British automotive company Morgan has completed the first out of nine examples of the Plus 8 GTR, a special edition that is dubbed as the most powerful Morgan ever and is bringing back the V8. Every Plus 8 GTR is a bespoke commission, with owners working alongside Morgan’s design team. The remaining eight cars are all in production, with several finishing build before the end of the year and the remainder being completed in the first quarter of 2022.
Finished in striking Yas Marina Blue, the first example is evocative of the original design sketches — which pay homage to prominent nineties Plus 8 race car ‘Big Blue’ that were released to announce the model in February 2021. Five-spoke center-lock wheels continue this homage, and have been reframed in newly sculpted wheel arches with a higher, more prominent flare than the standard car. A racing-inspired cockpit which can be fitted with carbon fiber racing seats and harnesses, while all come with a plaque denoting its number in the model production run.
The BMW-sourced 4.8-liter V8 has been tuned to produce 370 hp (280 kW / 375 PS). The GTR also gets “cannon-style” twin-exit sports exhausts and improved throttle response compared to the previous model. The motor is paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission according to the preferences of each owner, sending power to the rear axle.
Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company, said, “We are excited to release the first images of the Plus 8 GTR following the design sketches published earlier this year. The Plus 8 GTR represents an opportunity for Morgan to celebrate the V8 engine once again, something we did not expect to do since finishing the Plus 8 and Aero 8 models in 2018. Striking design, the finest craftsmanship, and an exhilarating sports car to drive, the Plus 8 GTR is the perfect swansong to the Morgan V8. We have been delighted to work alongside customers from around the world during the design and build process, and we look forward to sharing the final examples over the coming months.”
As with every Morgan, each Plus 8 GTR is hand crafted using traditional coachbuilding techniques.