Morgan has a Midsummer dream
Morgan has dreamt up a limited run roadster dubbed Midsummer. It’s a co-lab with Pininfarina, revealed to coincide with Europe’s longer, hotter days as we begin to freeze down here.
It’s been ‘created in recognition of the heyday of European barchetta designs, this special – limited to just 50 examples – represents the shared vision of Morgan and Pininfarina, who have collaborated to reinterpret and celebrate the timeless Morgan silhouette’.
Clearly they are gunning for great Gatsby types with an excess of money and a flamboyant lifestyle.
It’s said to be a special project to demonstrate Morgan’s design and craftsmanship expertise. It’s based on Morgan’s CX-generation aluminium chassis. Power comes from a six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (thanks BMW), its outputs transmitted to the rears via an eight-speed auto.
Massimo Fumarola, Chief Executive Officer, Morgan Motor Company, said:
“Midsummer is dedicated to enthusiastic individuals who will enjoy an unconventional, sensory, and analogue driving experience. By identifying and re-interpreting Morgan’s admired ideals, Midsummer turns our legacy into a charming, sophisticated, and timeless aesthetic.
“The success of Midsummer demonstrates what is possible through collaboration with like-minded individuals, and it has been both memorable and rewarding to work with Pininfarina to help bring this special project to life.”
The styling is described as having ‘delicate yet exaggerated proportions’ that ‘imbue an eccentric elegance, reminiscent of iconic Pininfarina designs and evocative of an era of late 30s and early 40s’.
The front and rear wings give ‘a subtle preview of the evolving Morgan design language’. These ‘have been informed by aerodynamic requirements, most notable in the lift in front of both the front and rear wheels, the steeper lines of which help to keep turbulent air away from the panel’.
Being a Morgan, wood is used as a design feature, here many layers of teak are used to create a shoulder line that accentuates the perimeter of the cockpit. It’s also used extensively inside.
Much of the car is handmade, it’s claimed to take more than 30 hours to create the wood piece around the cockpit. Meanwhile the hand beaten aluminium body panels take a further 250 hours to produce.
Midsummer features forged 19-inch wheels which save three kgs per corner over regular 19s. And these are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres. Morgan has a target weight of 1000kg for Midsummer and it will feature adjustable dampers tuned to enhance dynamic capability
The car will make a public debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
