Autocar UK - 18 May 2022

86 Pages·2022·75.9 MB·English

P
U

E
K
A
W
C
S I
U
M

L
A
E
R
T H I S W E E K
‘The EQB looks a little like a shrunken G-Class in a space suit’
32
Issue 6515 | Volume 312 | No 8
IMAGE
NEWS
COMMENT
4
Volkswagen ID 4 saloon Liftback to take on Model 3
8 HOW UK TECH IS DRIVING
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro Track-only hypercar
10
Morgan’s bright future New boss reveals strategy
12 THE EV REVOLUTION
Small Mercs under threat CEO ponders their future
14
Ineos Grenadier Radical UK dealership plan revealed
TESTED
WATCH OUT, TESLA: VW PLOTS MODEL 3 RIVAL 4 ONE PERCEIVED issue
24
BMW XM Think of it as an ‘X8’ on M division steroids
28 with EVs is that with very
Lucid Air E-Class-sized £131k saloon – with 1111bhp
30
Volkswagen Multivan 2.0 TSI New-generation MPV similar batteries and motors,
31
Volkswagen Polo GTI Big engine for hot supermini
the cars will all be essentially
31
Voyah Free BMW iX3 rival from new premium brand
Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4Matic ROAD TEST 32 the same, with only power outputs
FEATURES and range to separate them. That
42 puts more pressure on designers than
Snow drift Sideways on ice in an Audi EV, for science
48
Yasa, I can boogie The UK firm Merc has just bought engineers to help buyers distinguish
52
Old taxis never die Weird new lives for old black cabs
one model from another.
54
Jaguar XJ220 Landmark supercar reappraised
One UK company, Yasa, is already
OUR CARS
proving otherwise. Its revolutionary
WE UNPICK EV TECH THAT LETS YOU DO THIS 42
62
Land Rover Defender Living with it: the final verdict
technology, which makes electric
64
Skoda Kodiaq Time to give it a serious lifestyle test
65 motors not only lighter and more
Ford Puma ST How to have fun on a city ring road
powerful but also more effi cient,
EVERY WEEK
has already been adopted by Ferrari
11
Jesse Crosse Heart of glass: recycling windscreens
13 and Koenigsegg, but so quickly is it
Matt Prior You might be surprised who owns an Imp
17
Jim Holder Are the Ford Fiesta’s days numbered? advancing its technology that it has
19
Steve Cropley An emotional evening at our awards
now been snapped up for exclusive
20
Damien Smith Tony Brooks remembered; W Series
22 use by Mercedes, as we detail this
Subscribe Save money and get exclusive benefits
40
Autocar Archive Access 125 years of issues for free week on p48.
58
Your Views Write-offs ; GR86 sell-out; Euro NCAP
In this rapidly changing automotive
61
On this day Cars for the economic downturn, in 1972
82 XJ220 IN 2022: JAG’S SUPERCAR REVISITED 54 landscape, it is vital that the UK
Slideshow The greatest supercars they never made
develops skills in new areas such as
DEALS
FIND YOURSELF
(cid:96)
electric motors, batteries and software
66
James Ruppert A6; Astra Twintop; C2; Mk1 Punto
Cult hero Why the Citroën C6 is a collector’s item 68 THE SPACE AND if it is to retain its hard-fought and
70
As good as new The Audi Q2 is now a half-price hero long-standing position and reputation
71
Take it or leave it Fiesta ST200; Conti; Stelvio; Golf THERE IS A RARE
as a maker of truly desirable and
72
New cars A-Z Key car stats, from Abarth to Zenos
81 innovative cars.
Road test index Track down that road test here DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The best cars and automotive
Autocar, ISSN number 1355-8293 (USPS 25185), is published weekly by Haymarket Media Group, Bridge
TO BE HAD HERE technology developed in Britain
House, 69 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SP, United Kingdom. The US annual subscription price is (cid:97)
$199.78. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd
Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send have always had an extra special
address changes to Autocar, WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434,
USA. Subscription records are maintained at Haymarket Media Group, Bridge House, 69 London Road, something, and companies such as
Twickenham TW1 3SP, United Kingdom. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. ANDREW FRANKEL DRIVES THE VERY XJ220
Autocar is published by Haymarket Automotive, Bridge House, 69 London Road, Twickenham, Middlesex,
TW1 3SP, UK, haymarketgroup.com Tel [phone] WE ROAD TESTED (AND CRASHED) IN 1993 54 Yasa, spearheaded by the genius Tim
Autocar magazine is also published in China, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, COVER
Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Woolmer (remember the name), show
STORY
Autocar is a member of the Haymarket ISSUES WITH that this should long continue.
