02 Mar 05
Morgan has revealed a unique Aero Eight, a comfort-oriented hard-topped coupe called Aeromax. This is a one-off commissioned from the Worcestershire carmaker by Prince Eric I. Sturdza, the president of Banque Baring Brothers Suisse. Built to his bespoke requirements, the Aeromax has been developed for comfortable long-distance cruising, and it has a large flat load-bay behind the seats, a very traditional pleated leather interior and wood trim as well as an unusual gullwing-style boot opening and a split rear window. Although built around an ash frame chassis, like all Morgans, its alloy sheet metal panels and toughened glass sections are unique, and were developed using very modern CAD software. it's a clever blend of old-school craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology.
Designed for the client by Matthew Humphries, who created a quarter-scale clay model at Coventry University's Automotive Design School, it bears a clear resemblance to the standard Aero Eight, yet has an identity all of its own. It has the BMW-sourced V8, and thanks to its light weight, is one of the fastest-accelerating cars in Europe. Features nonetheless include air conditioning, tyre pressure and tyre temperature monitoring, airbags, ABS and cruise control, and the Aeromax has been kitted out with a set of custom-built luggage created by Schedoni of Italy.
Company boss Charles Morgan said at the car's unveiling: "The Morgan Aeromax demonstrates the wealth of talent in our small yet dedicated motor works. It took just four months from a sketch to being able to test-drive a real finished car. The car is a showcase of the coachbuilding and technical skills of the whole team."
