2015 Morgan Aero 8 4.8L V8 6MT (367 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Mostly handcrafted and brilliantly engineered, the 2015 Morgan Aero 8 made its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show that year, boasting a revised look and better underpinnings.

The British car manufacturer had a long past of producing roadsters and sports cars mainly based on wooden chassis. But that was changed in 2000 when it introduced the Aero 8, which was a milestone in the company’s history. With some engineering upgrades carried over from BMW, it brought the carmaker into modern times with an aluminum chassis and punchy V8 engines. And then, 15 years later, the fifth generation of the car came on stage.

Many people made fun of the 2000 Aero 8 due to its headlights carried over from MINI and mounted in not the best possible way. But that changed with the 2015 model. On this model, they didn’t look that weird, like they were squinting. In addition, the front grille with its vertical slats was slightly taller and wider. While the overall changes looked like they were from a contest to “spot the differences,” the car was new. On the sides, the automaker installed reshaped vents on the wide fenders, placed them low behind the wheel arches, and rearward tilted instead of vertical. At the back, the boat-tail design sported a clamshell for the trunk’s lid, which opened rearward. In addition, as a result, the LED taillights were also different, with vertical lines on the quarter panels and a set of round lamps on the rear fascia, placed lower.

Inside, the 2015 Aero 8 welcomed its customers with updated technologies, and a touchscreen infotainment system became available as an option. On the center stack, the automaker kept the same rugged-looking switches while. But an elegant roadster wouldn’t be called like that if it wouldn’t boast a luxurious leather-wrapped cabin with diamond stitching and real wooden trims.

Under the hood, Morgan relied on BMW’s drivetrains, although tuned for the British roadster. The 4.8-liter pumped-out 367 PS (362 hp) from its naturally aspirated V8 that were sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential.