Review: Morgan Plus E (2012)

Electrically powered Morgan based on the Plus 8, has a 94bhp electric motor with 300Nm torque.

At the moment just a concept.

Recently Added To This Review

12 March 2012

An electric sportscar with a five-speed manual gearbox has been designed by Morgan with the support of British technology specialists Zytek and Radshape. Shown as a concept to test market reaction, the... Read more

Morgan Plus E (2012): At A Glance

Morgan unveiled an electrically powered model at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Called the Plus E it's fitted with a 94bhp electric motor with 300Nm of torque which should give it a 0-62mph time of around 6.0 seconds and a maximum range of 120 miles.

Based on a tweaked version of the lightweight chassis of the new Plus 8 (which incidentally gets a BMW V8 engine), the Plus E has an updated version of the traditional Morgan body shape. A working prototype, it's been built to gauge customer reaction and if there's sufficient demand, the Plus E will become a production reality.

Unlike most electric cars, the Plus E comes with manual gearbox. Morgan says the five-speed transmission helps increase the range of the car and driver involvement, promising that it will be 'a fantastic car to drive'.

The electric motor is provided by British firm Zytek, which provides the power for several electric cars including the Smart ForTwo electric drive as well as a variety of racing cars. The Plus E is rear wheel drive and comes with a conventional clutch but as the motor deliver torque from a standstill, you don't have to press the clutch down when you stop and pulling away, acting like an automatic.

There are actually two concept vehicles. One has the five-speed gearbox with Li-ion batteries and will be used for preliminary engineering assessment while the other will be closer to a production specification, with alternative battery technologies and possibly a sequential gearbox.

What does a Morgan Plus E (2012) cost?

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What have we been asked about the Morgan Plus E (2012)?

Every day we're asked hundreds of questions from car buyers and owners through Ask Honest John. Our team of experts, including the nation's favourite motoring agony uncle - Honest John himself - answer queries and conudrums ranging from what car to buy to how to care for it as an owner. If you could do with a spot of friendly advice before buying you're next car, get in touch and we'll do what we can to help.

Ask HJ

Can I recommend the new generation of Morgan classic sports cars?

Your advice to PT on Morgans was, as usual, a very fair and erudite comment. I'm not sure about them being relatively high maintenance though. My experience of the current range (we drive a 2008 Plus 4) is that with either Ford or BMW engines and running gear nowadays they are very reliable and don't cost any more to maintain than any other modern car. I take your point about comfort: mobile armchairs they are not, but they are certainly fun to drive. Our 2-litre (Ford Duratec OHC) model couldn't compete with a Porsche but I reckon the V8-engined Plus 8 variant would give one a good run for its money. Your correspondent could do worse than contact the Morgan Sports Car Club, where he will find there's a good range of specialist dealers throughout the country who would be more than happy to demonstrate the full range. One final point; my wife and I are both in our seventies, so age is no barrier to the enjoyment of the Morgan experience.

Many thanks for that. Of course, as always, it's horses for courses. A lot of Americans still love Harley Davidson ‘Iron Horses’ despite the bikes being heavy, cumbersome and some of them relatively slow. But if a reader wants a new 1930s sportscar capable of 2013 speeds they need look no further than a Morgan.