Morgan Motor Company is celebrating a milestone in its recent brand history: 25 years of BMW engine supply is testament to the strong and enduring relationship between these two brands. For over two decades, BMW engines have been a significant feature of Morgan's sports cars - their characterful performance underpinning both the current four-wheeled model range and the landmark models of the past 25 years. As the brand moves towards the next generation of hand-built sports cars, it remains committed to BMW engines.
Fourteen cars, one story
2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the technical partnership between Morgan and BMW - a partnership that began in 2000 with the launch of the Aero 8 and has since produced some of the most significant Morgan cars in the company's 116-year history over the decades. To commemorate the anniversary, Morgan has brought together fourteen significant BMW-powered vehicles from the past quarter of a century in an exhibition.
From the very first Aero 8, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, to the recently unveiled flagship Morgan Supersport, this curated collection tells a story of technical progress, shared development and shared ambition. Between these two models are a host of BMW-powered Morgan sports cars, each representing a snapshot in the evolution of performance and efficiency.
The collection of fourteen vehicles shows almost every BMW powertrain that has ever been installed in a Morgan. It starts with the N62 with 4.4 liters, which was used in the first generation Aero 8, followed by the one used in the Series II and III as well as in the striking AeroMax (the latter can be seen in the exhibition). The final chapter of Morgan's 50-year V8 era ended with the N62 with 4.8 liters, which was used in the last Aero models and in the Plus 8 and is also part of the exhibition. This engine was installed for the last time in the Plus 8, which was manufactured at Pickersleigh Road until 2018, before the model finally disappeared from the range. This was followed in 2021 by a series of just nine Plus 8 GTRs with V8s for motorsport.
The four-cylinder B58 with three liters and the B48 with two liters are more recent. The B58 was first used in the 2019 Plus Six and was both the first straight-six and the first turbocharged engine in a Morgan. Its introduction coincided with the development of Morgan's all-new CX platform - developed in-house from the ground up with twice the torsional rigidity of the previous aluminum architecture, but weighing less than 100 kg. This was a breakthrough for Morgan to realize modern riding characteristics despite the timeless proportions of the classic Morgan silhouette.
Shakespeare sends his regards
The BMW B58 also powers the Midsummer, Morgan's handcrafted barchetta designed in collaboration with Pininfarina and launched in May 2024. The Midsummer expresses the two companies' shared values in body design with its almost sculpture-like shape and open teak-framed cockpit. The smooth ride and spontaneous responsiveness of the B58 complements the open driving environment and allows for an immediate, intense driving experience. The last of a total of 50 individualized orders are currently in production at Pickersleigh Road, with Midsummer production scheduled for completion in early 2026.
The introduction of the B58 into the Morgan range was followed in 2020 by the B48, which made its debut in the latest Plus Four. The latest in a 75-year line of four-cylinder engines in the Plus Four, the B48 delivers restrained, unconstrained performance that perfectly suits the character of the vehicle. The engine's free-revving yet composed nature allows Plus Four drivers to create lasting memories - whether on spirited drives along winding country roads or relaxed cruising.
The Plus Four returned to the United States earlier this year, making it the first four-wheeled Morgan to be officially offered in this market since the early 2000s. The partnership between Morgan and BMW played a key role in achieving this milestone. The Plus Four is homologated in the US under the "Replica Car Rule", which allows manufacturers to replicate models that were sold in the United States more than 25 years ago. To meet the requirements of all states, Morgan worked with BMW to certify an engine concept that complies with SPMV (Special Purpose Motor Vehicle) regulations in certain states. This engine concept is based on the B46 engine and replaces the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (B48) that the Plus Four is equipped with in all other markets.
Athletic roadster
Since 2020, Morgan has exclusively used BMW engines for its four-wheeled model range - with the exception of the nine Plus 8 GTR in 2021. The latest model is the new flagship called Supersport, which was launched in March 2025. The Supersport introduces a new design language for Morgan, presenting a contemporary interpretation of the brand's timeless silhouette that is instantly recognizable as Morgan. Powered by the BMW B58, a six-cylinder engine with a displacement of three liters, the Supersport is based on the further developed CXV platform, making it the most powerful Morgan to date. Its lightweight construction, the consistently driver-oriented design and the direct power delivery of the engine elevate the driving experience to a new level of precision and intensity.
Also part of the exhibition are two models that illustrate Morgan's long-standing motorsport tradition and the role of BMW engines in this field over the past 25 years. BMW engines have powered the Aero 8 GT in previous racing events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA GT3 European Championship. This era is represented in the exhibition by the car that took part in Le Mans 2004. Alongside this, a more recent example of Morgan's ongoing commitment to motorsport is a 2020 Plus Four race car, which is run in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton's School of Engineering and racing team. This collaboration supports the training of future motorsport engineers and also provides a valuable testing ground for testing series components.
The exhibition therefore showcases the full breadth of the Morgan brand over the past 25 years and pays tribute to the art of coachbuilding and the skill of the craftsmen who created these vehicles at Morgan's home on Pickersleigh Road in Malvern.
Matthew Hole, Managing Director of Morgan Motor Company, said: "BMW has been a trusted partner of Morgan for a quarter of a century and we are extremely proud of what we have achieved together. The collaboration between Morgan and BMW continues to be a cornerstone of engineering and brand identity. BMW engines have consistently delivered the reliability, performance and character that define the Morgan driving experience, providing unadulterated driving pleasure for the past 25 years. It's a partnership based on this shared value, combining our craftsmanship, individuality and driver-focused design with BMW's outstanding powertrain technology.
No end in sight
Even after 25 years of continuous development, the reliable, efficient and characterful BMW drives have remained a constant. They give every model an unmistakable driving experience and support the innovations in the construction of lightweight, hand-built sports cars. In that time, BMW has supplied around 5000 engines; no other OEN engine partnership has lasted as long as the one with Morgan. The current B48 and B58 engines are built at BMW's Steyr plant in Austria.
BMW powertrains have been instrumental in defining Morgan's identity - delivering rich performance and enabling morgan to continue its unique approach to building modern classic sports cars. Looking to the future, the partnership with BMW provides a stable technical foundation and underlines the shared commitment to unrestricted driving pleasure.
