Having just discontinued the Plus 8 and Aero models, Morgan introduced a brand-new vehicle at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. It's called the Plus Six and it's the company's first brand-new car since 2000. As the name suggests, it features a six-cylinder engine, also borrowed from BMW, but it rides on a new platform too.

Same design, new hard-top

At first glance, the new Plus Six is identical to the Plus 8 on the outside. Actually, the two are very similar upon closer inspection too. This isn't surprising though. Morgan is known for its passion to keep designs unchanged for decades so I'm not entirely shocked that the Plus Six looks like a car from the 1950s.

I'm actually cool with it, I enjoy the idea of being able to buy the same body but with a new drivetrain, platform, and state-of-the-art technology.

There is a brand new design feature to talk about: the lightweight, composite hard-top. Inspired by road racers from the 1960s, it comes standard on the Plus Six and makes the car look like an authentic coupe. So while the Plus 8 came with a soft-top, the Plus Six offers the benefits for a full-fledged coupe without having to pay extra. And you don't have to give up on infinite headroom, as the hard-top is completely removable.

Vintage-Looking interior

The Plus Six's interior also reminds me of the old Plus 8, but unlike the exterior, it boasts a few notably different features. The center console is brand-new. It's cleaner and features a more modern looking gear shifter, most likely borrowed from BMW.

On the passenger side, the glove compartment has a net instead of a lid. Disappointingly enough, the steering wheel looks identical to the Plus 8. The lack of a multi-function steering wheel and an infotainment system confirms that Morgan still wants to keep things simple and that its cars will stay away from modern technology for a while longer. But even though it doesn't have a massive infotainment display like most modern cars, it does have a small screen behind the steering wheel.

It adorns both the dashboard and the center console and it's combined with fine leather on the top of the dash, on the door panels, and the seats. The door panels also incorporate new puddle lighting and hidden speakers. Morgan says the dash is available in unlimited level of wood and color combinations, which means more materials should be offered on the options list.

BMW Z4 / Toyota Supra power

Just like Plus 4 and the Plus 8 before it, the Plus Six takes the number in its name from the number of cylinders in its engine. While the Plus 4 had a four-cylinder and the Plus 8 a V-8, the Plus Six comes with a six-cylinder under the hood. This time around, it's a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-six rated at 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

If this power rating seems familiar it's because it's identical to the Euro-spec BMW Z4 M40i, which has the same engine. The mill is thus also shared with the new Toyota Supra, which comes with 335 horses and 365 pound-feet.

That's four tenths quicker than the Euro-spec Z4 M40i and only marginally slower than the U.S. version, which has a 382-horsepower engine. That's also a tenth-second quicker than the Toyota Supra.

The company claims an emissions figure of 170 g/km and a fuel consumption ratin gof 38.2 mpg combined on the British cycle, which makes the Plus Six the most efficient Morgan yet.

The Plus Six rides on an aluminum bonded platform, just like the Plus 8 before it, but these underpinnings are brand-new. The new platform is twice as rigid and weighs less than 100 kg (220.4 pounds). The Plus Six's total curb weight is also lower than the outgoing Plus 8 at only 1,075 kg (2,370 pounds). It's not exactly a fair comparison, but the Supra tips the scales at 1,520 kg (3,351 pounds) with the same engine, while the BMW Z4 weighs in at 1,535 kg (3,384 pounds).

First edition models

Morgan is offering a couple of First Edition models at launch. This is the most celebrated Morgan color combination ever and it's offered in conjunction with a matte walnut dashboard and center console. a body-colored hard-top, and 19-inch wheels. The second model, Moonstone, features Ice Blue Metallic paint and Frozen Grey wheels, as well as a body-colored dashboard, gloss-black center console, and dark blue soft-grain leather.

2019 Morgan Six Plus specifications

Morgan Plus Six drivetrain specifications

Engine

BMW 2019 B58 TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine

Gearbox

8-speed Automatic with Sport, Plus and Manual shift modes

Max Power

250kw (335 bhp) @ 6,500rpm

Max Torque

500Nm (369 lb/ft)

Performance 0 – 62mph

4.2 seconds

Top Speed

166mph (267 kph)

Combined MPG

38.2mpg (7.4L/100km)

Combined Co2

170g/km

Dry weight

1,075kg


Further reading

Read our full review on the 2012 Morgan Plus 8.

Read our full review on the 2015 Morgan Aero 8.