Independent Press Standards is certified by BSI to YOUR MAG?
Organisation (IPSO). environmental standard For subscriber issues, call
We abide by the Editors’ Code of ISO14001 and energy 0344 848 8816. If you can’t find
Practice and are committed management standard a news-stand copy of Autocar Mark Tisshaw Editor
to upholding the highest ISO50001 in your local area, email
standards of journalism. If you [email protected]
think we haven’t met those
standards and want to make [email protected]
a complaint, contact
[email protected]. @mtisshaw
For more information, contact
IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or
visit www.ipso.co.uk (cid:51)(cid:40)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:71)
youtube.com/autocar
(cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)
(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:92)
(cid:80)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3) facebook.com/autocarofficial NEVER MISS
Autocar
(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:90)(cid:17)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:17)(cid:88)(cid:78) is a member of the twitter.com/autocar AN ISSUE
organising
Subscribe p22
committee of BMW’S 643BHP PLUG-IN HYBRID XM DRIVEN 24 autocar_official
Car Of The Year
caroftheyear.org
18 MAY 2022 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 3
N E W S
GOT A STORY?
Email our news editor
[email protected]
Project Trinity targets Tesla
as VW expands EV line-up
All-new liftback saloon to take ID 4 name; on sale in 2026 as Model 3 rival
T
he next phase of goal of increasing the electric
Volkswagen’s radical model share of its global sales
‘New Auto’ electric to 25% in 2025. In 2021, the
vehicle strategy will figure was 6%.
bring to market a direct Further into the future,
rival to the Tesla Model 3, VW anticipates that electric
IMAGE
insiders at the German car models will take at least a 50%
maker have revealed. share of global sales by 2030
The five-door liftback-style and an almost 100% share in
saloon, known internally as all major markets by 2040.
Project Trinity, is planned The ID 4 saloon is the first
to take the ID 4 name in Volkswagen to be conceived
2026, setting up a naming under a new product
policy that will see future development process that
Volkswagen models grouped is aimed at significantly
together under individual shortening the overall
model lines dependent on size. development time of
The ID 4 saloon will join its future models.
a facelifted version of the “We’re reducing
current ID 4 SUV in an development time by
expanded mid-range line-up 25%,” said Thomas Ulbrich,
that has been conceived to Volkswagen’s head of
provide competition to research and development.
the Model 3 and its sister “Projects will be completed in
model, the Model Y. 40 months instead of the 54
Volkswagen’s new electric months we have today.”
saloon will offer the choice While existing new
of either single-motor rear- model development at
wheel-drive or dual-motor Volkswagen has centred on
four-wheel-drive options individual engineering teams
and, from the beginning of responsible for specific
sales, standard 5G over-the- components of each car –
air software upgrades and often in different locations
level-two autonomous with outside suppliers and,
driving functionality. in certain cases, without
Volkswagen originally direct consultation with
suggested the ID 4 saloon each other – the new process
would feature level-four aims to promote a far more
autonomous driving integrated and agile structure,
functionality. However, it Ulbrich revealed.
now says it will be technically At the heart of the
capable of supporting it, new development process,
if and when it is made which is planned to be used
available to customers. for all upcoming ID models
Under the New Auto from 2026 onwards, is a
strategy announced last year, new upgradable software
Volkswagen has switched its architecture that goes
focus to the electrification under the name VW.OS.
◊
of its model range, with the The new software, which
4 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 18 MAY 2022
Audi will launch its A facelifted ID 4 SUV
own new electric will be sold alongside
saloon in 2025 the new ID 4 saloon
IMAGE
(cid:96)
The ID 4 saloon will join an
expanded mid-range line-up to
provide competition to Tesla
(cid:97)
18 MAY 2022 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 5
ID 4 saloon will feature
an all-new software
architecture
IMAGE
(cid:96)
Δ
is under development at the Platform (SSP), a skateboard- offering differing energy
The SSP platform will support
Volkswagen-owned Cariad style architecture that capacities and ranges.
