The Morgan Supersport shed two cylinders to comply with US regulations.

      Nick Dimbleby

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      The Morgan Supersport, a compact sporty vehicle that offers a fresh and appealing twist on the classic aesthetic of the British brand, has been officially announced for the US market. Although it will feature a smaller engine compared to its European counterpart, it comes with a much more visually appealing shifter than previously seen.

      The Supersport was first unveiled last March, showcasing a new appearance while maintaining Morgan's uniquely retro design elements (long hood, round headlights, you know the style). You can browse through the images in this article, as I'll include Morgan's entire studio gallery below. The European version was equipped with a BMW B58 engine—a renowned turbocharged straight-six (the same engine found in the Toyota Supra, among others). In contrast, the US model will be fitted with the BMW B46—a single-turbo inline four-cylinder engine.

      I personally have a similar setup (B46 paired with a ZF eight-speed transmission) in my BMW 330 wagon. While it doesn’t deliver lightning speed, it’s certainly not slow, and a Morgan is significantly lighter than my all-wheel-drive wagon. So, I’m hopeful that the Supersport will still provide an enjoyable driving experience with about 250 horsepower compared to the 330 (though the name might be a bit overly optimistic).

      Morgan has provided an extensive studio gallery, which you can browse to view the car in various configurations:

      As stated in a press release from Morgan, the vehicle has been homologated for sale in the United States under the Replica Vehicle legislation set forth by the FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act). The company mentioned:

      “This legislation allows manufacturers to create replica vehicles based on models that were sold at least 25 years ago and permits Morgan to sell up to 325 qualifying vehicles each year in the US market. After thorough engineering, validation, and federal homologation, the Supersport has received approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for sale in the United States. The US models are powered by Morgan’s authorized BMW B46 TwinPower Turbo engine, coupled with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, providing a powertrain developed specifically to comply with relevant federal emissions standards.”

      So, it appears that the car is permitted to enter the US with this specific powertrain. The pricing for the US version is yet to be announced, but the B58-powered European Supersport is currently priced around $130,000 based on current exchange rates. I expect the four-cylinder American variant will be somewhat less. I would consider anything in the $100,000 range a reasonable price for a truly handcrafted vehicle, even if it occupies a somewhat unique space between sporty and grand touring. Perhaps it could be considered a “tiny touring” car? After all, people buy a Morgan for its aesthetics and ambiance rather than its speed credentials.

      Additionally, I’m pleased to see that the original BMW shifter, which appeared in the initial photos of the car last year, has been swapped for a custom unit. While the shifter looks fine in BMW vehicles, it feels out of place amid the unique and vintage charm of a Morgan cockpit. The sleek knob that Morgan has designed fits the interior much more appropriately.

      Morgan takes pride in the coachbuilding of each car it offers, which means limited production runs and extensive customization. The boutique manufacturer states that fewer than 50 build slots for the US market are available for the year.

      “Every aluminum body is crafted by hand over a traditional ash wood frame before being seamlessly integrated with the lightweight CXV-Generation bonded-aluminum platform along with its advanced suspension, braking, and electronic systems,” the company noted in its release.

      “Over 60% of the aluminum utilized in the chassis and body is sourced from recycled materials, reflecting Morgan's ongoing commitment to responsible manufacturing. The cockpit integrates natural materials with modern production methods. Scottish leather, procured as a by-product of the food and agricultural sectors, is used sparingly throughout the interior. While advanced laser scanning technology ensures exceptional consistency, each hide is meticulously trimmed by hand using traditional techniques and finished by Morgan’s skilled artisans, resulting in minimal waste due to the thoughtful use of natural materials inherent in its coach-built construction.”

      Morgan’s design language may not appeal to everyone, but for car enthusiasts, there's much to appreciate about what they’re achieving on Pickersleigh Road.

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