FIRST DRIVE: MORGAN AERO 8:Morgan unites old world charm with modern power - and the resultant head-turner was an impractical but incredibly romantic drive, reports Paddy Comyn
THE WISDOM in launching a new brand to Ireland just as we hit a recession might be questionable. When that brand is a little-known British sportscar marque that specialises in hand-build cars that look like a throwback to the 1950s, then it might just be put down as mad.
But this is exactly what has happened, as Morgan Cars are now available in Ireland and are being sold alongside Harley-Davidson motorcycles at a premises in Ballymount in Dublin.
Brian Murphy is the brains or madness behind selling the long-standing brand in Ireland and he told The Irish Times what the thinking was behind the move. "I had looked at Morgan before when I was involved in Belgard Motors and the brand had always interested me, but when I got involved with Harley the brand seemed like a good fit, and rather uniquely Harley went for it, and we are pretty excited by what we have to offer."
There had been something of a delay in getting the brand to market in Ireland, with delays in production hindering stock but with the new VRT laws coming into place in July, the lightweight body and fuel-efficient engines worked in the car's favour.
Morgan Cars was founded in 1909, and has been making hand-build sportcars ever since. They are built on an ash frame but their chassis is made from galvanised steel, or aluminium, in the case of the Aero 8. Engines and switchgear are sourced mainly from Ford, although the Aero8 has a 4.8-litre V8 from BMW.
They are all pretty impractical, but hopelessly romantic. So in the interests of science we took a drive.
First up was the 4/4 Classic, which looks like a car from the 1950s but is in fact brand new, with a range of Ford engines. It does feel old world though, with a pretty basic cabin, no power steering and windows that slide open.
However, it feels great to drive and attracts all the right sort of attention. Negotiating the streets of Dublin in one we got waves, horns tooted and general goodwill, something that seldom happens in other €50,000-plus sports cars.
The drive in the Classic was all too brief, but I was here to drive the Aero8, one of Morgan's flagship cars, which costs from €129,950.
Made entirely from aluminium, it is light, strong and immensely fast. And painted here in lurid orange.
Straight away it doesn't feel as well built as something that comes off a production line at the same price, but the finishing does feel unique and the look of the Aero8 is certainly unlike something you have ever seen.
Weighing just 1,195kg and with a growly, snarly 4.8-litre V8 putting out 367bhp and 490Nm of torque, the Aero8 is good for 273km/h even as it is here with an automatic gearbox, something you wouldn't expect to see in a car like this, but clearly a nod to its potential American suitors.
Getting from 0-100km/h takes a white-knuckle 4.2 seconds, and that is while scaring the life out of most other traffic on the road.
Van drivers strained out of windows armed with camera phones documenting You Tube-bound videos of this orange beast, looking like Satan's own form of transport.
Our short drive in the Aero8 gave us the impression of a car that is as muscular as it is mad to look at, with no doubt, a potential to leave you in a hedge at the most innocent of concentration lapses.
The Aero8 requires undivided attention to pilot and that is something that you will get plenty of from all that see and hear it pass.
Bearing in mind that our test car with options could cost around €160,000, and you will probably bet that you won't see too many in recession-hit Ireland in 2009. It is an awesome car, and one we want to spend more time in.
Morgan Cars Ireland hopes to sell 10-12 cars in 2009, most being the more sane Classic model which will start at €44,960 with a 1.6-litre 115bhp engine and C02 emissions of less than 140g/km.
• For more details check out morgancars.ie
Factfile: Morgan Aero 8
Engine: 4.8-litre V8 putting out 367bhp / 490Nm torque
Performance: 0-100km/h: 4.3 seconds
Max Speed: 273km/h
Fuel economy: 10.8 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 260g/km
Tax band: G
Weight: 1,180kg
Price: from €129,950