software division, includes not Volkswagen Group CEO It is still early days, but
800V architecture, enabling a
only a proprietary operating Herbert Diess has said will Volkswagen says the most
system to be used by all replace the existing Modularer advanced ID model yet will
much higher charging capacity
Volkswagen models but also E-Antriebs-Baukasten (MEB) offer a range of up to 435
in-house-developed apps for structure as well as both the J1 miles on the European WLTP
various functions and services. and Premium Platform Electric (cid:97) test cycle – a more than 20%
Volkswagen says the (PPE) architectures developed increase on its existing electric
proportion of in-house- by the Volkswagen-owned architecture, the SSP will be the new ID 5 SUV is claimed models. It also says the ID 4
developed software used in its Audi and Porsche brands. able to support systems at to offer a 5-80% charge saloon will be capable of
new models is set to increase “The next generation of our up to 800V. This will enable (enough for a claimed 242 accelerating from 0-62mph
from under 10% today to more hardware platforms will allow the ID 4 saloon to be offered miles) in 29 minutes. in less than five seconds.
than 60% by 2025. us to reduce complexity over with a much higher charging Details of the battery The ID 4 saloon takes
Many of the new processes time as we will consolidate capacity than the 135kW of technology to be adopted by full advantage of the SSP
being touted for the ID 4 were our existing platform to one the recently upgraded ID 4 the ID 4 saloon have yet to be platform’s ability to package
originally initiated by Audi for architecture for the entire SUV, and with it significantly revealed. Sources suggest it its battery completely within
its similarly conceived Artemis e-product portfolio, from faster charge times than those will use cobalt-free chemistry a flat floor, with cab-forward
project, which is planned to entry level to top of the range, achieved today, providing a similar to the lithium iron proportions aimed at
spawn a similarly advanced but from 85kW [114bhp] to 850kW high-powered DC charging phosphate (LFP) blade providing generous interior
larger electric model slated for [1140bhp],” he said. system is used. battery produced by Chinese accommodation.
production in 2025. While the MEB platform Nothing is official, although car maker BYD. As with the With a length of around
The basis for the upcoming used by all of Volkswagen’s insiders talk about a reduction existing ID models, the new 4600mm, it is smaller than
ID 4 saloon is Volkswagen’s existing ID-badged models in charging time by a “factor of Volkswagen is expected to the upcoming production
new Scalable Systems uses a 400V electric three”. As a point of reference, be offered with batteries version of the ID Vizzion, which
is said to stretch to around
Tesla’s Model 3 4800mm in length, but will
SPY SHOT
will be a direct still offer seating for five as
VOLKSWAGEN ID VIZZION
rival to the ID 4 well as a large rear luggage
compartment. By comparison,
the Tesla Model 3 runs to
4694mm in length.
Production of the new
Volkswagen is set to take place
in a new £1.7 billion stand-
alone factory in Wolfsburg.
The plant will support a new
modular construction process
that will allow the ID 4 saloon
ID 4 saloon will be
to be assembled in less than
smaller than the
10 hours, according to Diess.
upcoming ID Vizzion
GREG KABLE
6 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 18 MAY 2022
NEWS
Reworked ID Life targets young buyers as entry-level EV
VOLKSWAGEN WILL launch concept at last year’s Munich and emphasise its digital
the ID 4 saloon as a slick motor show, but a new preview functionality, with the aim of WHY EV SWITCH CAN’T BE RUSHED
technological showpiece image suggests the design attracting younger buyers. The
aimed at stealing sales from team have gone back to the sketch shows that a sleeker, The transition to electric
the most popular electric drawing board to give the more muscular silhouette is cars can’t be forced to go
cars on the market, but at production version a stronger the result, with an angular front any faster, Volkswagen
the other end of the line-up visual link to the ID 4 saloon, end and characteristic ID cues, Group CEO Herbert Diess
the brand is set to unveil a which will go on sale at such as the horizontal front has cautioned.
