Morgan, the plucky British classic car maker based in the Worcestershire countryside, launches its most potent road car yet with the Supersport 400. This model delivers 402 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque from a factory in Malvern that employs 200 staff and produces 800 handcrafted vehicles annually. Priced at £135,558 after tax, it surpasses the cost of entry-level Porsche 911s and Mercedes-AMG GTs.
Power and Performance Specs
The Supersport 400 features a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine sourced from BMW’s M performance division. It accelerates from 0-62 mph in under four seconds and exceeds 180 mph top speed. This outperforms the standard Porsche 911 Carrera’s 389 bhp, 3.9-second sprint, and 183 mph limit, despite the Porsche’s lower starting price of £103,700.
Morgan targets affluent drivers in their 40s and 50s, aiming to lure them from Porsches and Aston Martins with modern power blended into classic appeal.
Design and Handling Upgrades
The car preserves Morgan’s iconic styling, including a long bonnet, oval headlamps, signature grille, and swooping handcrafted wings. Enhanced venting and lightweight forged alloy wheels modernize the look.
Standard Dynamic Handling Pack includes adjustable coilovers, refined valving, spring rates, and geometry tweaks for superior cornering. Buyers can add a limited-slip differential for extra performance.
Interior and Driver-Focused Features
Inside, leather and dark wood cladding evoke tradition, paired with analogue dashboard gauges and a digital instrument cluster. An optional aluminium gear selector enhances the vintage feel over the standard BMW shifter.
Low production volumes under 1,000 units yearly exempt it from mandates like speed limit warnings, automatic lane-keeping, and autonomous braking, preserving a pure driving experience. Morgan also sidesteps zero-emission vehicle rules and the 2030 petrol engine sales ban, unlike high-volume rivals such as Porsche, which builds 280,000 cars annually with 45,000 employees.
Morgan’s Strategic Edge
Matthew Hole, Morgan’s managing director, states: “Supersport 400 is the purest expression of Supersport, remaining true to our core principles of creating beautiful and engaging lightweight sports cars.”
He emphasizes balanced power delivery that feels intuitive and rewarding, with a subtle design evolution for a more purposeful character. Hole notes the model’s reflection of business progress, including gains in US and European markets.
The company, family-owned until 2019, now holds a majority stake with Italian firm Investindustrial. The Supersport 400 joins the Super 3 three-wheeler and exclusive Midsummer roadster, priced over £200,000 with just 50 units planned.
Factory Legacy and Orders
Thousands of enthusiasts visit the 116-year-old Malvern Hills factory yearly to see hand-built cars using traditional methods like ash frames. Orders for the Supersport 400 open now, with limited editions slated over the next 18 months.
