Morgan Plus 4 celebrates 65th birthday with bonkers 225hp special edition

27 July, 2015

 

Morgan’s Plus 4 may be turning an incredible 65 years old this year, but it’s still got plenty of life left in it. So much so that the team at Morgan have unveiled a special limited edition, called the ARP4.

After being fettled with by the renowned engineer team at Cosworth and AP, the ARP4 features a Cosworth-tuned 225hp 2.0-litre engine — a jump of almost 100hp over the standard Morgan Plus 4. An uprated braking set-up, adjustable shock absorbers, and a new five-link rear suspension will aim to keep the spritely ARP4 in check. These features will complement the Morgan’s already energetic chassis, and minimal weight of 927kg.

Aesthetic changes to the ARP4 include LED headlights, exposed aluminium elements in the interior, improved soundproofing under the hood, and revised instrument clusters.

Founded in 1910, Morgan is one of the few remaining companies who solely produce handmade vehicles, and the Plus 4 is their most famed platform. Throughout its shelf life, the Plus 4 has been pulled in and out of production on several occasions. But despite some significant changes in its tenure, the Plus 4 looks almost identical to its original iterations

Fittingly, the ARP4 was launched at the 2015 Silverstone Classic in England on July 24–26, an event devoted to historic motor racing. Morgans have always been synonymous with exploits on race tracks, and continue to be associated with them via the popularity of the Plus 4 at track days throughout Europe. 

There will only be 50 examples of the AR P4 built, with pricing starting at £54,995, or NZ$129,599.

Pinnacle Porsche

We were stopped at the side of the road, setting up the next photograph, when a faded Toyota slowed alongside and stopped. The window was already down to give the driver a good look.
“That’s my dream car,” he said, speaking for more than a few of us.
He drank in the gleaming red paint, shining in the sun, and the car’s purposeful swoops and curves. He exhaled half a lungful of cigarette smoke, gave a hang 10–style thumbs up and drove off.
On the side of the road, against a clear blue background, the Porsche stood out in all its stark red glory. It’s the classic 911 shape on steroids. It has the fat, even pouty, front lip of the G series 911s, added to comply with 5mph bumper restrictions in the US. It also has the oversized haunches to accommodate the wider rear wheels and tyres – a first for Porsche, which also confirmed its supercar credentials – and, most noticeably of all, that enormous whale-tail spoiler. They made it look as if Porsche had abandoned its restraint.

Motorman: When the top trio took to the road

What sort of cars did Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme drive when they weren’t on the race track? Motorman knows
Most top racing drivers do care about safety levels of road-going cars for everyday motorists and their all-round abilities behind the wheel. Jackie Stewart for one denied finding everyday driving boring. He took pride in giving his passengers the smoothest possible ride, and encouraged all drivers to actively engage in the task. They also make interesting choices for their transport away from competitive motoring.
Thirty years ago I spent a day with Chris Amon driving on lower North Island roads and I can remember those informative few hours as vividly as if they were yesterday. In 1983 Chris accepted a challenge from Toyota New Zealand to improve its locally assembled cars in a relationship that extended well beyond the end of New Zealand-built Toyota vehicles in 1997.