compact urban EV priced around the same time. light bar, cementing its position Speaking at the
at around the £17,000 mark. Earlier this year, it was in the expanding ID family. Financial Times’ Future of
The German car maker reported that Volkswagen Unlike the ID 4 saloon, the the Car summit last week, Diess: “A very ambitious plan”
gave a hint of what to expect designers were seeking to give new Polo-sized EV – which is Diess set out ambitions for
from its most affordable the production version of the expected to take the ID 1 name 7-8% of the Volkswagen Diess highlighted the
EV with the quirky ID Life ID Life a more futuristic look into production – will use a Group’s sales to be electric German conglomerate’s
shortened version of the ID 3’s this year, rising to 25% investment in six battery
Skoda will build its platform, referred to as MEB by 2025 and 50-60% by manufacturing plants in
version of the ID 1 Entry and reduced in length 2030. He highlighted that Europe at a cost of €2-3
as a sibling model by around 100mm. It is also the issue with growing billion each as an example.
expected to be offered with the faster isn’t due to demand Last week, the company
same 231bhp front-mounted but about creating the confirmed it would build
motor and 57kWh battery as infrastructure to support one of these facilities in
the concept to give a range the manufacture and Spain to supply batteries
of nearly 250 miles and a operation of EVs. to production lines
0-62mph time of less than “Everything will be there building new Volkswagen,
seven seconds. Overall, it will for growth, but it takes Cupra and Skoda urban
offer substantial performance, huge investment and time EVs from 2025.
efficiency and functionality to achieve,” said Diess. “We “Our goal is to be the
improvements over the need the correct plants world leader in EV sales
Volkswagen e-Up, for which to be modified or built, by 2025,” said Diess.
OFFICIAL PICTURE
it will essentially serve as a the battery production “We have a very ambitious
replacement. capacity to be available plan to achieve that and
Seat will follow It will be built from 2025 in and to build a secure, have invested hugely
suit, with all three Spain – alongside technically sustainable supply chain. to achieve it, but some
produced in Spain identical sibling models from “The customer needs analysts aren’t taking the
Cupra and Skoda – where the correct infrastructure amount of effort required
the Volkswagen Group has to be put in place to live to achieve our goals
committed £8.5 billion to the with the cars.” seriously enough.”
electrification of its operations,
including the construction of
a dedicated battery factory. come into EVs top down, but rises, now our costs are
Volkswagen Group CEO by 2025 we think the time coming down with scale.
Herbert Diess was keen to will be right for a Polo-sized “The demand is there
stress the role the new budget car,” he said. “We have a new and the margins are there
EVs will play in ramping up generation of batteries; aside for small electric cars to
OFFICIAL PICTURE
volumes. “It made sense to from the raw material price be profitable.”
IMAGE
Redrawn ID Life
concept will make
production as ID 1
18 MAY 2022 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 7
OFFICIAL PICTURES
AMR Pro uses
different tub from
road-going Valkyrie
Aston bloods hardcore AMR Pro
Track-only version of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar is rolled out at the Miami GP
A
ston Martin has begun Formula 1 connection between Marek Reichman took Autocar keep the packaging as tight as Pro development driver since
deliveries of the Valkyrie Aston Martin and Red Bull through the changes that mark possible around the constraints shortly after the programme
AMR Pro – the track- Racing that underpinned it has the AMR Pro out from the of a human and an engine,” said began, said he was very happy
only version of the since been dissolved, Aston ‘regular’ Valkyrie. As well as a Reichman. “We don’t have a to be asked to work on it as his
V12-powered hypercar that Martin says it is on track to longer wheelbase, the track- millimetre of spare space. It’s competitive motorsport career
the company says offers an deliver more than 75 examples only car has a different tub with almost exoskeletal in its design. wound down. “To be honest, I
equivalent level of performance of the road-going Valkyrie even lighter construction and The tub is the structure, there’s didn’t think I’d get the chance
to a top-flight race car. and the track-only AMR Pro some dimensional changes no cladding in it.” to drive anything as quick as
While the Valkyrie project to customers this year. allowed by the lack of road Veteran touring car and this again,” he said. Apart from
has gone well beyond its At the Miami Grand Prix, homologation. sports car racer Andy Priaulx, testing a Williams F1 car in
original timescale, and the Aston Martin creative director “The car was designed to who has been a Valkyrie AMR 2005, he reckons the AMR Pro
AMR PRO FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT
The AMR Pro starts rolling Fully lit, Aston says the
under pure electric power, Valkyrie Pro can generate
the V12 starting with a bang more than 2G of linear
when the car gets up to around acceleration, but the fact
15mph. There’s a brief chance those forces are pushing
to experience some low-rev me back into the seat
buzz as we rumble out of the diminishes them relative
pit lane, but from that point to the much more violent
onwards it spends the entire loadings I feel as the
four-lap stint in close proximity harnesses bite under braking. at speeds that make it feel like
to its 11,000rpm redline. The Lateral acceleration is slightly reality has had its playback
noise is predictably savage, less vicious – although the speed turned up, yet there is no
even through a close-fitting fact that Homestead’s infield sense of the car sliding, even
helmet, but there is less only has a couple of turns fast as the slick tyres come up to
vibration than I remember from enough for aero downforce is full temperature and he starts
Cornering forces are
riding in the regular car in 2021. saving my neck muscles from to get on the throttle earlier.
