 15th August 2010.

The Morgan Motor Company will be taking orders worldwide with a request for a deposit of £5000 from prospective clients for an allocated build slot. The first 100 cars of a limited run are planned to begin production mid 2012 and the “on-road” price will be competitive for a car of this class.
 

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Morgan Sports Car Club Ltd
Registered Office, Dolphin House, Durford Wood
Petersfield GU31 5AW
Registered Number 2595917 England

Webmaster Bill Noble