Launched in 2001, the Aero 8 was and remains Morgan's first modern design since 1948. The sleek vehicle spawned a coupe, a Targa, and a race variant before it was discontinued in 2010, but it was brought back to life in 2015 with minor updates. Come 2018 and Morgan decided to discontinue the nameplate for good and crafted one final limited-edition model. Called the Aero GT, it was just unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and will put an end to the Aero nameplate by the end of the year.

Unlike other limited-edition models, the Aero GT is more than just a regular Aero with mild improvements. Several body panels were redesigned for this model, which draws inspiration from the race-spec Aero GT3 that Morgan introduced in 2009. The end result is a motorsport-inspired coupe that only needs a livery to become a full-fledged race car. Morgan restyled both the wings and the louvers, giving the car a more aggressive look. Combined with the new canards and the reshaped roof, they reduce low pressure on the sides of the body, improving frontal downforce.

Around back, the heavily sculpted fenders are joined by an aggressive diffuser that reduces air pressure from beneath the vehicle, increasing rear downforce and reducing the visual weight of the rear-end. Unlike the standard Aero, the GT has a carbon-fiber hard-top. The roof is a tribute to 1960s race cars, featuring a rearward facing vent. The transparent lenses of the taillights add to the modern look of the car. The exterior is rounded off by "GT" badges made by a British jeweler and yellow accents on the diffuser and side skirts, as well as a yellow stripe across the engine hood.

There are no photos of the interior, but Morgan says it's hand-finished with a series of painted stitching and pinstripe accents and an extended choice of wood options. Given that each model will be tailored to each customer, all eight units should be unique inside the cabin.

Under the hood, the Aero GT comes with the same 4.8-liter V-8 engine that Morgan has been using in the Aero and Plus 8 models for a few years. The unit in question is BMW’s N62 engine, which was introduced in 2001 and upgraded to 4.8-liter specs in 2003. Used in models such as the BMW X5, 5 Series, 6 Series, and the Wiesmann GT MF4, the unit was discontinued in 2010, leaving Morgan as the last carmaker to still use. The Aero GT will be last production car draw its juice from this V-8 engine.

Specs are carried over unchanged from the standard Aero 8, producing the same 367 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. The sprint to 62 mph takes 4.5 seconds, while top speed is set at 170 mph. The engine mates to the same six-speed manual transmission, also borrowed from BMW. There's no automatic option for this car. Morgan's latest adjustable suspension gives the Aero GT sporty dynamics.

The British firm will produce just eight units the special Aero GT. All vehicles will be individually built to each customer, who have an individual design consultancy with Jon Wells, Morgan’s Head of Design before the car enters production. Each vehicle will be completed in eight to 10 weeks.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Morgan Aero GT.

Read our full review on the 2015 Morgan Aero 8.

Read more Morgan news.

Read more Geneva Motor Show news.