huge; under braking
Performance is huge, but a greater pummelling. All the stages of getting a car
they are vicious
it doesn’t feel impossibly so. Priaulx turns into corners into and through a corner are
DYNAMIC DUO SET FOR UK SALES FUEL CELL NAMX EYES 2025 LAUNCH
Renault will bring its quirky two-seat Twizy The Namx HUV is a Pininfarina-designed fuel
successor to the UK, it has said. Due next year, cell SUV with up to 542bhp and six swappable
the Duo EV is the first model from new mobility hydrogen capsules for rapid fuel stops. The
brand Mobilize. Like the Citroën Ami, it is designed Afro-European marque plans to launch the model
with affordability and car-sharing in mind. in 2025 at a starting price of around £55,000.
8 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 18 MAY 2022
NEWS
BMW raises the bar with 3 Series updates
OFFICIAL PICTURES
THE BMW 3 SERIES has been
updated inside and out, a little
over three years since arriving
in dealerships, in a bid to fend
off Mercedes’ newer C-Class.
Accounting for a huge 14% of
BMW’s global sales, the crucial
G20-generation 3 Series will
remain on sale in this fresh-
faced guise until around 2025,
when the firm is expected to
usher in a similarly positioned
EV saloon as the first model New look keeps G20
atop its radical new Neue 3 Series fresh; 318i and
Klasse architecture. 318d have been dropped
For now, the 3 Series is
largely mechanically unaltered,
continuing with a choice of pure slimmer LED headlights with trim elements aim to give intake in the front bumper and
petrol, diesel (now with 48V an L-shaped DRL signature, what BMW calls a “particularly a chunky diffuser at the rear.
mild-hybrid functionality) and a resculpted grille and gloss sophisticated” look. The 3 Series is also the latest
petrol-electric plug-in hybrid black brake cooling vents. The M Sport cars are more model to get the new-look
powertrains, ranging in outputs At the rear, reshaped overtly distinguished by a curved instrument panel
from 182bhp in the entry 320i bumpers and colour-coded distinctive hexagonal lower air that first appeared on the iX
to 369bhp in the warmed-up EV, hosting a 12.3in digital
M340i, and with the option of gauge cluster and a 14.9in
four-wheel drive. The previous infotainment screen with the
entry-level models, the 318i firm’s latest, eighth-generation
and 318d, are no longer iDrive interface. As part of
listed. Prices now range from a wider cabin overhaul, the
£36,670 to £52,965. central air vents have been
The facelifted 3 Series slimmed down, there are new
isn’t far off being the fastest saloon and Touring estate, touch-sensitive buttons on
car he’s experienced. entering production in July, Curved instrument the centre console and the
“Today is all about giving a are obviously marked out from display from the shifter for the standard
taste of what the car can do, those currently on sale by a iX now features eight-speed automatic
but the whole point has been new-look front end, which hosts gearbox has been redesigned.
to make it drivable. The guys
who are spending their money
on these are going to want to
PHANTOM’S LIGHT-TOUCH FACELIFT BRINGS REFRESHED FRONT END
enjoy them, and there’s no
point in making something that
only a professional will be able Rolls-Royce has revealed a round of updates for the Phantom, aimed at
to get near the limits of.”
keeping it competitive against newer rivals from Maybach and Bentley.
MIKE DUFF
The main tweaks for the V12 limousine include a slightly reworked front
grille, which
OFFICIAL PICTURE
features a more
compressed, but neither
Priaulx nor the car seem
prominent badge
fazed. As the engine shuts
off as we coast to a halt in and a darkened
the pits, I ask how hard he
finish and is now
was pushing. “Eight-tenths
maybe,” he says. “I’m doing
illuminated, while
this all day, remember.”
