MORGANAero SuperSports 2009 - 2016

　　Morgan introduced the SuperSports at the 2009 Villa d’Este Elegance Concours as an open-top version of the AeroMax, but unlike other vehicles made by this British car manufacturer, it didn’t have a foldable rag-top.

　　The British automaker was known for its cars built on ash wood chassis, but new rules and regulations forbid it to do that again. As a result, the car manufacturer had to find new solutions, and it found its answer in aluminum. Thus, it entered into a new era, where its cars were not just lighter but also stiffer and performed better on the road. In addition, its deal with BMW as an engine supplier worked well. Moreover, Morgan also took a few other parts from the German automaker’s basket. But the final product, such as the 2011 SuperSports, didn’t resemble any other product made by the German brand or its side-kicks (Mini and Rolls-Royce).

　　Thanks to the deal it had with BMW, Morgan thought that the round headlights installed on the Mini might work well. As a result, it installed them on the valanced fenders of the SuperSports. Maybe they didn’t look that well from various angles, but the overall design was good. Moreover, the rounded and tilted rearward radiator grille resembled vehicles made during the ‘30s, and the long and narrow hood looked like it was taken directly from a car manufacturer from that era. The vehicle’s profile revealed that it wasn’t exactly a roadster but more like a targa, with only the area above the cabin’s occupants being exposed to elements when uncovered. There was a fixed B-pillar and an almost vertical rear windscreen. At the back, the boat-shaped deck was not the most aerodynamic element of the vehicle, but it looked excellent.

　　Just like any other traditional British brand, Morgan created a luxurious cabin with leather-wrapped door cards, seats, the center console, and the dashboard. In front of the driver, the car manufacturer installed the large dials for the speedometer and tachometer flanked by the gauges for fuel level and temperature. The three-spoke steering wheel was carried over from an Aston Martin, while the stalks and buttons for the side windows came from BMW’s basket. In addition, the interior door handles were sourced from Mini. Still, the stereo was from neither of these automakers; it came from a shelf in an electronics store and looked awkward in such an expensive vehicle.

　　Under the hood, BMW owners could recognize the S58 engine, although Morgan fixed an aluminum plate with its logo on top of the valve covers where the German brand’s name was. It wasn’t the most elegant solution, but it worked. What was elegant