SpeedSUVs.com – The Morgan Motor Company occupies a truly unique niche in the modern automotive landscape. While many manufacturers race to build identical-looking electric crossovers, this historic British automaker continues to craft vehicles that look like they stepped straight out of a pre-war golden age. Yet, beneath their vintage aesthetics lies a thoroughly modern engineering philosophy. The company’s latest creation, the Morgan Midsummer Coupe, perfectly encapsulates this duality. It is a vehicle designed to blend traditional handmade coachwork with cutting-edge materials, offering enthusiasts a rare combination of old-world charm and contemporary performance.
The Genesis: From Roadster to All-Weather Coupe
To understand the creation of the Morgan Midsummer Coupe, one must first look at its predecessor. The original Morgan Midsummer debuted as a roofless, windscreen-free roadster. It was the ultimate expression of open-air motoring, designed for drivers who did not mind wearing vintage RAF goggles to shield their eyes from the wind. This roofless wonder was a massive success for the boutique brand; Morgan built just 50 units, and eager collectors snapped them up immediately. However, the open-air design naturally limited its usability, particularly in regions known for unpredictable weather.
The inspiration for a fixed-roof version came directly from a well-connected Morgan enthusiast. This client pressured the company to capture the raw spirit and straight-six performance of the roadster but package it with practical, all-weather protection. After all, while British summers can occasionally bring heat waves, they are traditionally accompanied by sudden downpours. To keep the driving experience pleasurable even when the skies open up, Morgan set to work creating its first fixed-roof offering in years. The result is the Midsummer Coupe, a car that brings a new level of everyday usability to Morgan’s ultra-exclusive lineup without sacrificing its lightweight ethos.
Exquisite Coachbuilding and Pininfarina Design
For the styling of this rare coupe, Morgan collaborated with the legendary Italian design house Pininfarina. The partnership has yielded a vehicle that is nothing short of a visual masterpiece. While the official press releases speak at length about visual tension, clean proportions, and resolved silhouettes, one does not need to be a professional car designer to appreciate its beauty. The Midsummer Coupe features a sweeping, elegant roofline that integrates seamlessly with the car’s classic, long-hood proportions.
Underneath the handmade exterior, the Midsummer Coupe utilizes a highly advanced bonded aluminum platform. The chassis and body panels contain roughly as much aluminum as the airframe of a classic Spitfire fighter plane. This construction method ensures that the car remains incredibly rigid despite its vintage aesthetic. Furthermore, the addition of the fixed roof has had a minimal impact on the vehicle’s weight, keeping it almost as light and agile as its roadster sibling. It represents a masterful blend of traditional British craftsmanship and modern structural engineering.
Powertrain and Performance Specifications
Beneath the long, louvred hood of the Midsummer Coupe sits a thoroughly modern powertrain. Morgan has once again turned to BMW, sourcing a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine. This powerplant produces a robust 335 horsepower. While that figure might sound modest compared to modern hypercars, it is a massive amount of power when paired with the Midsummer Coupe’s featherlight curb weight of approximately 2,250 pounds. This exceptional power-to-weight ratio ensures that performance is incredibly brisk, delivering rapid acceleration and an engaging driving experience.
The mechanical setup contrasts sharply with other models in Morgan’s lineup, such as the entry-level Super 3—which feels like a three-wheeled Sopwith Camel—and the Plus Four, which offers turbocharged four-cylinder speed. By utilizing the larger, more powerful BMW straight-six, the Midsummer Coupe positions itself as a grander, more powerful touring machine capable of effortless high-speed cruising and sharp backroad handling alike.
A Balanced Evaluation: Pros and Cons
An objective look at the Morgan Midsummer Coupe reveals a vehicle of immense character, though it comes with clear trade-offs. Examining these pros and cons helps put this coachbuilt creation into perspective for modern collectors.
The Advantages
- Stunning Collaboration: The design partnership with Pininfarina has produced a truly gorgeous silhouette that stands out in any automotive collection.
- All-Weather Usability: Unlike the original Midsummer roadster, the fixed-roof coupe allows owners to enjoy the vehicle regardless of sudden rain showers.
- Modern Performance: The combination of a rigid, lightweight aluminum chassis and a 335-horsepower BMW inline-six engine guarantees thrilling, modern driving dynamics.
- Extreme Rarity: With only nine customer cars being built, it offers a level of exclusivity that few other modern vehicles can match.
The Disadvantages
- Astronomic Pricing: While Morgan has not disclosed an official price, estimates place it close to $300,000, based on the roadster’s pricing relative to a well-equipped Porsche 911 GTS.
- Very Limited Availability: With only nine units destined for private buyers, acquiring one is nearly impossible for the average enthusiast.
- Market Uncertainty: There is currently no official confirmation on whether the Midsummer Coupe will be made available to customers in the United States, or if Morgan will build future production coupe variants.
Conclusion and Buyer Recommendation
Ultimately, the Morgan Midsummer Coupe is not a car purchased for raw performance statistics or value for money. A modern Porsche 911 Turbo would easily offer superior speed and everyday practicality for less capital. However, comparing a Morgan to a Porsche is a missed point; in terms of character and soul, they exist in entirely different universes. The Midsummer Coupe is a rolling piece of art, combining the romance of classic British motoring with the reliability of modern German engineering and the elegance of Italian design. For the lucky nine individuals who secure a build slot, it represents an unmatched driving experience. For everyone else, the prototype’s placement in the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands offers a welcome opportunity to appreciate this rare machine in person.