One of his next passengers the headlights
is Marek Reichmann, who is
now sport
experiencing the AMR Pro
moving for the first time. He
laser-cut star
returns looking as shocked
and sweaty as I feel. motifs added for
“I’ve been 12 years at
Aston and that was the best extra night-time
12 minutes of my time here,”
presence.
he says. MD
SCOUT REBORN AS AMERICAN EV BRAND DACIA DESIGN LEADER STEPS DOWN
Volkswagen is bringing the long-lost Scout name Dacia design boss Miles Nürnberger, who made
back to the US market for a new electric 4x4 headlines a year ago with a shock move from
brand. The new marque will launch Rivian-rivalling Aston Martin, is to leave the Romanian firm.
pick-up and SUV models (officially previewed in a He will be replaced by vice-president of design
sketch) in 2026, and using an all-new platform. David Durand but has not said where he is going.
18 MAY 2022 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 9
Morgan Works London
has opened as brand’s
new flagship showroom
Authenticity key to
Morgan’s bright future
New CEO says maintaining firm’s values and courting younger buyers will fuel growth
M
organ’s new CEO, it sold a stellar 680 last year management overhaul. started on the Malvern Link London, to mark London Craft
Massimo Fumarola, even with the 3 Wheeler out The company’s owner, shop floor as a metalworking Week, for which Morgan put on
has told Autocar of production. The 70% of Italian private equity firm apprentice, has been closely special displays to show off the
about the priorities Morgans that go for export Investindustrial, last month involved at every level of hand-finished, bespoke nature
for his “exciting” new job, in are distributed in 70 markets, announced that the role of company management. With of its construction methods.
an exclusive interview at the the biggest of which are France, chairman and CEO, previously more cars, more investment, Three of the company’s best
firm’s flagship UK dealership Germany and the US. held by company ‘lifer’ Steve more facilities, more people artisans – Steph on upholstery,
in Kensington, London, just Morgan has already hinted Morris, would henceforth be and electrification to contend Marcin on metal forming and
three weeks after moving over that it would like to be making split into two. Morris would with, Morris acknowledges that Will on woodwork – were on site,
from his role as Lamborghini’s 1500 cars a year in five years’ be elevated to the role of he will need to concentrate working on part-finished cars
special projects boss. time and sees the emergence executive chairman, while more on strategic thinking. lifted temporarily out of the
Number one will be to of the new Ford-engined Milan-born Fumarola would Both Morris and Fumarola normal build process.
“steadfastly” maintain Super 3 as providing its become CEO with responsibility were visiting the South Fumarola, an engineer
Morgan’s authenticity and earliest opportunity to expand. for day-to-day running. Kensington dealership, by training, with a 30-year
amplify the marque’s unique Success in the US, where the Until now, Morris, who officially dubbed Morgan Works career working both for large
values and attributes. This, Super 3 complies with design
he said, is the essence, but the regulations more easily than
Morgan ethos also needs wider the company’s four-wheeled MORGAN’S BIG DECISION
circulation. Number two will be models, is a key opportunity.
to take all opportunities for It’s likely the model will soon The Morgan future that car aims to move Morgan’s
the company to grow, and become Morgan’s best-seller. Steve Morris and Massimo design influence forward
create more of them, without This potential near doubling Fumarola are busy designing about 20 years to the
harming its natural assets. of output will require a seems likely to include the 1960s Jaguar E-Type era.
“Heritage isn’t insurance,” considerable scaling up of plant rule-changing ‘new era’ When details first emerged,
he said. “You must have good and people (a new paint facility model whose sketchy details the car was set to use the
plans for your future.” is about to open) and most were revealed four years ago. aluminium CX platform and
Morgan currently makes of all lays bare the reasoning Conceived by a design independent suspension Plus Six. It was to
around 800 cars per year, and behind Morgan’s modest top team led by Jon Wells, the under today’s Plus Four and appear around 2025, priced
close to an Aston V8 Vantage.
Plus Six and Plus Four Times have changed,
will soon be joined however. A more likely
by new Super 3 scenario would be for the car
to appear as an EV, allowing a
new pricing structure to cater
for the probable high cost of
its battery. For now, Morgan
is mute on the project,
making clear that its priority
Plans for ‘new era’ Morgan have evolved since 2018 is a successful production
entry for the Super 3.
10 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 18 MAY 2022